《Global Abyss: My Skills Can Enhance Infinitely》


 Chapter 1 - 1 Awakening Memory

    <h4>Chapter 1: Awakening Memory</h4>


    The streets glowed with neon lights, and scantily-ddies strolled by, alongside traffic lights at the zebra crossing, and out-of-control dump trucks...


    Beep~~


    A sharp horn pierced through the dream, and Tao Yu woke up from his sleep, sweating profusely and gasping for breath.


    A faint musty and sweaty odor entered his nostrils with each breath, gradually bringing Tao Yu to his senses.


    It was happening again, the same dream, so vivid that he couldn''t distinguish between illusion and reality.


    Whether he was Tao Yu, the social animal from the twenty-first century, or Tao Yu, the nearly eighteen-year-old from the outer city, he was starting to lose track.


    Over the years, he had asionally had this dream, but as the eighteenth birthday, representing the day of awakening, drew nearer, the dreams became more frequent, and in the past month, they urred every time he closed his eyes.


    At first, he thought it was just stress and hallucinations as the day of awakening approached, but with more memories and information, the systematic and coherent memories and knowledge told him it was all real.


    ording to those novels in the memories from his dreams, it should be a reincarnation to another world...


    Thinking back to the peaceful, warm, and beautiful world in his memories, and then looking at the damp bed made of bricks and nks, looking up at the stained asbestos wall, and the windows patched with cardboard.


    Tao Yu''s expression became somewhat vacant.


    Through the gaps in the cardboard over the window, he watched the pitch-ck outside, listened to the wind in the darkness, and heard some faint murmurs and vague whispers, making Tao Yu''s feelings even moreplicated.


    There was an old oilmp on the bedside table, its me the size of a soybean, casting a hazy light over the small room. But all the light stopped abruptly at the window, as if unable to prate outside.


    The asional flicker of the me made the shadows in the room shake, as ifing to life, and it seemed as though the tiny me could go out at any moment.


    "Is there really a peaceful world where everyone can eat meat..."


    Having lived in this world for eighteen years, the memories of his past life, so taken for granted, now seemed as if from another lifetime.


    The things he considered normal and natural in his past life wereplete luxuries, mere wishes, in this life!


    Why couldn''t it be him from this world who had traveled to that one?


    With all thebat and survival skills he had practiced relentlessly over the past eighteen years, he would have at least been a bodyguard or a live-in son-inw in the metropolis of the twenty-first century.


    Abyss...


    The Sword of Damocles hanging over everyone''s head in this world, the end of the endless realm.


    No one knew how many years had passed since the world caught the attention of the Abyss.


    From the limited knowledge Tao Yu had, he gathered that when the Abyss first began to consume the world, the world''s will awoke instinctively, granting all people the power to resist the Abyss.


    It was through Pioneers venturing into the fragments of worlds within the Abyssal Rift, seizing Yuan Force to prolong the world''s existence, that life had continued to this day.


    As for what exactly had happened over the years, Tao Yu didn''t know, but the grey fog that symbolized the Abyss''s invasion had already spread across the world, squeezing human habitats into a session of cities and shelters.


    The connections between cities were mostly severed, and it was only with the Lamp of Will illuminating the path through the grey fog that one could move forward with difficulty, maintaining increasingly scant exchanges.


    The me of Civilization that dispels the fog in each city and the day of awakening on everyone''s eighteenth birthday seemed like thest gifts left by the will of the world...


    Giggle, giggle~


    A distant crowing of a rooster came from the pitch-ck outside, as if in an instant, all the darkness disappeared, revealing a dim light.


    The crowing brought Tao Yu out of his reverie as well, and looking at the dim light outside the window, he couldn''t help but heave a sigh. Then he reached over to twist the oilmp stained with ck oil at the head of the bed, extinguishing the soybean-sized me.


    Lately, there had been more and more disappearances in the outer city, and it was unclear when an end woulde. He hoped that on today''s day of awakening, he would sessfully awaken abat talent. Considering his parents'' gifts, the best talent he could possibly awaken was likely Dynamic Vision.


    If the grade of Dynamic Vision could reach Grade C or higher, perhaps his status could change.


    Putting on stic-bottomed shoes stained with an unknown ck grime, Tao Yu pushed open the creaking old door. Outside was a living room simr in style to his own room.


    The living room walls were mainly patched together with asbestos boards and iron sheets, and in the middle stood a table spattered with rust,posed of three tripods. The several stools in the living room also varied in style, as if they were cobbled together from various scraps of material¡ªwooden, triangr, metallic, all sorts.


    Approaching the water tank, Tao Yu picked up a porcin basin and scooped up a basin of water using a rugged aluminum alloydle.


    Looking at his reflection, a slender face with a touch of delicate features, Tao Yu felt a tangle of emotions.


    He wasn''t bad looking, it just seemed that he was malnourished. The high frequency of dreams this month had started to merge his thoughts more and more with those of his previous life, making his mind feel much sharper.


    Squeak~


    The same grating sound of a door opening rang out, and a dark-skinned, capable-looking woman stepped out of the room. She saw Tao Yu and smiled, showing her white teeth.


    "Ah Yu, today is your Awakening Day. You should rest well. I''ll take care of the farm work."


    "Sister-inw, I can''t sleep."


    Tao Yu politely nodded to the woman, then reached out to wash his face.


    "Alright. Mom and Dad should be returning by noon today. They should be able to bring you some useful weapons and equipment."


    The woman sighed, thinking Tao Yu was too anxious, so sheforted him with a few words.


    "I''ll go get some fresh stuff for you to eat on the first day."


    "Thank you, Sister-inw."


    Tao Yu finished washing his face and voiced his gratitude.


    By count, this was his third sister-inw. His eldest and second brothers had both died on their Awakening Day, his fourth sister was married off, his fifth brother died on a cannon fodder mission, and his sixth sister went mad and was killed by the security force. Besides himself, only his parents, his third brother, third sister-inw, and his sixteen-year-old younger brother were left in the family.


    To lower the priority of the cannon fodder quota and to improve their own weight allocation, his parents had recently been considering having a ninth child, but it was uncertain whether they could still bear one.


    Although because both of his parents had rtively stable jobs, he had lived a ''rtively stable'' life since childhood, he had be ustomed to life and death from a young age.


    Since the beginning of the Abyssal invasion, the world will had awakened and bestowed upon people the power to fight back. The Awakening Day was a turning point of utmost importance for everyone.


    From the day of awakening, everyone in this world needed to spend some time delving into The Abyssal Rift to search for Yuan Force to strengthen themselves, which also helped to fortify the world will against the Abyssal invasive forces.


    It wasn''t about being datafied or panelized, but the world will would enable individuals to understand their abilities more clearly after the Awakening Day and elerate their empowerment through Yuan Force, while also awakening their personal talents.


    Individual talents were myriad and strange, most of which were of little help inbat, greatly affecting the speed of personal growth.


    Due to the problem of limited resources, talents inclined towardsbat were more likely to receive training and certain privileges and resources from thepanies.


    For instance, Tao Yu''s father, Tao Long, possessed the talent Eagle Eye (Grade C+). Although it was of limited help in directbat, it gave him certain advantages in roles like scouting, sniping, and reconnaissance, allowing him to survive many years.


    His mother, Hong Xia, had the talent Dexterity (Grade F), theoretically more suitable forbat than Eagle Eye, but her innate grade was too low, only slightly better than the lowest F-.


    Although there were cases of people improving their talent grades and even transforming or having multiple talents, such urrences were clearly impossible for an ordinary family.


    Therefore, his mother chose to marry his father, hoping to cultivate the more suitable standardbat talent Dynamic Vision.


    She opted to specialize in a manufacturing Skill, her dexterous hands earning her a position as a senior skilled worker in a leather factory.


    Coupled with the weighting boost from birthing many children, they had not been assigned cannon fodder tasks by thepany over the years.


    Although individual talents had a not insignificant rtionship with heredity, among Tao Yu''s many brothers and sisters, only his third brother, Tao Tong, had inherited the optimized talent from their parents, acquiring Dynamic Vision (Grade D+).


    Theoretically, he could have achieved even more, even joining thepany''s security force at one point.


    But after losing both legs on a mission, everything came to an abrupt halt.


    Whether it was items for regenerating limbs or mechanical prostheses that would allow him to continue fighting, none were affordable for the family.


    Fortunately, since he was injured on a mission for thepany, thepany ''generously'' exempted him and his wife, Li Li, from the cannon fodder quota for life, forever free from the worry of being forcibly drafted for such tasks...

 Chapter 2 - 2 The Oppressive World

    <h4>Chapter 2: The Oppressive World</h4>


    "This world is simply terrifying..."


    Stepping out of the house, breathing in the morning air tinged with a hint of cow dung, Tao Yu sighed again.


    He had thought that being an office drone in his previous life was miserable, but considering the people in this world, there was a sense of speechlessness that made him look to the skies, wondering how he had managed to survive before.


    Every day involved feeding the cows, cleaning cow dung, milking, and fixing hooves, not to mention weeding and doing various farm chores.


    All the spare time was spent practicing survival andbat skills in preparation for Awakening Day, and to this day he still couldn''t fully recognize the characters of this world, making him semi-literate.


    The hard-earned produce of the farm, which had nothing to do with his family''s earnings, was regrly collected by thepany, leaving only some food for subsistence as a ''gift.''


    If it weren''t for his parents having rtively stable jobs, earning a total of three hundred units of Yuan Force to subsidize the household each month.


    Relying solely on himself, his third brother, sister-inw, and younger brother, even working day and night was hardly enough to feed the family.


    Not to mention saving up for equipment and supplies for Awakening Day.


    Besides that, his parents also had to find ways to continuously increase their cannon fodder weight, employing various methods to keep them from being conscripted by thepany.


    And after turning eighteen, he too would be included in this hierarchy, also needing to find ways to continually increase this weight, unless something ''fortunate'' like what happened to his third brother urred...


    Under the invisible threat to life, the level of vicious internalpetition had already broken through the skies.


    Gazing into the distance, a gray haze known as The Grey Mist Wall sealed off the peripherypletely, the dense, churning fog asionally revealing shifting shadows within.


    A faintyer of bluish mist kept this gray fog at bay.


    Turning around, he could see the towering, mottled walls of the Inner City.


    The city wall seemed to be patched together from various materials, with all sorts of metal and concrete structures, marked with signs of filling and repairing; one could also see a distribution of watchtowers and Autonomic Gun Turrets along the wall.


    Through glimpses beyond the wall, one could see some of the towering buildings in the Inner City, with exaggerated neon signs flickering, and the same sense of patchwork at the tops of the buildings.


    It had somewhat the style and technological feel of 21st-century architecture, yet also a stark contrast like something out of a trash heap.


    Looking up, one could see a giant city floating in the sky, its base dropping a blue light that seemed to protect thend below from the Grey Mist.


    Below the majestic base of the Floating City, a series of greasy, oil-smudged pipes connected the Inner City to the Outer City and various other ces, transporting goods upwards for the big shots in the city to enjoy.


    The Floating City, Inner City, Outer City, and outer Grey Mist were distinctly separate, representing several drastically different living environments.


    Turning back to look at his own home, the dpidated farmhouse mainly pieced together from asbestos sheets, metal tes, andpressed boards, with a few bricks added for structure, and the surrounding farm that didn''t belong to them but needed their care, Tao Yu felt oppressed.


    Atop the roof was a crude Autonomic Gun Turret with traces of rust and the smell of machine oil, asionally creaking as it turned itself around.


    This Autonomic Gun Turret was the most valuable and expensive item in the house, able to discern Grey Mist monsters from a short distance and attack automatically, an item of enhanced Yuan Force that was not found in every household.


    Although the Outer City was also under the protection of the me of Civilization from the Floating City, monsters from inside the Grey Mist would still asionally attack.


    Tao Yu remembered hearing the roar of the autonomous gun turret seven or eight times a year during the night.


    This was the frequency of monsters that had bypassed the outer Night Watchers and all other possible intercepting fortifications to reach the farm.


    Fortunately, it was usually just the small fry that would leave the Grey Mist and enter the protected areas of the me of Civilization.


    The Lamp of Will defended against some invisible filth, while the gun turret physically defended against a few that slipped through, one reason they had been able to survive peacefully over the years.


    Just as Tao Yu was somewhat lost in thought, a creaking sound once again came from inside the house, and a lean man with a face covered in wrinkles and graying hair, along with an ordinary-looking woman with short hair, also came out of the room one after another.


    It was Tao Yu''s parents in this life.


    The ones who had protected him from such a harsh environment until he turned eighteen.


    Although the dreams of his past life''s memories made him feel a little confused with memory fusion, he still smiled when he saw the two elders.


    "Dad, Mom, aren''t you supposed toe back at noon?"


    Tao Long saw his son and his wrinkled face squeezed out a kind smile.


    "Why is the seventh child up already? Although the survival rate on Awakening Day has gone up, you still need to rest and build up your strength to give it your all."


    Their eldest and second sons had died on Awakening Day, which gave Tao Long and his wife some PTSD about this day, which originally had a sixty percent survival rate.


    Therefore, the preparations for the younger children were thorough, preferring to scrimp and save on everyday necessities in order to umte enough goods for their children to use on Awakening Day.


    Ever since the second child''s incident, no such tragedy has urred on Awakening Day.


    "I can''t sleep."


    Tao Yu candidly replied, sometimes the more he forced himself to sleep, the more elusive it became, and there was nothing to be done about it.


    "Then join us for a trip."


    Upon hearing this, Tao''s father did not insist anymore but casually made the arrangement.


    "We found your Uncle Hu at the garrison before; he''s now an instructor and can take charge of your group after a greeting. Let''s pay him a visit together."


    Thepany had its own built-up area at The Abyssal Rift where many production andbat professions worked.


    Although Tao Yu''s parents had just returned from their room, in reality, they had juste back from another world, a world that was perfectly synchronized with this one.


    Beyond the mandatory half-month of survival adaptation imposed by Awakening Day, once it was over, everyone could travel between the two worlds after about a quarter of an hour of meditation.


    Then, aside from needing to visit The Abyssal Rift regrly to prevent madness, the minimum interval for returning had been reduced to five days.


    If one could reach the gathering ce, besides thepany''s assigned cannon fodder tasks, the pressure to survive actually decreased.


    "Uncle Hu became an instructor? I remember his hand was severed, and he was disqualified frombat, right?"


    Tao Yu was somewhat surprised. Although Tao Hu sounded like he was Tao Long''s brother, they were actually only cousins. Under the dog-eat-dog pressure of life in the outer city, names were usually chosen casually, and having the same name wasmon.


    "He got lucky and met a noble who helped him undergo mechanical augmentation, and his strength has not only been retained but increased."


    Envy appeared in Tao Long''s eyes. Their younger brother was also talented, but it was just a pity not to have such fortune. Otherwise, serving a noble would be fine.


    "Alright, let''s go over there; he should have just returned as well."


    Hong Xia,ing from the kitchen, carried out a big chunk of smoked meat. After brushing off some of the ckened areas, she also stepped out.


    Looking at the smoked meat, the scrawny Tao Yu also swallowed hard; it was indeed cruel, in this world, there were indeed people who could not afford meat.


    Recalling the delicacies of his previous life, even though his family''s circumstances were average, as an only child he at least had the freedom to eat meat. Now in this world, meat was a luxury saved for days when their food was improved.


    Even that, by outer city standards, was considered decent living conditions!


    Tao Yu did not object to visiting affluent rtives, nor did he have the inexplicable pride of a transmigrator; after living in this world for eighteen years, all his pride had been worn down.


    His parents were veterans who had lived in this kind of world for decades, and following their advice now would not be wrong.


    Moreover, Tao Yu had a good impression of his cousin Uncle Hu, who had the talent "Predictive Eye" (Grade C), possessing a strong ability to predict.


    This ability was even stronger than the "Dynamic Vision" of the same level. Its value at Grade C could bepared to Grade B Dynamic Vision.


    He used to be the best off among the rtives; he had left thebat sequence due to injury, but there had been some contact over the years, so the rtionship was rather good.


    Before the injury, he had taught the third brother, and after the injury, Tao Yu''s family helped his in return. So, there was mutual assistance between them.


    This rtionship was even closer than that of other direct uncles, aunts, and cousins.


    Tao Yu''s own shooting practice was done through his intervention, saving a lot of expenses for bullet consumption.


    For Tao Yu, who had lived in a peaceful period in his previous life, preparing as much as possible for the Awakening Day with only a sixty percent survival rate was naturally the best course of action!


    A sixty percent survival rate didn''t mean that every person had a sixty percent chance to survive, but rather that those with better preparations and a higher survival rate would skew the average. Tao Yu did not want to be part of the averaged statistics...


    ...


    "Haha, Long, why are you being so polite? Ah Yu is so skinny, he needs to eat more meat to get stronger."


    Uncle Hu was a short, stout, and well-built man with dark skin. When Tao Yu saw him again, the man had reced his originally severed arm with a punk-styled mechanical arm, which even turned his left shoulderpletely mechanical.


    Although the mechanical arm reeked of oil and shone with a polished gleam, wear and tear were still visible, suggesting it was at least second-hand but a good fit for Tao Hu.


    After receiving the smoked meat, Uncle Hu squeezed Tao Yu''s shoulder with his oily mechanical arm and then spoke up,


    "People awaken every day; it shouldn''t be a problem for me to arrange for today."


    At this point, Uncle Hu paused, then continued,


    "However, I''ve heard that the children of two important figures will also participate today, so there are some things I need to mention in advance..."

 Chapter 3: Talent

    <h4>Chapter 3: Talent</h4>


    Above a za, in front of an old statue, more than two hundred young people with various expressions gathered. They had all turned eighteen today and were also awakening their talents.


    These two hundred or more youngsters were dressed in different styles, but despite the variety, each one carried arge backpack, and many were adorned with various firearms, weapons, and ammunition.


    Some were even wearing padded coats in this stifling heat, with sweat on their foreheads, seemingly refusing to take them off, creating an oddly eerie sight.


    At the moment, Uncle Hu stood in front of the statue, waving his powerful, mechanical-looking prosthetic limb, righteously proiming something.


    "From the moment you were born, you''ve owed the corporation a huge debt! The air you breathe, the soil you live on, the food you consume, all these are the corporation''s gifts to you!


    "You''ve survived up to this point thanks to the corporation''s protection! And now, the corporation will give you another chance to change your destiny..."


    In the audience, Tao Yu, still wearing a padded coat and carrying a twenty-kilogram backpack, clutching an assault rifle akin to an AK, couldn''t help but reveal an expression of utter boredom.


    Though he knew this was Uncle Hu''s job, he never imagined that such toxic preaching could be spewed so forcefully¡ªand judging by some people''s excited reactions, it seemed that some indeed swallowed it whole.


    All two hundred on the scene celebrated their eighteenth birthday today, true peers born on the same year, same month, same day.


    Tao Yu, who hade with Uncle Hu, had already roughly understood that the majority of these two hundred were Outer City locals like himself.


    A small portion of them from the Outer City had entered the security forces or were children of small-time leaders withbat talents.


    The disparities were somewhat discernible from the equipment: Tao Yu, with his old assault rifle, was considered middle-tier, while many of his peers wielded shotguns, homemade guns, or even just sharpened steel pipes instead of firearms.


    Then there were six or seven peers from the Inner City, distinctly standing apart on the other side.


    Fully geared inbat suits, military backpacks, bulletproof vests, or full-body armor, and even three who had already installed mechanical limbs, starkly differentiated themselves.


    Beyond that, a man and a woman standing behind Uncle Hu, bearing an air of nonchnce, were even more extraordinary.


    Not only did they stand outside the formation, but they also wore skin-tightbat suits filled with a sense of technology, somewhat simr to the ckbat suits from "Battle Royale". Compared to the group of padded-coat wearers, the difference was like night and day.


    Judging by the equally handsome features of the two and sharing the same birthday, they were likely a pair of twins born to someone influential from the Floating City.


    "...Furthermore, today is also your lucky day, you mud-leggers. The chance to meet important figures you''d likely never encounter again hase to you.


    "After entering the Abyss, do your best to find Young Master Sun and Miss Sun. The smallest favor from them couldst you a lifetime. In the expedition, you are to follow theirmands unconditionally. Understand?"


    Uncle Hu emphasized with a booming voice, filled with force.


    "Understood!"


    The crowd below was indeed stimted, just as Uncle Hu had said. This might be the only chance in their lives to meet such influential people, even the few from the Inner City felt the same!


    Yet Tao Yu was indifferent towards it, mainly because Uncle Hu had already specifically instructed them to avoid them if possible during the mission¡ªsteer clear!


    Though following in their shadow might indeed bring potential benefits, the risks were too high.


    The children of these important figures were undoubtedly born with exceptional talents and nurtured from a young age with nutrient solutions and various skill trainings,bined with their equipped gear and the Yuan Force bequeathed by their families, they were born surpassing the endgame of others.


    While ordinary people aimed merely to survive, these two would surely be seeking greater fortunes, thus urgently requiring cannon fodder to probe dangers.


    The rewards might be substantial, but so were the risks!


    Howeverrge the benefits or rewards could be, they were worthless unless you survived to im them.


    The same went for those fully armed guys from the Inner City, who might not have as many advantages as those twins, but the risks were simrly not negligible, hence, they were to be avoided as much as possible.


    On the other hand, it might be worth approaching the children of some Outer City small-time leaders. Uncle Hu and a few well-acquainted friends had greeted them, and although not exactly lending help, they were willing to stick together for warmth.


    First off, one needed to showcase their value to be epted as an equal; ifcking the strength, one should recognize their ce.


    There is no such thing as love without cause in this world, even Uncle Hu''s support came from years of mutual assistance and the ensuing friendship.


    Had it not been for his period of decline after bing disabled, his family could, at best, only be considered a vassal despite being rtives.


    "...Alright, time is almost up, and you already know what you need to know, but I must emphasize once again that the main goal of these two weeks is to survive!


    "The will of the world usually ces you in safer World Fragments at the start. Then, using the radio, you must find the corporation''s gathering ce, as only those who make it there have the qualifications to survive in the Abyss!"


    After speaking, Uncle Hu also raised his hand. At the same time, at the base of the Floating City in the sky, a hazy blue me of nothingness seemed to emerge.


    ```


    A beam of light burst from the me and struck the statue whose face could no longer be discerned. In the next moment, a radiance covered the square, and all the youths turning eighteen today vanished in an instant.


    However, as the brilliance faded, Uncle Hu, who had been smiling, stiffened his expression instantly after ncing back at the statue.


    On the once blurry face of the statue, a faint blue glow began to emerge, which then gradually coalesced into a new small sphere of light that was absorbed by the statue.


    This made Uncle Hu quickly pull out a walkie-talkie, sweating profusely as he said,


    "Captain Ze Chuan! There''s an abnormal fluctuation in the teleportation this time, the regional binding isn''tpleted! A new coordinate has emerged!"


    Everyone automatically receives a gift when they turn eighteen, and theoretically, it doesn''t matter where they are. The reason they all gather here is to use the me of Civilization toplete a regional anchoring, so that this new group won''t end up too far from thepany stronghold.


    But now the teleportation feedback indicates that there was a problem...


    The Abyssal Rift contains endless World Fragments; a slight deviation could mean crossing countless fragments. If one relied solely on traversing through the Abyss, they might never reach the gathering ce in their lifetime!


    Although such incidents were notmon, they had urred a few times before. If it was just some ordinary mud-legged folks from the Outer City, even with a few from the Inner City, it was just bad luck¡ªsurvive on your own and count your blessings.


    But this time, there were also two children of significant figures from the Floating City involved¡ªand the situation was now rather different!


    However, the teleportation wasplete, and nothing could change that. The only thing to do was to record the coordinates of that abnormal region, so that future new arrivals could choose to be anchored near that same area...


    ...


    Yue~


    Intense dizziness made Tao Yu want to vomit.


    Moreover, the stuffiness from the cotton-padded jacket he was wearing made his first action uponnding not to check the gifts from the world''s will but to promptly draw out a small-caliber pistol with one hand and quickly drop his pack to start shedding his cotton clothes.


    He had worn the cotton jacket because, although the regional deliveries were anchored over a general area, the fragments in the Abyss changed in the blink of an eye. It was quite possible to be dropped into a frigid cier region.


    If one went there dressed too thinly, they might freeze solid before even getting a chance to dress warmly¡ªalthough this was a matter of probability, it was not something to gamble on.


    Now, removing the cotton jacket was much simpler.


    Tossing the cotton jacket onto the ground, he revealed a set of cowhide armor his mother had made by hand.


    With the pistol tucked into his chest holster and that somewhat chipped but gleaming AK-like rifle clutched in hand, he swiftly fitted a bay onto it and then began to look around at his environment.


    The light was dim, but strands of sunlight still pierced through gaps in the foliage above. The earthy and decaying scent at the tip of his nose, the stout trees around him, the soft decaying leaves, and the sprawling roots on the ground¡ªall indicated that he was in a rainforest environment.


    His vision had clearly vastly improved, probably due to his inherent talents, which seemed promising.


    All the survival knowledge he had learned in the past eighteen years came to mind. The biggest threat in the rainforest, aside from various Wish-powered creatures from the World Fragments, was actually poisonous insects!


    He quickly began to secure his cuffs and pant legs, and simultaneously pulled a ''veiled'' straw hat from his backpack and put it on. Tao Yu also took out a bottle of potion and started applying it to several key spots.


    Only after finishing all this did he keep his gun at the ready, maintaining vignce while beginning to examine his changes.


    The will of the world had already transmitted some rted information into his mind in a way that wasn''t textual but was instantly understandable, causing Tao Yu to focus and review it, eventually bing stupified.


    My cheat has arrived!


    Talent one: [Dynamic Vision] (B-), possessing strong dynamic vision and the ability to learn visual and Perception-rted skills more easily, with a slight increase in Dexterity and reaction.


    Undoubtedly, this was a talent inherited from his parents and was innate to his body. It was already quite good. After focusing, he could sense the talent''s sphere and instinctively understand the information it entailed.


    Butpared to the dazzling, golden Talent two next to it, it was nothing!


    In this world, it''s possible to have multiple talents, even to enhance or acquire new talentster in life, but that has nothing to do with ordinary people. However, Tao Yu now possessed a second talent!


    Talent two: [Divinity] (MAX++??), from an Outer God of the Void??


    Known Ability one: [One Proof Forever Proof], any improvements obtained through practice won''t diminish, and any injuries can be fully regenerated by absorbing Yuan Force or consuming food.


    (This applies to abilities that need to be enhanced through practice and Yuan Force, like the Heavenly Demon Dismantling Technique, which only speeds up injury recovery post-facto and cannot solidify abilities to exploit a bug.)


    Known Ability two: [Mental Immunity], immune to any mental or soul-rted influences or attacks.


    Known Ability three: [Deification], by consuming Yuan Force to enhance existing abilities and talents, using the enhanced version of abilities consumes additional physical and mental strength based on the power of the abilities.


    ```

 Chapter 4: Strengthening of Yuan Force

    <h4>Chapter 4: Strengthening of Yuan Force</h4>


    ```


    "Take off?"


    Tao Yu felt the transformation deep within his soul, that indescribable feeling stirring his heart with exhration.


    The world before his eyes became clearer, the enhancement of his vision was immediately apparent.


    He had never even heard of a talent like Divinity.


    Not to mention that strange (MAX++??) level, he had never heard of that either; it felt like a jumble.


    However, Tao Yu had some vague guesses about the description of the outer gods from the void, perhaps rted to his own transmigration.


    Just looking at the three known abilities of Divinity, none seemed to directly increasebat abilities at the moment, but they represented limitless potential!


    The gift from the world''s will was not something datified and fixed, every person''s practiced abilities would decline without regr training.


    It was only with the elerated strengthening from Yuan Force that one could maintain stability through proper exercise and consumption.


    But Tao Yu wouldn''t need to worry about these things anymore!


    Any injuries could also be healed through Yuan Force and eating¡ªan equally superb skill.


    Right by Tao Yu''s side were his disabled third brother and Uncle Hu, and even his parents had their fair share of umted injuries over the years, but none of these were a problem for him anymore!


    The second ability, Spiritual Immunity, though simple in meaning, the prefix "ignore any" was enough to demonstrate its terrifying potential. A true might that grows stronger with stronger foes!


    For thest ability, Deification, Tao Yu did not yet have a concrete concept, but he could vaguely sense its greatness.


    Yuan Force, a power scattered throughout the Abyssal Rift and the fragments of many worlds.


    It usually concentrates in various Yuan Force creatures and items. Killing Yuan Force creatures would leave remnants imbued with residual Yuan Force, some of which might even carry knowledge, skills, or iplete information.


    The same goes for items of Yuan Force; sometimes they have special functions.


    For example, the Autonomic Gun Turret on the roof of his house was a secondhand Yuan Force item capable of automatically targeting and attacking nearby fog demons.


    Yuan Force itself acted more like a training elerator, typically reaching one''s own limits of practice.


    Take physical training for instance, elerated by Yuan Force, a normal person had the chance to reach the peak of human capabilities in every aspect like sprinting, weightlifting, Endurance, and so forth.


    But without any other talents or skills, this would be the limit, and this limit would quickly decline without continuous practice, usually requiring consistent exercise and even some Yuan Force consumption to maintain the state.


    The same applied to various skills¡ªfirearms, martial arts, and so on.


    If new skills or knowledge were acquired from the remnants of Yuan Force creatures, or if a skill was learned from a character within a world fragment,


    It could also be elerated by Yuan Force, and at critical moments, one could break through bottlenecks by consuming considerable amounts of Yuan Force, depending on personal aptitude and the difficulty of the skill.


    The consumption of Yuan Force was closely rted to one''s base strength, talents, skill difficulty, and training methods. An individual withbat talents training in their specialized area would consume much less Yuan Force.


    And the stronger the individual, the greater the consumption rate in eleration.


    It could be said that Yuan Force was important, but not almighty¡ªit often brought about a quantitative umtion.


    Now, with the ability of Deification in y, was it possible to use Yuan Force to achieve a qualitative change in abilities?


    This sent a surge of excitement through Tao Yu''s heart. After taking a deep breath to calm down, he once again opened his backpack and took out a canvas bag. As he took it out, the tinkling sounds of metal colliding could be heard, as if it contained some metallic objects.


    Upon opening the bag, one could see the shining metal crystals inside.


    This was the currency that bore Yuan Force, a gift from his parents, drawn from their own umted Yuan Force and bestowed upon some special metals. It was something that could only be used after talent awakening and the greatest gift his parents could give on the day of his awakening!


    Talent awakening didn''t have a fixed panel, it was more like a consciousness, and the quantity of Yuan Force didn''t have a standardized unit of measurement either.


    But everyone could endow a definition convenient for recording with their will.


    ording to his parents'' experience and themon definitions used in transactions with thepany, counting theirbined monthly ie of three hundred units, these Yuan Force could be seen as a thousand units of Yuan Force.


    Capable of aplishing a hundredfold eleration of practice at the level of an ordinary person for ten hours, or a twentyfold eleration for a hundred hours.


    As personal abilities or skills improved, the consumption of Yuan Force grewrger.


    Also, to achieve more efficient eleration in a short term, the consumption would increase progressively, reducing cost-effectiveness. These two eleration modes were what Tao Yu''s parents found to be rtively suitable for the day of awakening.


    Although the first method was less cost-effective than the second, it could significantly reduce the time cost on the perilous day of awakening. By spending a day on high-intensity practice, one could quickly obtain targeted ability improvements, depending on the varied environments of the fragments.


    If the eleration effect was condensed to one hour, that might only yield a five-hundredfold speed increase, the cost-effectiveness not suitable for Tao Yu''s current use.


    As the eleration effects improved, the consumption would rise exponentially, and with further improved strength, the rate at which Yuan Force was consumed would increase even further. Eventually, even the great figures might not be able to afford it.


    ```

 Chapter 5 - 4 Yuan Force Enhancement_2

    <h4>Chapter 5: Chapter 4 Yuan Force Enhancement_2</h4>


    Yuan Force enhancement has limits and thresholds, and the closer you get to the limit, the more severe the diminishing returns be.


    But now, Tao Yu faced a new choice, which was to directly "Deify" his existing talents or skills, thereby achieving a qualitative change!


    Although it seemed that the physical energy consumption of the skills would also increase ordingly, for someone who could restore his state through eating, this was definitely worth it.


    Uh, Yuan Force could also elerate state recovery, and most likely more efficiently, but for now, it was definitively ruled out by Tao Yu, the pauper.


    Having made the decision to use it, Tao Yu began to examine the other skills that had emerged with the awakening of his talents.


    All acquired through years of hard practice, the talents now manifested more directly after awakening, allowing him to perceive the skills'' energy spheres and vaguely bringing about some enlightenment.


    Skills: "Basic Shooting" lv1, "Basic Combat" lv2, "Basic Weaponry" lv2, "Basic Breathing Method" lv1, "Basic Herbal Recognition" lv1, "Basic Trap Making" lv1...


    A mishmash of skills, a jack of all trades but master of none, mainly aimed at survival, among which those most rted to hisbat power might be "Basic Shooting," "Basic Combat," "Basic Weaponry," and "Basic Breathing Method."


    All are quite self-exnatory in their literal sense; if practiced and enhanced with Yuan Force, even without leveling up, there would be an obvious improvement in proficiency and a consequent increase in some rted physical qualities.


    The leveling markers are merely a convenient way to grasp the concept, a standard within thepany.


    And the gap between the levels didn''t involve any qualitative change such as breaking through a level; everything was a natural progression, with arge gap that wasn''t too exaggerated.


    lv1 and lv2 could be seen as ordinary amateur yers and top amateurs, while lv3 was a professional athlete.


    The first three levels could arguably be rushed out with Yuan Force eleration, but lv4, which was approximately equivalent to an Olympic athlete, already required talent to reach.


    Even without talent, it was possible to reach that level, but it was inefficient! And the decay rate was severe, with maintenance being tedious.


    lv5 represented various human limits, and within lv5, the range of proficiency could vary greatly, akin to the difference between running 100 meters in 9.8 seconds versus 9 seconds.


    Tao Yu didn''t bother to learn about the skill levels beyond that; his father, with "Eagle Eye," had only managed to reach Basic Shooting lv4, and perhaps could push to lv5, but couldn''t sustain the maintenance cost, which was the norm for ordinary families in the outer city.


    Yuan Force could also be allocated in any arbitrary units Tao Yu wanted; he could even design his own ability level to be lv99 if he wished, but naturally, the limit would increase ordingly.


    But with "Deification" avable, he would not prioritize increasing the proficiency of these skills he had painstakingly practiced for many years.


    Eventually, Tao Yu focused his mind on his talents "Dynamic Vision" (B-), as well as on "Basic Breathing Method" lv1.


    "Dynamic Vision" was an innate talent, its importance was unquestionable.


    And "Basic Breathing Method" was a rtively reputable skill in the outer city, not something everyone could learn; Tao Yu barely had an introduction to it through the constant hands-on guidance of his disabled elder brother.


    Although it wasn''t anything as grand as Internal Cultivation Methods and couldn''t break human limits,


    it could still improve Endurance to some extent and reduce the speed of physical decay, lessen the intensity of maintenance exercises, and increase the efficiency of physical training, which was rtively the highest skill Tao Yu had acquired among the many.


    ording to the information Tao Yu gathered by focusing his thoughts, the Deification of "Dynamic Vision" required about eight hundred units of Yuan Force.


    "Basic Breathing Technique" would consume around one hundred and forty.


    "Basic Shooting," "Basic Combat," and "Basic Weaponry" were all between eighty to one hundred, no longer enough for another enhancement.


    But there was the option to use "Basic Trap Making" as a connection, or to reserve some Yuan Force for elerated enhancement and emergency recovery from injuries.


    After roughly nning, Tao Yu began in an orderly fashion, starting naturally with "Dynamic Vision"!


    As Tao Yu focused his mind, he first absorbed a thousand units of Yuan Force from the metal above into his body, then started to concentrate his attention on "Dynamic Vision."


    The next moment, the energy sphere representing the talent "Dynamic Vision" seemed to visibly change, as though it also released streaks of golden light.


    And Tao Yu''s vision, which was already clearer thanks to "Dynamic Vision," suddenly became even brighter.


    Even in the dim rainforest, he could see all information and details as clear as day: the texture of the trees, the crawling insects, the python hanging on the treetops, everything was captured by his eyes!


    The passive enhancement of vision alone was a substantial gain!


    It just came with a slight sensation of dizziness, like wearing sses, but it seemed to smooth out quickly, perhaps due to "Spiritual Immunity."


    With his mind focused, the newly Deified talent unfolded before him.


    "Dynamic Vision??" (Deified??): Under normal conditions, possesses extremely strong dynamic vision; with high mental concentration and at the cost of additional physical energy, it can greatly enhance the effect, seeing the trajectory of mosquitoes'' wings and bullet paths, and temporarily increasing explosive power and reflex speed at the expense of significant extra physical energy, which may cause strains if the body''s strength is inadequate.


    The skill description turned into information that Tao Yu could understand without using words.


    Upon receiving this terrifyingly powerful enhancement, Tao Yu immediately felt his heart pumping blood.


    This was too exaggerated!


    This was far from mere "Dynamic Vision"! This was clearly "Bullet Time"!


    Almost in sync with Tao Yu''s internal exmation, his talent information transformed into the changes and variations he understood.


    Talent: "Bullet Time" (MAX)


    What thrilled Tao Yu the most was the realization that the talent "Bullet Time" could still be enhanced further!


    But just by concentrating mentally for a moment, he also immediately felt a cold ssh of realization.


    The consumption for a second Deification was far greater than the increase from Yuan Force eleration by several orders of magnitude, and the feedback of needing at least tens of thousands of units of Yuan Force for the next Deification made him aware that it was beyond his short-term reach.


    "Actually, it doesn''t matter; the current ''Bullet Time'' is already more than sufficient. If I enhanced it again, I probably wouldn''tst even a second given the consumption of energy and focus, it''s fine, really, it''s fine."


    Tao Yuforted himself for a while, but couldn''t help feeling a twinge of sourness, like the grapes were beyond his reach.


    Yet, it wasn''t entirely self-constion. As little Karami, the active consumption of "Bullet Time" might be overwhelming, and stronger enhancement would probably mean relying solely on passive abilities...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 6 - 5 Physical Changes

    <h4>Chapter 6: Chapter 5 Physical Changes</h4>


    Crackle~


    Because the branches were still somewhat damp, not only was the smoke quite heavy, but the burning also produced a crackling sound.


    Skewers of snake meat were lined up over the fire to roast, filling the air with a savory aroma.


    The snake meat that had just been put on the fire was still visibly wriggling with white parasites, but they quickly turned into protein under the me''s high heat.


    Tao Yu began to put new skewers on the fire while also starting to tear into one that was already cooked.


    Even though he had only sprinkled on some salt, the meat was dripping with delicious fat.


    He had been sitting there eating for over four hours, and he had consumed more than half of a python that was three to four meters long and weighed over fifty kilograms!


    And the reason for all this was the sessful Deification of the Basic Breathing Technique, as well as using the remaining dozens of units of Yuan Force as fuel for eleration.


    "Skills will never be able topare with innate talent. Although Deification consumes less Yuan Force, the effect is obviously not as stunning as that of talent.


    "However, talent enhances potential more. The stronger I am personally, the stronger my talent bes, whereas skills have a more immediate effect..."


    After devouring another skewer of snake meat, Tao Yu felt the sense of fullness in his stomach and pondered that in the future he would need to find a way to acquire a digestion-rted skill. To a certain extent, the speed of eating and digestion limited his intake of energy.


    Moreover, he only possessed the ability to recover his state of being, but his physique still wasn''t immune to diseases, germs, and parasites.


    The Basic Breathing Technique before Deification was described as increasing training effectiveness, elerating physical recovery to a certain extent, enhancing Endurance, reducing physical degeneration to a certain degree, and slightly raising the human potential limit.


    It was bnced and standard, without any outstanding features, but indeed could be considered a quality skill avable to the average person in the outer city.


    After spending over a hundred units of Yuan Force on Deification, Tao Yu simply added the word "Modified" rather indifferently.


    Basic Breathing Technique - Modified lv1, can channel one''s Qi-Blood to increase training effectiveness, consume Qi-Blood to boost burst power, consume Qi-Blood to enhance Endurance, and raise human potential to a certain extent.


    The Basic Breathing Technique that Tao Yu had previously mastered was mainly a breathing skill that was very strict to practice and required guidance.


    If one practiced it incorrectly, it could cause lung damage. Once proficient, the primary changes were in breathing, with no special perception of Inner Strength or qi-like phenomena.


    After all, it was a skill avable to his family. While rtively rare and valuable in the outer city, it was not something powerful in itself; families withbat talents had Basic Breathing Technique as standard.


    However, afterpleting Deification, the sense of controlling the boiling Qi-Blood coursing through his body like tiny mice was a clear sign of a qualitative change in the skill.


    While it had no effects like releasing Qi-Blood outside the body, every cirction of Qi-Blood let Tao Yu feel minor changes in his body. Even if the degree of change wasn''trge, with the ability [One Proof Forever Proof], these changes would only increase, never decrease!


    At least until he reached the limit of Basic Breathing Technique - Modified, his training efficiency would far surpass that of ordinary people.


    Also, with this feeling in mind, Tao Yu''s original n to Deify his [Basic Trap Making] was set aside momentarily.


    His frail body was definitely his biggest weakness. Surviving for fifteen days in the rainforest environment, a healthy body was of utmost importance.


    The best effects of gym training alsoe in the first month, correcting postures and forming habits, with personal parameters like bench press increasing dramatically. Now, the Basic Breathing Technique - Modified would naturally be the same.


    So, taking advantage of the prime period right after acquiring Basic Breathing Technique - Modified, when the efficiency was at its highest, Tao Yu decisively used thest bit of his Yuan Force to speed up the training of the Breathing Technique.


    Since only about sixty units of Yuan Force remained, elerating a hundredfold might onlyst for half an hour, which was not suitable. So he stretched the time to five hours, adjusting the rate to about twentyfold.


    He also reserved the final ten units of Yuan Force for emergencies, in case he got injured or fell ill without time to eat.


    Under Tao Yu''s Perception, using Yuan Force to recover vitality and heal injuries was extremely cost-inefficient; ten units of Yuan Force were roughly equivalent to eating a couple of bites of meat. The stronger one''s strength, the greater the consumption of Yuan Force for recovery, making it quite insubstantial and impractical for regr use.


    However, even so, having ten points was somewhatforting.


    Under normal training, it''s impossible for a person to practice twenty-four hours a day.


    A significant amount of time is needed for recovery and rest. Those five hours of twentyfold eleration are nearly equivalent to a few months of high-intensity training under normal conditions.


    ```


    However, Tao Yu also felt the increased energy consumption effect of "Deification."


    It was a stroke of luck that, thanks to his exceptional eyesight, he found a python hanging from a tree; otherwise, he estimated that thepressed rations in his backpack would have been consumed entirely after this intensified practice session.


    "Phew, not too bad, the increased physical exertion is just that, the elerated consumption of Yuan Force wasn''t much greater. But the training effect was too outstanding, the elerated effect in thest hour probably decreased by about thirty percent," he reflected.


    Feeling the elerated effect of Yuan Force gradually fade, Tao Yu stood up and threw a series of punches right where he was. The surge of Qi-Blood made a creaking sound in his bones, and after the routine, his whole body felt refreshed, as if he was several pounds lighter.


    But in reality, he had almost devoured an entire python weighing over fifty pounds by himself and had drunk several liters of water, yet his excretion was far from sufficient. His body had visibly bulked up, and the sense of lightness was a misperception brought on by the improvement in his physical condition.


    If he had been a malnourished young man before,


    now, at the very least, he reached the level of physical condition of an amateur sports enthusiast, and it was aprehensive one. The decrease in the eleration effect with the same Yuan Force consumption in thest hour could be considered a standard certification!


    He had be stronger!


    With the explosive power unleashed by the Breathing Technique, his extreme burst strength could be even higher.


    He would certainly be left in the dust by Bolt in a hundred-meter sprint, but he should be able to catch up and leave him crying within ten thousand meters.


    "Awesome~"


    After stretching his muscles and feeling the changes in his body''s condition, the experience of a healthy body made Tao Yu somewhat reluctant to stop, as he had never felt such a healthy and robust physique in his past or present life.


    Getting addicted to fitness was no empty talk.


    Picking up the ck metal water bottle that was still not entirely cold next to him, Tao Yu finished off the somewhat bitter water from the tree hole, and then went to fill the bottle at the tree hole again before cing it on the fire to heat and boil.


    At the same time, he skillfully tore strips from the lining of his cotton coat, which he no longer needed, to wrap the remaining cooked snake meat.


    Although there wasn''t much snake meat left, he didn''t want to waste it.


    Among the supplies he had brought, besides the weight upied by backup ammunition, most were survival items and food. In fact, relying solely on these, he could barely scrape by for fifteen days if he economized and reduced his activities, at least keeping himself alive.


    However, the entry point to the Abyss wouldn''t change; lingering here waiting for the day of awakening made no sense. Not to mention the dangers that could arise in the rainforest, if he sessfully returned, the next time he came back it would still be this ce. Would he have to carry a bag of food and scrape by again?


    So, having had his fill andpleted the initial strengthening, it was time to consider the next steps.


    Although thepany was quite wretched, with a level of ''blessing'' far beyond his previous life, for now, he still needed to find a ce that could offer shelter for his ''weak arms and legs.''


    Potential was potential, but strength was strength. Tao Yu, a man of two lives, hadn''t be so delusional as to not recognize his own limits.


    After he had packed away the snake meat and the water in the kettle began to boil, Tao Yu had the energy and the time to check the bulky receiver on his wrist.


    The green LED screen was filled with a pixted style, but this device could receive signals from a radio station.


    With knowledge from his previous life, Tao Yu knew that long-wave radio could form sky waves through reflection off the ionosphere.


    But it was quite clear that in this world full of rifts and fractures, it was uncertain whether such a thing existed. It was taken for granted that some Yuan Force-enhanced equipment allowed thepany''s radio station to have an exceptionally long range of influence.


    Time travel, the Abyss, the will of the world; what else couldn''t possibly appear?


    "I probably still need to climb a tree, right?"


    Looking at the tuned channel without any signal, he patted the bulky receiver and murmured to himself with doubt.


    Surrounded by dense rainforest, it seemed normal to have some interference. ncing around, he quickly spotted the most suitable tree to climb nearby, thanks to his keen eyesight.


    He left his equipment where it was and threw more branches into the fire before swiftly reaching the base of the target tree with his gun on his back.


    Weapons should never be far from hand; his parents had taught him that countless times.


    Looking at the rough texture of the tree bark in front of him, Tao Yu was eager to try out his robust physique. It was time for a demonstration of strength!


    ```

 Chapter 7 - 6 Familiar Fragments

    <h4>Chapter 7: Chapter 6 Familiar Fragments</h4>


    ```


    "Damn, this tree is really hard to climb."


    Perched on a sturdy branch at the crown of the tree, Tao Yu experienced a slight wheezing.


    Who knew what species this tree was? Being on the ground, he didn''t feel the immensity, with many nearby trees of simr size, but climbing up, he discovered it was as tall as several-story building.


    Moreover, with a gun and clips weighing over ten pounds on his back, it was quite a struggle.


    It was only thanks to the "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified" that replenished his physical fitness, otherwise, he probably couldn''t have made it up here with his former self.


    Physical conditioning was indeed his weakness.


    However, this tree climbing made Tao Yu discover yet another new advantage in himself.


    It must be the boon of "[One Proof Forever Proof]"¡ªeven though he felt a bit tired and there was a clear strain on his stamina, his strength, reflexes, and various other abilities hadn''t diminished in the slightest.


    Soreness is soreness, but it didn''t affect him, which was an odd contrast that he was still getting used to.


    Too bad the sensation of fatigue and muscle soreness couldn''t be offset by "Mental Immunity," otherwise it would be like cheating a bug in the system.


    Thinking about it, pain and fatigue were the body''s way of signaling itself, and to be able to block that with "Mental Immunity" would actually be troublesome.


    Sitting on the branch with one hand hooked around the trunk to prevent falling off, Tao Yu looked at the receiver in his hand, now showing a glimmer of signal indication with some bits of tree bark on it.


    This made him breathe a sigh of relief, the frequency had been pre-adjusted, thepany''s public frequency channel.


    Standing up, he stretched his hand high above his head, surpassing the tree canopy and swayed it back and forth, finally hearing a voice from the receiver,


    "...there is also another radio frequency here, but without the presence of Yuan Force, it is most likely an innate radio of the world fragment. We should try to gather in that direction as much as possible. I will update the broadcast info every day at noon, and the message will repeat until six in the evening..."


    Upon hearing this indifferent, cold voice, Tao Yu was momentarily stunned. What was going on?


    But soon, the voice finished and mechanically started repeating itself¡ªit must have been set to a recording, repeating the broadcast like a loop.


    "It is with great regret that we inform the inhabitants of Starshine City that we seem to have encountered a rare space-time anomaly event and did notplete the binding with thepany''s regional headquarters. Our items have not received any signal from thepany..."


    The talk''s opening thunder indicated that the speaker was very likely one of the twins from the Floating City.


    Being big shots born and raised in Rome, it was normal for them to have all sorts of exotic items and understandably, they could directly broadcast to all other members nearby.


    If they couldn''t receive any signal from thepany''s headquarters with their high-end equipment, then their judgment must be spot on!


    A space-time anomaly event? What a pain! Why would he encounter such a low-probability event?


    Err...


    Immediately, Tao Yu thought of his own "Divinity." Could it be possible that this was caused by himself?


    He then cast aside theseints and continued to listen silently to the messages on the radio.


    ording to the siblings from the Suns, the distance from here to thepany''s station was at the very least 100,000 kilometers, which amounted to at least two or three times the Earth''s equatorial circumference!


    Even with the shortest estimate, there could be multiple world fragments in between. Given the danger and variability of the Abyss, this distance was an insurmountable gulf, not to mention the great possibility of it being even further with more world fragments!


    So seeking thepany''s sanctuary for protection was out of the question. If one had the strength to cross such a vast distance, then what would they need protection for?


    The damnpany had lost the only good thing about it, crap.


    However, there was another piece of good news¡ªthey had received broadcasts from another radio station, containing some iprehensiblenguage.


    Together with their assessment that there were no enhanced signals powered by Yuan Force, it was quite possible that this radio station belonged to the native inhabitants of the world fragment.


    While it might not be a meeting ce for otherpanies, organizations, or races, at least there could be a ce to rest. The presence of a radio station indicated the possibility of a local civilization, and there might be a chance to make contact.


    Even if thenguage heard remotely might not be understandable at first, direct encounters with the natives could leverage the power of Yuan Force for trantion.


    This was one of the gifts from the world''s will, allowing the Pioneers to travel conveniently through the worlds.


    It''s said that some mental power specialists don''t need Yuan Force; they have the skill tomunicate on their own.


    With that radiostation at hand, relying on their basic foundation, constructing a new settlement temporarily could be quicker.


    ```


    "...Encountering a spacetime anomaly, you are indeed unfortunate, but being able toe here with us, that is your good fortune. With us as the core, we''ll build a newpany hub, and you will all be the founding members of that hub!"


    The familiar pep talk concluded, and Tao Yu gained some new insights about the current situation.


    However, at that moment, Tao Yu felt a slight tremor in the tree trunk.


    The tree was thick, but once Tao Yu had almost reached the top, he was still keenly aware of the vibrations.


    Looking around from the height, though many views were obstructed by branches and leaves, Tao Yu could sense the shaking of the branches in the jungle. Judging by the amplitude and frequency of the shaking, it seemed that somethingrge wasing?


    No, not just somethingrge, but something long, something bothrge and long!


    And then, the next moment, a huge snake''s head emerged from around the corner obscured by the forest, its size rivaling that of a water barrel,pletely overturning the normal proportions of a snake!


    Even if a normal snake is long, it usually isn''t very thick. The one that Tao Yu had eaten was three to four meters in length, but weighed only a little over fifty kilograms, and the weight of a python of about seven or eight meters was roughly the same as that of an adult human.


    It wasn''t impossible for two skilled adults to catch a seven or eight-meter python with their bare hands. A couple of shes with a bay, and that python ended up as Tao Yu''s meal.


    But this one, with a head asrge as a water barrel,pletely overturned Tao Yu''s understanding and brought an unspeakable sense of oppression.


    At the same time, Tao Yu quickly searched through his memories of past life''s movies and television shows.


    It seemed he had seen simr works of fiction.


    Yes, it was a snake of that kind!


    At this point, Tao Yu felt a strange feeling inside.


    The Abyss devoured many worlds, leaving a great number of world fragments, and the first to manifest were the various fantasy worlds.


    After his current world had been invaded by the Abyss, he could tell from bits and pieces that many world fragments were stories and myths that circted in this world.


    However, over the years, many stories had faded away due to various controls, and Tao Yu could only obtain limited information from what his parents told him.


    But whether throughnguage or other means, Tao Yu could be sure that this was not Earth, and all the stories were unrted to Earth.


    Even his "Divinity" certification from the outer gods could be considered a recognition by the will of the world.


    But why were there things simr to Earth''s movies and television shows appearing here?


    Was it a coincidental legend of the same kind? Or a fragment from Earth brought about by the spacetime anomaly?


    Does this mean...


    Earth has started to be devoured by the Abyss?


    With memories and umtions from his past life, Tao Yu wasn''t short of wild guesses and inferences, and he had made some guesswork and deductions himself.


    Even the spacetime anomaly might be rted to this, rted to him...


    And then in the next moment, he saw the python, possibly attracted by the scent of snake meat, swallowed his pack and some debris nearby in one gulp.


    "Damn it!"


    Putting his spection aside, Tao Yu sat firmly on the branch without a trace of fear. He lifted his AK-like rifle, aimed at the python, and then pulled the trigger.


    Confident in the killing power of bullets on carbon-based organisms, Tao Yu didn''t care about the monstrously sized python. As long as he could hit its vital points, it would die!


    With his eyesight, there was no way he would let it get away, right?


    Ratatat¡ª


    The pained python quickly coiled up and, with the pack and the roasted snake meat it had swallowed, left Tao Yu''s line of fire instantaneously, leaving him sitting on the branch speechless.


    I was sure I aimed at its head...


    Who could have thought that, while the eyes and hands could keep up, the quality of the firearms couldn''t?


    The trajectory was just too erratic...

 Chapter 8 - 7 Gunshot

    <h4>Chapter 8: Chapter 7 Gunshot</h4>


    "Ah, Mom and Dad probably never imagined I''d be doing long-range shooting."


    Tao Yu slid down from the tree and looked at the fire that had been extinguished by the python''s writhing and the scattered items nearby, realizing he had to focus and start looking for any useful items that might remain.


    It wasn''t that his parents had neglected the quality of firearms, but in this survival-focused environment, burst fire from a distance was almost never necessary; the first choice when facing a far-off threat was usually to hide rather than to make noise by opening fire.


    This AK-like rifle was powerful with a low rate of failure; although it might not be as good as a submachine gun at close range, in the hands of Tao Yu, who had a basic understanding of firearms, it was still pretty decent.


    He just never expected that he would be firing from a tree branch...


    Fortunately, the water bottle had been left on the fire to boil, and although the metal bottle was a bit deformed, it was still usable.


    Aside from the water bottle, the only things left were the equipment on his body.


    The cowhide armor made by his mother provided some defense, and it even had a small holstered pistol attached, as well as two full 30-round magazines.


    On the outside of his thigh, he also had a multipurpose dagger with flint attached, along with this N-series assault rifle known for its elegant trajectory and two fragmentation grenades.


    After surveying his surroundings, Tao Yu''s current dynamic vision and reaction speed meant he didn''t have to worry too much about any sneak attacks.


    For protection, the ces where the world''s will dropped neers on their Awakening Day were usually ''low-danger'' zones.


    Based on the experiences of his parents, elder brother, sister-inw, and Uncle Hu, most of the time during Awakening Day, one probably wouldn''t even need to use a weapon; the main challenges were environmental and about survival.


    The dangers outside of the environment were often from wild animals such as jackals, wolves, tigers, leopards, and bears, as well as various poisonous insects and snakes.


    That python could certainly be considered a fierce beast but was also somewhat above average in terms of danger.


    "I hope there isn''t anything even more outrageous around."


    Tao Yu''s eyes flickered slightly¡ªif this was indeed a fragment of that movie world from his memory, then these pythons were surely Yuan Force creatures!


    Although as a mere mortal, his Yuan Force reserves might not be much, having an extra fifteen to twenty points was still a very decent gain for the current Tao Yu.


    The starting thousand units of Yuan Force were a gift from his parents; it was what they could save from not spending anything from their sries for at least three or four months together.


    Even though they both held rtively low-risk jobs, as veterans who had been in the field for decades, they only managed to earn about ten units of Yuan Force per daybined.


    Tao Yu wouldn''t underestimate the Yuan Force carried by that python just because he had already spent a thousand units cavalierly.


    Being able to gain Yuan Force during this standard period of limation for neers on Awakening Day was already a good thing.


    Moreover, if it was the world fragment he anticipated, those pythons could be rted to another type of Yuan Force item, the Blood Orchid!


    Yuan Force items could not only be absorbed directly as Yuan Force, but they might also have various functions. Blood Orchid seemed promising¡ªit was possible he might even be able to consume it directly.


    First, he had to confirm that he couldn''t reach thepany''s gathering ce, not just for this half-month, but also for a while after, he might need to y wilderness survival in this rainforest!


    These giant pythons, with their sensitive reactions and strength far exceeding that of a normal snake, posed a danger beyond that of ordinary wild beasts, but they also brought corresponding benefits.


    He had fired three shots from the tree earlier and, along with his spare magazine, he was left with eighty-seven bullets for the rifle and seventeen for the small-caliber pistol.


    Maybe he could try to convert these remaining bullets into some kind of advantage before they were all used up.


    "Those two from the Floating City, I wonder where they are. They''re probably not in the rainforest, and I''m likely quite far from that ce with the radio they mentioned. I''ll still prioritize gathering resources and improving myself."


    Turning potential into actual strength as soon as possible is of the utmost importance.


    When I return, I''ll stay in the Outer City. Within this damnpany''s sphere of control, only strength is the best bargaining chip!


    He looked down at the bloodstains left by the python after it was shot, and the direction in which they extended, and after taking a deep breath, Tao Yu started moving in that direction.


    "Python, here Ie! If you''ve eaten my share, you better spit it out double!"


    ...


    An hourter, Tao Yu looked up at the dimming light filtering through the leaves and frowned.


    Though his enhanced vision wasn''t affected here, the rainforest at night was obviously going to be more dangerous.


    The practice of the "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified" and the fragmentary time had also dragged on until evening.


    "Shot and still running so fast."


    After all, in the rainforest, Tao Yu couldn''t rush on his way; he had been following the blood trail left by the python.


    Even for a python, a gunshot wound wasn''t so easy to heal, and Tao Yu had kept up closely, wanting to see if the creature would die from excessive blood loss on the way. He didn''t want to give up now that he had followed it this far.


    Looking at a drop of thick blood on the fallen leaves on the ground, as well as the snake trail made by the other party, Tao Yu also looked around.


    The rainforest, growing darker by the moment, had sporadic noises and strange sounds, and the environment became more and more like the Underworld as the light faded.


    "I''ll chase for another half hour; if I haven''t caught up by then, I''ll have to start a fire and rest."


    Although Tao Yu''s visual abilities were extremely strong and he wasn''t afraid of not seeing clearly, he wasn''tcent either.


    Walking over to a tree trunk nearby, he casually cut into the bark with a bay and then tore off a loose piece of bark with his bare hands, revealing several plump white grubs which he then stuffed into his already bulging pocket.


    The rainforest was great for this, food was everywhere, and these were all high-quality proteins, ready to be eaten after a bit of roasting over the fire.


    He could eat them raw, actually, but his physique couldn''t immunize against diseases yet; if he got diarrhea, it would be troublesome.


    Although diarrhea wouldn''t affect his strength and he could recover by eating, it was a waste of energy and time, so it wasn''t worth the risk.


    It was at that moment that he faintly heard a series of gunshots, causing Tao Yu to pause.


    He then realized that he might have run into some others from his group, as even though the teleport was anchored incorrectly, the distances between them might not be too far apart.


    There was also a small chance of encountering some characters native to this fragment of the world, but in the midst of the rainforest, that possibility was slim. Worlds like this opened randomly, and they wouldn''t necessarily drop him right into the unfolding story.


    After some consideration, Tao Yu still decided to stealthily approach the direction of the gunshots, to observe the people involved and make a targeted decision ordingly.


    No matter what, in an environment like the rainforest, it wouldn''t be bad to encounter someone who could band together temporarily to watch over each other and ensure rest.


    The fatigue on a mental level wasn''t simply about whether one could recover or not.


    However, as Uncle Hu had advised, if he encountered someone from the Inner City or those twins, he would have to think twice.


    Hm~


    Actually, the current situation had already deviated greatly from the initial estimates.


    If it was the twins, now would be the time they were seeking to establish a new gathering ce and were in need of hands.


    If he couldn''t avoid them, he could just say his "Dynamic Vision" was at (MAX) level, which would likely result in being temporarily recruited as a talent.


    Valuable talents would be utilized, and the greater the value, the greater the leverage.


    Adjusting the contingency n ording to different situations was the best choice.


    He would keep "Divinity" to himself for sure, and he wouldn''t mention "Bullet Time."


    But "Dynamic Vision" wasn''t something that couldn''t be revealed, as its ability at (MAX) level was most likely inferior to the innate talent inherited by the twins.


    However, based on the information heard from previous broadcasts, they were probably not in the jungle, so it shouldn''t be them...

 Chapter 9 - 8: Time to Hunt

    <h4>Chapter 9: Chapter 8: Time to Hunt</h4>


    ```


    In the rainforest, a youth d in leather armor, his face marked by e, his body robust, roared incessantly at a tall and thin student in front of him clutching a steel pipe.


    "That''s clearly a Yuan Force creature! It just slipped away right before our eyes! Why didn''t you stop it? What''s the use of bringing you along!"


    Although this e-covered young man was the same age as the slim student in front, his physique was clearly much more robust, indicating he likely enjoyed better meals regrly.


    He wore a set of leather armor simr to Tao Yu''s, and held an assault rifle in his hand, which was clearly superior to the tall and thin student''s sharpened steel pipe and ordinary clothes.


    Facing hispanion''s scolding, the tall and thin student dared not retort, quietly listening on the side.


    After venting for a while, Liu Wen looked at Zhang Wei, who was honest and didn''t talk back, and felt slightly more at ease.


    His heart had always been full of resentment due to his dismal awakened talent, and he had just taken the opportunity tosh out.


    Liu Wen being able to grow so robust in the outer city environment and have decent equipment indicated that his family''s situation was quite good.


    His father possessed Keen (C ss)bat talent and served in the security forces; his siblings'' talents weren''t bad either, all somewhat rted tobat.


    But who would have thought that he himself would awaken a Sensitivity (D ss) talent that was as useless as chicken ribs!


    To him, this talent seemed to be a negative enhancement, magnifying many of his sensations.


    Pain, itchiness, stuffiness, and other sensations were all intensified, which was sheer torture in the rainforest!


    He also felt a wave of darkness about his future.


    This talent wasn''t without employment or developmental prospects, but most were auxiliary roles such as drug testing or skill assessment. Although the ie might not be bad, the environments were fairly terrible.


    If he didn''t take on such work, he feared that even with the effort to have many children, he might still end up queuing for the cannon fodder list in his middle age.


    In contrast, the mud-leg orphan before him imed to have an Endurance (E+ ss) talent!


    Although it wasn''t very strong, at least it was somewhat beneficial to fighting, and with training, the fellow''s physical fitness would certainly be somewhat superior to an ordinary person''s.


    After Awakening Day was over and they returned, thepany would definitely be willing to provide some resources to nurture him. Fatherless and motherless, he might just be the motive for some people to want to take him under their wing!


    With effort, that person might never enter the cannon fodder list for life!


    Although the two of them were still mainly reliant on him, his future already seemed less promising than the other''s, which left a bitter taste in Liu Wen''s mouth, along with a sense of impotent rage.


    If it weren''t for needing someone to help keep watch at night in this damn rainforest, he really felt the urge tosh out and assail the other person.


    After all, deaths on Awakening Day were normal, and even more so with his gear.


    "What are you standing around for? Chase after it! Do you expect me to lead the way?"


    Liu Wen chided the dazed Zhang Wei, who muttered a low ''oh'' in response before slowly advancing with the steel pipe towards the direction the python had fled.


    Orphaned since young and raised by his aunt as a token for cannon fodder ranking points, Zhang Wei learned early to recognize his status and surroundings.


    With no opportunity to learn any skills, it would be difficult to survive in the rainforest without others, especially with abnormallyrge pythons like this one.


    Though he was filled with fear, he still trembled as he parted the bushes, following the winding snake trail ahead, the icy steel pipe in his hand providing no assurance of safety.


    It was only the Endurance (D+ ss) talent he had awakened that gave him a nice boost in physical strength, allowing his fitness to far exceed that of an ordinary person even without any Yuan Force enhancement.


    Previously, he wanted to demonstrate his value without inciting jealousy, so he underreported his talent as (E+).


    It seemed, though, that he had still agitated his temporary partner, who might not have awakened abat talent. He really feared the man might turn on him.


    But in such a rainforest, where survival was everyone''s top priority, a sidekick who would take risks on hismand and keep watch at night was likely more valuable alive...


    Zhang Wei had never considered ambushing Liu Wen and going solo because he had no experience with firearms and few other survival skills. Alone, even with a gun, he feared the danger would be greater.


    Survive!


    This was the ultimate goal he set for himself on Awakening Day!


    Now with a decent talent, he could sell himself for a good price upon returning. This was the darkness before the dawn!


    He must endure through it!


    And at that moment, he noticed that the snake trail ahead seemed to suddenly turn.


    Following the crushed foliage and the contorted path that veered to one side, as he changed direction to continue along the snake trail, he suddenly found himself stunned to see that the trail had turned again!


    Looking at the twisted and broken branches along the way, Zhang Wei followed the signs upward only to discover that the creature had climbed atop a massive tree and moved towards the back...


    Swallowing hard, he slowly turned around to see a massive snake head, as big as a water tank and smeared with blood, silently descending from above.


    The coiled body, akin to a tightlypressed spring with terrifying explosive power, had already appeared just a few meters behind Liu Wen.


    "Watch out! Behind you!"


    Zhang Wei yelled out a piercing warning, not only to save Liu Wen but for his own survival!


    ```


    ```


    While roaring, he also howled strangely, waving the steel pipe in his hand and making various movements in an attempt to draw the attention of the Python!


    He knew clearly that the gun in Liu Wen''s hand was the real Assassin to deal with this creature.


    If the Python turned to look for him, who was at a farther distance, then Liu Wen would have the chance to spray bullets and take it down.


    It wasn''t that he had a fearless spirit of self-sacrifice, but that he had to do this!


    Liu Wen, who had always been a bit distracted due to his Sensitive skill, jerked to alertness upon hearing Zhang Wei''s loud roar.


    After all, they had done a lot of specific training beforeing in, and without even turning his head, he raised the muzzle of the gun and pulled the trigger.


    Sparks flew with the rat-tat-tat of gunfire as he turned his body.


    He tried to scare off any potential attacks in this way, fighting for a bit of time!


    However, since the Python had already turned to ambush from behind, it was clear that it had identified the more threatening target.


    At first, it approached slowly while in hiding, but now that it had been discovered, the coiled muscles of its body suddenly exploded with force, catapulting itself forward with released tension.


    The Python''s massive head dodged the gunfire with a side strike and bit Liu Wen into its mouth in one bite.


    The sound of crunching bones also demonstrated the Python''s terrifying bite force.


    The powerful impact instantly crushed Liu Wen''s bones and burst his internal organs.


    If he had been a normal person, such instantaneous injuries would not have been felt, but Liu Wen, endowed with the Sensitive skill, still managed to let out a pig-like scream.


    This scream seemed to be the Python''s war song, prompting it to toss the rag-doll-like body with a snap of its jaws and bite down hard once more.


    The gunfire and the screams both stopped abruptly, and then the Python''s mouth bulged as it shifted the corpse from a horizontal aspect to a more swallow-friendly direction, swallowing it down at a speed far exceeding that of a normal snake.


    Normally, snakes have little desire to attack while swallowing food and may even regurgitate their food when threatened.


    But this Python was different, gulping down Liu Wen''s body while its water-tank-sized head turned towards Zhang Wei, who was holding the steel pipe and halfway to a charge, rapidly slithering in his direction.


    This caused Zhang Wei, who was frozen stiff, to show a look of despair, forced to firmly grasp his steel pipe and retreat to lean against a thick tree trunk.


    He braced the tail end of the steel pipe against the tree, then stared fixedly at the Python slithering towards him.


    With Liu Wen gone, he knew he couldn''t outrun the Python on his own. The Python''s speed and Dexterity clearly surpassed those of regr snakes. The current moment was hisst chance for a desperate blow!


    "Come on, you beast!"


    The desire to survive overcame fear and despair. He couldn''t afford to die here after finally awakening the fighting Skill he had longed for.


    The Python had already started to coil its upper half, like apressed spring ready to burst at any moment.


    But just then, a series of blood spatters suddenly burst from the massive head of the Python, and at the same time, the rat-tat-tat of gunfire came from not far away.


    The powerful bullets of the assault rifle hit their target urately, with many piercing right through the eyes, almost instantly incapacitating the Python.


    Due to the primitive nervous system of snakes, even after its brain had been peppered with bullets, the Python''s massive body still writhed violently.


    The force was so strong it crushed many branches and shook the huge tree that would take several people to encircle with a single p.


    The terrifying explosive power and raw brutish strength seemed to proim the dominance of this jungle overlord.


    However, it was unfortunate that even as the head of the flesh and blood Python was turned to a honeb, it couldn''t survive.


    Even as the Python''s head fell to the ground and its body still moved unconsciously, it was likely dead.


    "Could you please check and see if it''s dead? I''ll cover you from behind."


    Tao Yu emerged from the bushes and smiled politely at Zhang Wei.


    He had also faintly heard Liu Wen''s scolding previously, and had been observing from a distance, using his Keen eyesight to keep watch.


    Having learned from previous mistakes with gunfire, he didn''t take the risk to shoot when the Python attacked Liu Wen, and instead went to a range where he was sure the bullets wouldn''t fly erratically before he started firing.


    The result wasn''t too bad.


    This tall and thin guy, through preliminary assessment, seemed like a good temporary teammate. It was clear he understood his position well and was cooperating.


    By speaking up and daring to draw the Python''s attention, he showed that he had a good grasp of the current situation.


    "Thank you! Thank you so much! Please cover me..."


    Zhang Wei looked at Tao Yu, who had arrived like a heaven-sent soldier and rescued him, with a face showing a mix of emotions.


    Zhang Wei perked up upon hearing Tao Yu''s words and, while his mouth overflowed with gratitude, controlled his trembling legs and walked toward the Python.


    He prodded the Python''s head with his steel pipe, making sure it was thoroughly dead...


    ```

 Chapter 10 - 9 Break-In

    <h4>Chapter 10: Chapter 9 Break-In</h4>


    ```


    Wiping the slime off the magazines with leaves, Tao Yu inserted the three newly acquired magazines into the slots on the chest of his leather armor.


    Although the dead guy here had probably absorbed all the Yuan Force items he brought, Tao Yu still replenished some magazines from his body, making up for the loss of his devoured pack.


    This python was not the one he had injured; only Liu Wen''s corpse was inside, not his own backpack.


    Besides, he could feel the Yuan Force from the python''s body converging after death, umting on a tooth in its mouth.


    Tao Yu extracted this tooth and absorbed it, gaining roughly fifteen units of Yuan Force and some messy information about its diet.


    Thanks to Mental Immunity, Tao Yu wasn''t affected by the disordered information at all, and he had a vague sense of understanding.


    If he continued and could kill simr pythons toplete the information, he might gain one or twoplete rted skills.


    They should be rted to stealth and explosive power.


    The quality of the skills might be average, but for Tao Yu, who had Deification, they weren''t to be frowned upon.


    Turning to look at Zhang Wei who was skillfully dealing with the python''s body, cutting the snake meat into pieces and roasting them over the fire, Tao Yu wiped down the handgun he got from Liu Wen and said,


    "How are your firearm skills?"


    Liu Wen''s assault rifle had been damaged by the python''s bite, but there was still a handgun that could be used.


    Hearing Tao Yu''s words, Zhang Wei, who was engaged in cutting the python meat and covered in blood, also looked up with an embarrassed smile,


    "I, I''ve never trained."


    Upon hearing this, Tao Yu immediately dismissed the idea of lending the spare handgun to him.


    While firearm usage might seem simple, it''s quite troublesome for someone who has never touched one, and might even pose a threat to oneself.


    He then holstered the handgun on the other thigh leather holster.


    After absorbing the python''s tooth and obtaining that fragmented information, Tao Yu still wanted to continue hunting these pythons.


    Arming Zhang Wei a bit at this time would actually have a positive effect, but since he had no firearm skills, Tao Yu wouldn''t waste bullets on his practice.


    Looking down at the sizable amount of python meat that had been cut, Tao Yu also spoke up to remind,


    "That''s enough, you''ll carry this meatter."


    "Oh, okay."


    Zhang Wei looked somewhat reluctantly at the mostly wasted python corpse but still dutifully began to roll the cut meat over the fire to roast.


    In the Outer City, there are a few designated ces selling supplies at exorbitant prices, where two units of Yuan Force could only buy a pound of meat, and yet they only offered one unit of Yuan Force for five pounds when buying from hunters.


    So, in fact, most of the meat brought back from the Abyss was consumed by themselves or exchanged among rtives.


    Although there were private sales, getting caught meant direct obliteration of one''s umted points, which seldom happened unless one was desperate.


    The same applied to food.


    With everyone being limited in the amount of supplies they could carry to and from the Abyss, the corporation basically kept everyone in the Outer City''s living resources under a threshold, tightly controlling it through the adjustment of prices of living essentials.


    After Zhang Wei briefly roasted and packed the snake meat into his backpack, the sky had alsopletely darkened.


    The night in the rainforest is truly a dark forest, with heavy shadows of trees all around, and the mes from the campfire make it seem like a frenzied dance of demons.


    Even so, with such a stinky andrge python corpse beside them, Tao Yu still urged Zhang Wei,


    "Let''s get ready to leave, it''s not safe to stay here for long. I injured another python earlier, not this one, and it might be nearby."


    "Okay."


    Rest they would, but they needed to find a different ce.


    Otherwise, not only pythons but other troubles might be attracted, and even if they could cope, they wouldn''t be able to rest properly.


    Zhang Wei understood this as well.


    After creating a few simple torches from tree resin and branches, he took the lead, carrying a torch in one hand and a steel pipe in the other.


    "What is your awakened talent? Is itbat-rted?"


    ```


    Tao Yu looked at Zhang Wei''s tall and thin body, which had been through so much and had even dissected a python, yet still seemed to have decent strength while carrying about twenty kilograms of snake meat on his back, and he decided to ask.


    The other party didn''t have his own "[One Proof Forever Proof]" trait, so the only exnation for maintaining normalcy was having a sufficiently high physical strength limit.


    "Bro Tao, the talent I awakened is [Endurance] (E+)," Zhang Wei said in an ingratiating tone while walking in front. "Leave this sort of heavy lifting to me. As long as you can hold the ler, I don''t want anything. I just hope to follow you and live to make it back."


    Upon hearing his words, Tao Yu could roughly understand why Zhang Wei was being so subservient.


    Because he possessedbat talents, surviving this trip alone would allow him to achieve a certain rank promotion. With such hope and expectation, his words were not mere politeness.


    On the Day of Awakening, the people of the Outer City typically just hoped to survive. Having already killed a python, they could consider it a decent harvest.


    Inparison, after Zhang Wei returned, even if he sold himself, the price and ie he couldmand would be much higher.


    [Endurance] (E+) was considered a standardborer''s talent, more helpful on the battle side than [Eagle Eye] and about the same as [Dynamic Vision] of the same level.


    It was considered a standardbat talent.


    Securing a stable job like his parents had, or even a better one, wasn''t out of the question.


    However, whether his skill level was truly (E+) was uncertain; there might be some exaggeration.


    "Good, my talent is [Dynamic Vision] (B)," Tao Yu said, revealing one of his talents to give Zhang Wei some confidence. "I can see clearly at night too. If you think about it, weplement each other well. But I n to continue hunting these pythons. Are you sure you want to follow me?"


    If he had encountered the twins, he might reveal [Dynamic Vision] (MAX) to enhance his value.


    But now, there was no need to show off as long as he could keep Zhang Wei in line.


    "Abat talent of B rank? Bro Tao, you''re awesome! Rest assured, as long as you can hold the line, I''ll cooperate with you," Zhang Wei praised, genuinely surprised in his heart. [Dynamic Vision] might be just a standardbat talent, but at the B rank, it should easily allow one to join the security forces, right?


    Perhaps with enough effort, one might even get a chance to enter the Inner City?


    That was something he dared not even dream of.


    Then he said somewhat awkwardly,


    "Um, actually, my talent is D+ level. I was in a team with someone before, and he seemed a bit jealous."


    Since there was no longer any need to worry about jealousy, Zhang Wei wanted to inte his value a bit.


    As for the gains from the Day of Awakening, Zhang Wei had no expectations whatsoever.


    He himself didn''t possess any valuable skills, relying solely on talent to get by. To put it inly, now that he had Yuan Force, he could only do calisthenics to improve his physical fitness, which was both wasteful and inefficient.


    Since [Endurance] (D+) ensured the minimum requirement anyway, why not use the limited Yuan Force to enhance his strength by supporting the capable ones?


    "Not bad, the stronger the better," Tao Yu enticed. "I''ll take any Yuan Force-rted materials. If you do well, I can even let you take back the snake meat and Liu Wen''s handgun afterwards."


    Tao Yu dangled a small carrot.


    When traveling between ces, aside from volume restrictions, there were also weight limitations.


    That''s why homes were filled with odds and ends.


    The weight limit was determined by the individual''s unaffected carrying capacity. With Zhang Wei''s [Endurance] (D+), he should have the chance to carry back a load of fifty kilograms at the end.


    Plus, an ordinary handgun worth about a hundred Yuan Force would be a decent haul for Zhang Wei.


    For Tao Yu''s parents, such a gain might amount to half a month''s work.


    He could have offered nothing, but setting a goal and keeping it hanging could better mobilize the other party''s initiative.


    "Thank you, thank you! I will definitely work hard!"


    Zhang Wei was clearly prompted into some enthusiasm, appearing somewhat uplifted.


    His talent wasn''t outstanding, and even if he went back and sold himself, it would only be for manualbor, just a much better life than before. Such a harvest was worth the risk for him!


    Moreover, this elder brother possessed the [Dynamic Vision] (B) talent, with an obvious foundation in firearms handling, shooting extremely urately. These pythons seemed dangerous, but were still within an eptable range...

 Chapter 11 - 10 Trouble

    <h4>Chapter 11: Chapter 10 Trouble</h4>


    Fzzt~


    Electric currents, suggestive of microwave radiation from the Abyss, continued to buzz in the receiver. Tao Yu stood on a forked branch, hugging the tree trunk with one arm while constantly waving his hand back and forth. He quickly also received the updated broadcast information for the day.


    "...Fzzt~, that variety of Yuan Force creature excels in lurking and has both high speed and explosive power, posing a great threat to you. Perhaps it is due to some space-time anomaly that such a difficult Yuan Force creature has appeared, so now start gathering in groups as early as possible.


    "Those from the Inner City should get organized, each person should bring at least five peers from the Outer City, and there will be rewards for those who bring more..."


    The new intelligence information followed the broadcast, the same voice as yesterday''s, and after listening to a round, he also began to listen to the rey in front to fill in the gaps.


    "In a day''s time, I have met up with my sister and also encountered two other peers, and it seems that our location is right at the boundary between two world fragments, our side being an endless grasnd.


    "Determining east from west with the annr pattern of sunlight, to our west is a rainforest. If there are people in the rainforest, try to move eastward, enter the grasnd, and we will light some smoke along the way as a marker..."


    The twins from the Inner City indeed boasted impressive equipment, apparently also having positioning andmunication methods among themselves, having managed to rendezvous in just a day, even finding two scattered peers in the process.


    In a normal mission, those two scattered peers wouldn''t actually be so lucky, as they might be used as cannon fodder for some explorations.


    But this time, faced with a space-time anomaly, their temporary shortage of manpower might make them more concerned about the number of people they could utilize.


    Through the orders given over the broadcast to those few in the Inner City, one could surmise their intentions.


    Regardless of their aims, at least in terms of the actions taken, they have aided a group from the Outer City whose abilities were generally lower.


    "They really weren''t in the rainforest but on a grasnd to the east?"


    Tao Yu murmured to himself in contemtion.


    He was preparing to hunt a python toplete the two skill pieces of information, then see if he could find the Blood Orchid, with the matter of heading to the assembly being not so urgent.


    Surviving in such a ce still came with a fair amount of pressure.


    And with those two guys from the Floating City around, next time they might bring something tailored to deal with this very issue. He would still be living in the Outer City upon his return, so ultimately, his direction of progression did indeed need to align with theirs.


    Tao Yu knew he had potential, but the Floating City twins held an overwhelming advantage in both Yuan Force and skills.


    Combined with their sophisticated equipment, his strength would surely fall short of theirs for a considerable time toe.


    To temporarily form a safe haven around them seemed like a good choice.


    Information in this broadcast also hinted at the presence of a "great threat" to neers in the form of agile Yuan Force creatures on their grasnd?


    Tao Yu spected for a moment but didn''te to any definitive conclusion¡ªthe information was still too sparse.


    This once again proved that the help provided by the World Will on the Day of Awakening wasn''t all-powerful.


    After all, the Abyss was an endless terminus capable of devouring many worlds, and one couldn''t rely on past experiences to make judgments.


    Having received the information for the day, Tao Yu looked around from his position in the tree, making a quick assessment of the surrounding safety, before looking down at Zhang Wei, who was busy dealing with the snake carcass and equipment.


    Having a little follower like this was actually quite good; he could take care of all the dirty and tiring tasks, neverining, even acting as a meat shield to some extent with the scent of bloody snake meat on him.


    This snake had been freshly killed in the morning, the very one that had eaten Tao Yu''s backpack, which had now been retrieved from its stomach, with Zhang Wei finishing up the cleaning of some useful supplies.


    With more and more bullets fired and equipment dropping from creatures killed, Tao Yu couldn''t help but feel a bit speechless.


    Thanks to the increasingly ample ammunition, Tao Yu was getting more and more confident about finding the Blood Orchid andpleting the python skill information.


    Given the immense size of the ce, the Blood Orchid might be hard to find, butpleting the information on hunting the python should be achievable.


    "Ah Wei, that''s enough, it''s time to leave."


    Tao Yu descended from the tree,nding beside Zhang Wei.


    "Alright, Tao Brother, here are the cleaned bullets."


    "Good job."


    Tao Yu patted Zhang Wei''s shoulder and put the bullets into his own backpack.


    Then he picked up a piece of snake jerky sprinkled with a bit of salt and began gnawing on it.


    "Bro Tao, did the broadcast mention anything?"


    Zhang Wei was packing up, getting ready to hit the road and looking at Tao Yu with some anticipation.


    No matter whether he would gain any improvement after returning, the Abyss would still be here next time, so deciding the next steps was crucial.


    Having teamed up with Liu Wen before, neither of them could climb high enough to receive the broadcast information. It was onlyst night that Zhang Wei found out about the space-time anomalies from Tao Yu, which hit him hard.


    "There is some good news, actually. We can confirm the general direction we need to head in next..."


    Tao Yu briefly exined, which somewhat relieved Zhang Wei.


    "But I''ve still decided to hunt the Python first."


    Tao Yu nced at Zhang Wei; it was both giving Zhang Wei a choice and a test.


    "I''ll follow your lead, Bro Tao. I''ll just handle the work."


    Zhang Wei didn''t show any objections to Tao Yu''s decision, keeping a very proper attitude.


    At least that was how it appeared on the surface.


    No matter what, he needed to rely on Tao Yu to survive.


    Object? Did he even have the right? That would only increase Tao Yu''s annoyance; there was no need for it!


    Zhang Wei, who had lived carefully in his aunt''s house since he was little, had this awareness.


    "Don''t worry about spending too much time either. Encountering two Pythons in two days indicates that their density is somewhat abnormal."


    Seeing Zhang Wei''s choice, Tao Yu still smiled and reassured him.


    The Pythons'' food consumption is not low, and although the rainforest is abundant in food, the close proximity of two Pythons could indicate their mating season is drawing near.


    Tao Yu had a deep impression of some rted scenes from his memory, particrly the image of a group of Pythons mating together to form arge ball. Although the number of these snakes wouldn''t berge, the nearby presence shouldn''t be too scarce at this time...


    ...


    Tao Yu''s judgment wasn''t wrong. In the following three days, while updating new broadcast information every day, he also hunted four more Pythons and spent a couple of units of Yuan Force each night to slightly elerate the "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified."


    Although the consumption of Yuan Force wasn''t much, the practice time was long enough and he was well-fed, so the effect seemed quite decent, allowing him to feel a slight improvement.


    Just that Tao Yu found it a bit absurd that one of the Pythons even exploded with another peer''s gear, unexpectedly increasing his ammunition count again.


    "Hmm, if now willing to spend Yuan Force for eleration or take more time to practice, at least one Skill should be getting formed."


    After Tao Yu absorbed a new Python fang, the fragments of information inside it pieced together like a puzzle with prior data, sketching out the rough outlines of two Skills.


    Following this information, he could master them in advance and also spend Yuan Force to elerate the process.


    However, with only a hundred units of Yuan Force saved up, Tao Yu didn''t want to waste it on this. It was better to wait, absorb one or two more Pythons to naturally perfect the Skills and then go for Deification, which seemed more cost-effective.


    "Bro Tao, you''re really incredible, managing to hit their heads even with the Pythons'' burst of speed. I was dumbfounded watching you earlier; it''s no wonder you have the B-grade Dynamic Vision."


    Zhang Wei was dissecting the Python''s body, checking to see if there was any "new equipment" while enduring the stench, and he couldn''t help but admire Tao Yu.


    It wasn''t just ttery either; the previous one had attempted to attack like a few days ago with Liu Wen, trying to be stealthy by circling to the back for a surprise attack.


    But unfortunately, Tao Yu''s Bullet Time insight wasid out before him. What seemed like dangerous dodging and shooting were all within expectations, and the passive enhancement alone resolved the issue without even triggering his active state.


    "It''s nothing special. In terms of strength, a Python could throw me a few streets away, but with a gun in hand..."


    Tao Yu said nonchntly with a smile. However, his expression froze as the branches around them began to shake unnaturally, just like when a Python appeared before.


    Most crucially, this disturbance was quite significant, more than any previous encounter!


    And it wasn''t just one!

 Chapter 12 - 11 Powerful Talent

    <h4>Chapter 12: Chapter 11 Powerful Talent</h4>


    "Be careful, there are snakesing over, more than one."


    "What?!"


    Zhang Wei heard this and immediately stood up in rm, gripping the steel pipe in his hands tightly. Although Tao Yu had made killing the python look easy, that was just one-on-one!


    Each python''s head wasrge enough and its vitality strong enough that normally it would take at least a dozen shots to the head to kill it.


    Human attention is limited, and it can lead to neglecting one thing while attending to another. If there were really multiple snakes, these pythons which could instantly kill with one strike would greatly increase the difficulty and danger!


    This caused the hand that Zhang Wei held the steel pipe with to also sweat, mixing with the blood from the snake carcass he was previously cutting open, making the steel pipe feel slippery in his grip.


    As the noise intensified, Tao Yu quickly nced back at the snake carcass on the ground and cursed silently. Was this one a female? What had drawn so many here?


    This is a bit troublesome...


    Tao Yu was able to fight these pythons solely with the advantage of firearms, but his own defense could not withstand the pythons'' attacks!


    Even if he could burst forth with enough strength after being chewed up thanks to [One Proof Forever Proof], it wouldn''t change the fact that he could be killed instantly.


    Looking at his Yuan Force which had once again returned to a hundred points, Tao Yu hesitated for a moment and did not immediately choose to activate Deification on anybat skill.


    He was temporarily satisfied with his firearm uracy, and punching, kicking, and using swords were restricted by his physical condition, so it would be better to save all one hundred points for prolonging life.


    If he were really swallowed by a snake, he could still burst through its stomach to escape!


    While adjusting himself with the Breathing Technique, the Qi-Blood surging through his body, Tao Yu continually surveyed his surroundings, ready to eliminate one python first.


    Swish swish~


    The sound of branches moving grew closer, and there were sounds of fallen leaves being swept across the ground. Some were in the trees, others wereing from the ground.


    Even Tao Yu''s eyesight could make out the asional sh of green bodies, but he chose not to open fire.


    He had tried before; gunshot wounds to the body had limited effect on these massive creatures, and with only thirty bullets in a clip, he had to consider the time to change clips and the consumption of ammunition for multiple snakes!


    "Here theye!"


    The head of the first python finally emerged, slowly poking out from behind arge tree.


    Tao Yu didn''t even give it a chance to react, firing immediately!


    Dealing with one by one or all at once werepletely different levels of difficulty, so it was imperative to take out one first!


    However, just as Tao Yu fired at the head of that python, sttering its blood and causing its body to twist, another python broke through the dense foliage from behind and rapidly opened its mouth, leaping down at Tao Yu!


    The speed and power unleashed by its spring-like body far exceeded its movements when slithering.


    Zhang Wei, though making threatening shouts and waving his steel pipe from the side, did no good. The python seemed quite intelligent, knowing who posed a greater threat!


    Furthermore, a third python appeared from the side, quickly coiling its body, ready to strike!


    Tao Yu never ced his hopes on Zhang Wei''s ability to distract them. With a calm expression, he finished off the first python while his heart seemed to slow its beating.


    The feeling of blood sma flowing out of the heart chambers was so clear, and every breath seemed to stir the surging of his Qi-Blood as the images around him suddenly slowed.


    Bullets fired from the gun barrel in slow motion, tracing twisted paths through the air into the head of therge snake in front of him.


    The sound and pressure of the python lunging from behind forced him to tear and twist the tendons in his feet just enough to manage a sidestep. With one hand, he nonchntly pulled the pin of a fragmentation grenade and tossed it to the side without even looking back.


    He let the giant python swallow the grenade while withstanding the pain as he squeezed his muscles, regardless of the cost, making his leg muscles swell and tendons tighten like a bowstring to execute a tumble, instantly increasing the distance between them.


    Completely ignoring the injuries to his feet and finger tendons, in a world where each breath felt like a slide show, he raised his gun, aimed at thest python and pulled the trigger.


    Rat-tat-tat~


    The third python, which was coiled and about to strike, was locked in ce by precise shots to the head and began to dart around wildly.


    The second python which had plunged from the sky hit the ground hard, unable to recover immediately.


    As the bullets in the magazine emptied, killing the third python, the second one, just regaining itsposure to lift its head, also burst open with a loud bang, sending flesh and blood flying!


    Without lingering on his sess and changing the magazine, Tao Yu maintained a high state of alert.


    The Qi-Blood eruption from the Basic Breathing Technique - Modified,bined with the extra physical exertion and strain from focusing with Bullet Time, caused a piercing pain throughout his body.


    Especially the ligaments of the ankle and knee, and the tendons of the fingers, seemed as if they had all snapped.


    But the more this pain emerged, the clearer Tao Yu''s mind became, and his body''s movements didn''t pause for even a moment.


    Apart from the physical injuries forcibly decaying, Tao Yu was still able to unleash attacks close to his peak without much impact!


    "This [One Proof Forever Proof] must include an enhanced version of [Endurance]..."


    Feeling the tearing pain in his body and the sustained force he could maintain, Tao Yu couldn''t help but feel somewhat helpless and exasperated.


    Using the powerful dynamic perception of [Bullet Time], he confirmed there was no danger around before he finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Just now, that was his first time using the active effect of [Bullet Time] in realbat, and the results were much better than his testsst night while munching on snake meat.


    The burst of strength brought on by forcibly tearing muscles inbination with the Qi-Blood from his Breathing Technique allowed him to maintain a certain level of mobility even in the slowed vision state, tossing grenades and rolling to shoot seemed ordinary, but everything was under control.


    He had ample time to contemte his tactics.


    Otherwise, facing multiple attacks at the same time, he really might have had to rely on Yuan Force to recover while finding an opportunity to cut his way out from inside the snake''s belly.


    The effect was significant, but the side effects were also clear, the ligaments of the ankle and the cruciate ligaments of the knee were likely torn, finger tendons ripped, already physically affecting his ability to perform.


    Moreover, the increased energy consumption of [Bullet Time] along with the enhanced burst of power also made him feel a soreness all over, and he roughly estimated that with just that momentary outburst, only about thirty percent of his strength was left.


    He couldn''t manage the same intensity again.


    Within a few seconds, he had nearly drained himself.


    The consumption from that instantaneous outburst was indeed terrifying, like even someone with great Endurance running two hundred-meter sprints back to back would be left gasping for breath.


    His natural talent could indeed ensure peak performance as long as he had the strength, but if he ran out of energy, he figured he''d copse on the spot.


    However, since the crisis was resolved, Tao Yu didn''t n on using Yuan Force to recover, as it would be a waste not to eat so much snake meat...


    ...


    "Bro Tao is freaking awesome! I thought I was going to die just now! Bro Tao is freaking awesome!"


    Zhang Wei kept grilling the snake meat while handing some to Tao Yu, his mouth spouting non-stop ttery.


    His own strength being what it was, the previous snake attack seemed like just a momentary thing in his eyes. He could only see Tao Yu elegantly taking out three snakes, and as for how fast Tao Yu had reacted and moved in the moment, it looked no different to him than before.


    He knew how troublesome it was to be attacked from multiple sides, but Tao Yu had already hunted several Pythons before, and it seemed reasonable that two were shot and one was blown up by a grenade here.


    After all, he had survived!


    While eating the freshly grilled snake meat, Tao Yu nced at Zhang Wei and after feeling the ligaments reattach without physically affecting him, he simply stood up and said,


    "Let''s go. Don''t attract a few more."


    "Okay."


    Hearing that there might still be snakes around, Zhang Wei also shrank his neck a bit.


    "But you''re too weak now, even with [Endurance] (D+), you can''t fully utilize it."


    Hearing Tao Yu say this, Zhang Wei could onlyugh awkwardly, not knowing how to respond.


    "I''ll teach you the method of the [Basic Breathing Technique] on the way, getting a bit stronger will be more useful to me too."


    But the words from Tao Yu that followed casually were like a light in Zhang Wei''s eyes, making him very excited.


    "[Basic Breathing Technique]? Thank you, Bro Tao! Thank you! I''ll definitely study hard so I can be more useful!"


    No wonder Bro Tao didn''t look very robust, but had such great physical strength ¡ª it was the Basic Breathing Technique. The Yuan Force his family supported must have been used to improve the eleration of this Breathing Technique.


    That must have been why he could handle the attack of the three snakes before, and now even the speed of his recovery could be attributed to his proficiency in the [Basic Breathing Technique]...


    Tao Yu nced at the excited Zhang Wei and didn''t say anything more.


    An offering that was of no loss to him, yet could motivate the other party and potentially solve some lurking issues, was still a worthwhile trade.


    As for whether the other party could learn it, that was none of his business. If he truly mastered it, it would indeed be beneficial to him. Either way, it was a win...

 Chapter 13 - 12: Completing the Information

    <h4>Chapter 13: Chapter 12: Completing the Information</h4>


    "Tao Bro, it''s all cleaned up now. You sit, I''ll go set up some rm bells, and when Ie back, I''ll start the fire for the barbecue."


    The pair had been hiking through the woods for over half an hour, distancing themselves from the ce where they had previously shed. Zhang Wei carefully wiped down a piece of bluestone and then began to busily set up several bells around the area.


    Tao Yu said nothing and quietly took a seat.


    Along the way, he had been gnawing on dried snake meat, unting about three kilograms of it.


    With the added half-hour of physical recovery, both his injuries and stamina had mostly recovered.


    After Zhang Wei roasts a bit more, he should be back to full capacity ready to face the night.


    While Zhang Wei finished hanging the bells and started to make the fire, Tao Yu took the opportunity to check out his new skill.


    "Stalk - Python" lv1: Lowers the chance of being discovered by others, reduces noise, and decreases presence.


    "Burst - Python" lv1: A technique that allows for a sudden explosive force through musclepression, which can ce a great strain on the muscles and easily lead to strains.


    These were the two skills that had surfaced after absorbing the teeth of the three snakes,pleting the information.


    They could be considered basic low-level skills, but very practical nheless.


    Some martial arts techniques, once mastered, could achieve effects simr to "Burst - Python," and even stronger. However, Tao Yu had not been able to afford specialized training in the past and could only learn the basics. For ordinary people, the skill "Burst - Python" needed to be used with caution and could even be somewhat useless.


    But for Tao Yu, this skill was without doubt a perfect fit for him.


    He had already withstood the dual boost of Qi-Blood burst and "Bullet Time" without harming his body, so adding "Burst - Python" wouldn''t be a problem either.


    Although it might affect his endurance, in a true life-and-death situation, it oftenes down to a split second¡ªbeing surrounded by the three snakes earlier was the perfect example.


    If he hesitated for a moment and the python struck, it would be instant death!


    A miss is as good as a mile!


    The skill "Stalk - Python" was also good because, due to "Bullet Time," Tao Yu had a strong ability to perceive his surroundings. Now, with his hiding ability paired with it...


    Huh, why does it seem like he''s identally going down the assassin''s path?


    Tao Yu felt a bit dazed as he considered his skills. It really seemed so.


    Stalking, bursting, one-hit kill?


    But it was actually not bad too.


    Even if facing someone far stronger than himself, decapitation meant certain death. Tao Yu had heard plenty of gossip from his parents about how the mighty have fallen and encountered unexpected defeats, with numerous ounts of sessful first-strike tactics.


    Setting other things aside, the python''s power was supposed to be overwhelming, but he had managed to kill it three times.


    He checked his Yuan Force and, although he spent a few points each day to elerate his Breathing Technique, because of the randomrger gains of eighteen or twenty Yuan Force units from the snake''s teeth, he had umted around one hundred fifty again.


    The "Basic Breathing Technique" was enhanced using about one hundred forty units, which meant he could strengthen another decent skill.


    Without hesitation, Tao Yu focused his mind on "Stalk - Python," but the next moment, he was somewhat taken aback¡ªhis Yuan Force wasn''t enough?


    "This skill requires three hundred Yuan Force?"


    Tao Yu was surprised; the consumption for some of the initial abilities wasn''t that high, and his second talent was definitely a divine skill.


    The innate talent, "Dynamic Vision," had only cost eight hundred, and the effective Breathing Technique was just one hundred forty. Yet this seemingly ordinary "Stalk - Python" required three hundred?


    However, looking at this consumption, Tao Yu was neitherining nor cursing. Instead, he felt a rush of excitement.


    Both "Bullet Time" and "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified" had shown their superiority, with the effect of "Bullet Time" being unparalleled. The higher the consumption, the better the ability!


    He shifted his attention to "Burst - Python" and guessed it would cost around one hundred, which was much less than "Stalk - Python" but a bit more than those three basic skills.


    This made Tao Yu hesitate for a moment, but he decided to hold onto it for now.


    Even if "Burst - Python" could once again enhance his burst of strength momentarily, his main means of damage was still firearms, and there was no urgent need for this skill.


    By holding back, he could keep some Yuan Force for emergencies and he was also curious about the effect of the three hundred Yuan Force consuming skill "Stalk - Python."


    "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified," although not as significant as "Bullet Time," was still quite impressive in Tao Yu''s eyes. Why would "Stalk - Python" warrant more than double the cost?


    It must offer something special.


    "Tao Bro, the meat is ready. Do you prefer it soft or a bit charred? The water has boiled too. I found a tree hollow and got some water, which I''ve filtered with some rocks. There are also a few tree grubs here."


    Zhang Wei was diligently bustling about, while Tao Yu took the food from him and chuckled.


    "This is a good time to tell you about the ''Basic Breathing Technique.'' First, understand it¡ªdon''t practice blindly. Without proper guidance, you can hurt your lungs, which isn''t easy to heal. I''ll guide you through it in a bit and let you experience it..."


    "Okay, thank you, Tao Bro! I''ll do as you say!"


    ...


    "...Inhale, remember if you feel any pain, don''t bear it, just stop immediately. That''s right, let your chest swell up, continue..."


    Tao Yu stretched out a finger to press on both the front and back of Zhang Wei''s chest, not being secretive in teaching the "Basic Breathing Technique."


    With the deification of the skill, Tao Yu now intuitively sensed the Qi-Blood in his body, and he understood the principles of the previously practiced breathing techniques, making it not hard to teach.


    "Cough cough~"


    However, the basic breathing technique wasn''t easy to learn; soon Zhang Wei started to cough violently, and Tao Yu stopped.


    "Okay, you just got winded, so you can''t practice anymore. Rest until this time tomorrow before trying again, and don''t attempt it on your own."


    Tao Yu had originally learned under the guidance of his older brother and had practiced for a long time.


    The thing with this practice was that haste could lead to irreparable lung damage.


    "Okay, thank you, Tao Bro."


    Zhang Wei, while covering his mouth coughing, also expressed his thanks.


    He knew the value of the Basic Breathing Technique, and if he could learn it this time, it would be a huge gain!


    He spared no effort to please; he had to lick them up right.


    But just then, a ''ding-dong'' sound of a bell rang out, making both of them tense up at once.


    There wasn''t any wind now, which meant the rm set up by Zhang Wei was triggered!


    Tao Yu, holding his gun, leaned against a tree trunk scanning the area, locking onto the direction of the sound.


    It wasn''t a bigmotion, so it was unlikely to be a Python, but they couldn''t let their guard down either.


    Zhang Wei followed Tao Yu''s gaze, carrying a steel pipe and sneaked over, half-squatting on the ground with the end of the pipe ready on the ground for defense, ready to burst into action at any moment.


    But then, a voice came from the direction of the bell


    "Yo, you''re pretty vignt, don''t shoot randomly, Pioneer."


    Upon hearing the voice, the two of them rxed slightly.


    But out here in the wilderness, with no rules to bind them, essential vignce was still necessary.


    They couldn''t be too careless just because the neers were from a certain ce.


    Soon after, they saw the bushes in the direction of the bell tremble and three figures emerge.


    Seeing these three figures, Tao Yu''s pupils contracted slightly.


    One of them had a Mechanical Arm, which was connected to a shoulder-mounted cannon at the shoulder!


    Blond hair, a Caucasian face, a strong body, and that mechanized part of the body conveyed an unseen pressure, one of the few inner-city youths!


    In Starshine City, both the Inner and the Outer City were home to various races, with yellow and white races being more prominent.


    Upon seeing Tao Yu and Zhang Wei, the inner-city youth''s eyes lit up, and then heughed,


    "Haha, lucky us, two people, just one short now."


    When Tao Yu heard this, he realized it wasn''t just a coincidence that they hade across each other; the gunshots and grenade explosions earlier could be heard over some distance, likely attracting their attention, and then they''d tracked their way toward the sound and found the snake carcass before making their way over to the firelight.


    Slightly moving, Zhang Wei took away his steel pipe with a bit of panic and astonishment in his eyes, ncing at Tao Yu as if pondering something, then hastily got up and earnestly cleaned off another piece of bluestone.


    "Please, take a seat, sir."


    Tao Yu nced at Zhang Wei but said nothing.


    By now, Tao Yu had learned all the skills from the Python, and given the broadcast information and the risk of the triple-snake attack this time, he wasn''t opposed to temporary interactions, so he too lowered his gun smoothly and said,


    "Then it seems our luck is even better, having an inner-city noble for support."


    Saying nice things wrought no loss; after having been ground down by this world for eighteen years, Tao Yu wasn''t about to suddenly be overflowing with pride.


    This kind of speech, neither sycophantic nor quite pleasing, made Joseph unveil a toothy grin, plopping down on the spot Zhang Wei had swept clean.


    The Mechanical Arm, not fearing the heat, reached into the fire and pulled out a piece of snake meat, blew on it by his mouth, and then crunched down on it.


    "You''re lucky indeed. Normally, I''d find it a hassle, but since young master Sun wants us all to bring along more Outsiders, sheltering you on the journey is no big deal. Anyway, what are your abilities, and did you kill those four Pythons? Is the Yuan Force Serpent Fang still there?"


    Upon hearing this, Tao Yu knew that their meeting should not be considered a coincidence; after all, the gunfire and grenade explosions might have spread over a certain area, attracting the other party to actively go over and see the snake carcass, then fumble their way over here after seeing the firelight.


    "I''m truly sorry, the difficulty of Awakening Day has clearly risen this time, and the Serpent Fang has already been absorbed. My talent is B-grade ''Dynamic Vision''; had I known you needed it, sir, I should''ve saved it."


    Tao Yu spoke with a smooth tongue of half-truths; after all, the item was already absorbed, so naturally, he only picked the most pleasant-sounding parts to narrate.


    Zhang Wei on the other hand honestly revealed his own ''Endurance'' (D+) talent.


    "B-grade?"


    Joseph paused for a moment, then quickly raised his Mechanical Arm and swung it in front of Tao Yu.


    "What was the count just now?"


    "First three, then four, andst a fist."


    Tao Yu knew the other party was doubtful and testing him out; the Mechanical Arm moved with great speed.


    But showing off his own definite value was necessary, hoping that the other party''s talent wasn''t too poor, thus causing some jealous emotions or such. Inner City folks, they wouldn''t be like that, right?


    "Huh, not bad, twobat talents, way better than these two weaklings."


    Having said that, he also seemed to dismiss Tao Yu''s use of the Yuan Force Fang as an inconsequential matter,


    "No problem, since it''s used, it''s used. That thing''s information is a bit chaotic anyway; you''d need at least twenty or thirty to possibly straighten it out, and the mental contamination isn''t low."


    Joseph clearly had only asked casually, not cing much importance on the Serpent Fang.


    An inner-city youth, just that Mechanical Arm alone would cost at least tens of thousands of Yuan Force, and connections were necessary too. The number and quality of skills learned from childhood were naturally far beyond those of Outsiders, so he wasn''t too concerned.


    Rather, it was Tao Yu and Zhang Wei''s twobat talents that caught his interest.


    "B-grade ''Dynamic Vision," try hard and you might even make it into the Inner City. ''Endurance'' is also a Cure-all talent, not too shabby."


    Speaking of which, he gestured vaguely towards the sky with his hand, saying,


    "Especially since young master Sun is nning to establish a settlement here, and we''re short on people, you guys are pretty good. You''ve found yourselves at a good time; you might even get benefits that surpass your talents."


    Joseph seemed to appreciate Tao Yu''s talent a lot, toning down some of the arrogance typical of an inner-city youth, recognizing this value...

 Chapter 14 - 13 Strict

    <h4>Chapter 14: Chapter 13 Strict</h4>


    The Inner City youth, Joseph, after picking up two Outsider trinkets along the way and joining the team, made the ce much livelier.


    And with some simple probing conversations, Tao Yu''s initial impression of Joseph wasn''t bad.


    This guy seemed somewhat arrogant, but as long as you said something nice and ttered him, he would easily be ted and spill quite a bit of information.


    He was someone who craved attention and liked to be ttered.


    However, the ttery couldn''t be too direct; it needed to be the kind that scratched an itch without leaving an obvious mark.


    Zhang Wei also wanted to tter, butpared to Tao Yu, who had once been a corporate drone, he was far behind.


    For instance, Tao Yu indirectly praised his mechanical prosthetic and mentioned his third brother''s situation, his words full of longing.


    This immediately triggered Joseph''s endless chatter.


    "Inner City people are also different. Like me, although not from the bottom, my family is only middle-ss, but thankfully my talent didn''t fail me. My Mechanical Affinity reached C+."


    Joseph unted his talent. Although C+ might not seem as high as B, Mechanical Affinity as a talent was much stronger than Dynamic Vision.


    Especially under circumstances where someone like Joseph had the money to equip and upgrade himself!


    "Ah? Brother Joseph is just from a middle-ss family? How is that possible?"


    With an expression of shock on his face, Tao Yu made Joseph feel quite appreciated. Then, while continuing to gnaw on snake meat, Joseph patted Tao Yu''s shoulder with his intact hand and said somewhat indistinctly,


    "Little brother Tao, you''ve always lived in the Outsider areas and your horizons are a bit limited. Since your talent is so good and you have a chance to enter the Inner City, I might as well clue you in in advance."


    At this point, he paused, waiting for Tao Yu''s sparkling gaze.


    "In the Outsider areas, the limits of an ordinary human body are basically your ceiling; any mechanical prosthetic or hybrid imnt can easily break the ceiling of you Outsiders."


    "Yeah, my Uncle Hu once had the strength of the human limit and also the talent of Predictive Eye. After his hand was severed and a noble appreciated him and granted him a mechanical prosthetic, his strength not only didn''t decrease but increased instead."


    Tao Yu timely brought up anotherparison.


    "Haha, so it was him. I took a special look when I came here; his prosthetic is pretty good for an Outsider. It must be something discarded from the Inner City that happened to fit him well."


    At this point, Joseph paused, then continued with a hint of pride,


    "Butpared to this custom-made one of mine, whether in function or potential for optimization, it''s no match."


    Fortunately, he didn''t let sess go to his head and remembered what he was saying, so after a pause he continued gravely,


    "Mechanical and hybrid imnts also encounter upgrade bottlenecks; they are too limited by the materials and the host body.


    "Though I advocate the supremacy of machinery, in theter stages, neither hybrid imnts nor the intrinsic potential of the human body are inferior to machinery."


    At this, he nced again at Tao Yu,


    "It''s just that you Outsider peopleck such talents and channels."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu also digested the information internally, beginning to understand the outlines.


    "After hearing Brother Joseph talk about the skills that the python''s fang might carry, I also absorbed a few. How should I go aboutpleting them?"


    Although Tao Yu had acquired his skills, he was very concerned about some of the information in Joseph''s previous words.


    The information he could get from his parents was limited, and although Uncle Hu surely knew more, he previously hadn''t had the time to pester him with questions constantly. Having someone more knowledgeable toplement was still a good thing.


    "Stop thinking about it; I''ve absorbed one of those things myself, and the information was quite chaotic. You''d need at least twenty or thirty pieces to make it work."


    As he spoke, Joseph pulled out several fangs from his pocket, causing Tao Yu to freeze; this guy didn''t immediately absorb the Yuan Force items he received? It seemed his pockets were really full.


    Moreover, it seemed the others didn''t have as strong an ability to organize information about Yuan Force items as himself. He must have been exempt from the mental damage, which allowed him to piece together a skill with less than half the items.


    "If you have enough pieces, you could put together a set that''s somewhat valuable since it would be a new skill from the Development Zone. Otherwise, it''s better topletely block the information and simply absorb it as pure Yuan Force."


    "Why? I just absorbed them directly, is there any risk involved?"


    Tao Yu took the opportunity to ask.


    Joseph nced at Tao Yu but wasn''t stingy,


    "Indeed, there are some risks involved, as you should know. Whether in the Inner City, Outer City, or even the Floating City, there will asionally be insane individuals."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu fell silent, his sixth sister who had taken care of him when he was younger and who was close in age, had gone mad a year ago and was then executed by the security squad.


    "It seems you''ve encountered such a situation before."


    Joseph nced at Tao Yu''s expression but didn''t mind.


    "Being exposed to the residual Abyss mist or not entering the Abyss for a prolonged period can lead to the umtion of madness. Apart from that, it''s absorbing these Yuan Force messages."


    Saying this, Joseph also seemed a bit emotional.


    "But generally speaking, as long as a person''s mental state doesn''t have any major issues, they also have the ability to self-repair. You''ve only absorbed a few and it won''t matter; it will be fine in a few days."


    "Thank you."


    Tao Yu''s thanks,pared to the previous smooth talk, was much more sincere.


    Joseph didn''t show much concern for Tao Yu''s thanks. After finishing his snake meat, he took out a cloth to wipe his mechanical arm, then pped his hands to get everyone''s attention.


    "All right, since we''re a team, we need to have some team rules. I''ll be assigning our order now.


    "Chen Guan has first priority, followed by Wolff, then Zhang Wei; little brother Tao, just after me. We''ll decide on the spot if any neers join. Chen Guan, hand your shotgun over to Zhang Wei."


    Joseph spoke calmly, but as Tao Yu listened to the order he somewhat clearly understood its meaning.


    Although it was not explicitly said, they weren''t officially in yet, but this was essentially the cannon fodder order!


    Chen Guan was a skinny man of about 1.7 meters with a double-barreled shotgun. Hearing Joseph''s words, his face turned pale,


    "Lord Josef, I am not the one with a physical talent, he clearly has more endurance and is better suited for the task..."


    "What does that have to do with me? I''m just notifying you, not discussing it."


    Josef''s expression was cold, a stark contrast to the demeanor he had when he spoke with Tao Yu!


    Walt was a rtively well-built white man armed with an assault rifle, and he also wore quite a bit of gear.


    But now, he first handed his assault rifle to Zhang Wei, then turned around, snatched Chen Guan''s shotgun, kicked him to the ground, and red at him fiercely, saying


    "How dare you talk back to Lord Josef?"


    Zhang Wei looked at the assault rifle in his hands, opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing, just gripping it tighter.


    Hecked firearm skills and had no practice, but even so, the gun provided him with a sense of security far exceeding that of a steel pipe!


    The most important thing was that with this gun, at least he wouldn''t have to be at the very front every time.


    Even though he had been leading the way skillfully up to now, given the choice, who would truly want to be the meat shield...?


    Tao Yu watched the scene before him without saying much, nor did he mention he had an extra handgun that he could give to the others.


    What if someone harboring resentment took the handgun and fired a treacherous shot?


    After all, even the strongest Josef would probably drop dead with a single shot to the head.


    After another nce at Josef, confirming there were no mechanical units installed on his head, Tao Yu reaffirmed his thought.


    Talent doesn''t determine everything. If one is from the Inner City or even the Floating City and awakens some useless talent, they could still far surpass an Outsider withbat talent by stacking skills with Yuan Force and undergoing body modifications.


    But!


    In the harsh life of the Development Zone, talent can be regarded as the only path to rise up. Talent decides everything!


    Josef''s rtively friendly attitude toward Tao Yu was also because of his "Dynamic Vision" (B)!


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t even qualify for ttery...


    And just as the team''s integration issue was ''smoothly'' resolved and Josef had gained the goodwill of both Tao Yu and Zhang Wei, he threw out two sealed vials filled with a white powder.


    "Catch."


    After they did, Josef casually said,


    "Use it when you feel stressed, upset, can''t sleep, or are in pain. The effect is great. These two are on me, should be enough for half a month''s use."


    Tao Yu subconsciously caught the vial and paused, but then his eyes deepened, and with augh, he said,


    "Thanks, Brother Josef. I think I''ve heard of this Divine Medicine, it''s called ''Happiness,'' right? Too bad my family is too poor..."


    Zhang Wei was also full of surprise,


    "My uncle really likes ''Happiness.'' This vial must cost at least two hundred units of Yuan Force, right? And it''s hard toe by!"


    As Zhang Wei spoke, there was a hint of nostalgia on his face, his mouth watering unconsciously.


    When he was delirious with fever as a child, his aunt had used half a fingernail''s worth of Divine Medicine to control the illness.


    Although that memory was blurry and from a long time ago, he couldn''t exin why, but the impression of it was strangely vivid and deep.


    "Haha, good that you know. But don''t take too much your first time; I fear you won''t be ustomed to it," Josef said with augh, seeing their expressions.


    "This vial is on me, but you''ll have to earn your own in the future."


    "Thank you."


    Tao Yu wore a smile, pretending to be about to open it but then paused and hesitantly asked,


    "Brother Josef, I''ve seen people get a bit woozy using this stuff. Will it affect my aim?"


    While saying this, he also touched the assault rifle that hung by his side.


    The scenes around him started to slow down, and the pulsating of his heart and the feeling of blood pumping became distinctly perceptible.


    Everything seemed to slow down.


    However, as he entered "Bullet Time," Tao Yu''s heart sank as he noticed details he had previously missed.


    There was no sign of any blood vessels under the skin on Josef''s forehead and face, and apart from his eyebrows and eyshes, his face was curiously devoid of any hair!


    Following the mechanical connection between his shoulder and neck, Tao Yu moved his fingers slightly and then voluntarily exited "Bullet Time," still wearing a curious expression on his face.


    Josef, who had been all smiles, felt a sudden chill on the back of his head. Looking at the other man''s assault rifle, and the new one in Zhang Wei''s hands, he twitched the corners of his mouth, falling silent for a moment as if imagining some unfavorable scenarios.


    Soon after, he shed a broad smile again and waved casually,


    "Indeed, it might a bit, especially for neers who might find it difficult to handle. Use it when you really need to, but there''s no need to take such risks while we''re in the Abyss shards..."


    "Okay, thank you, Brother Josef. I''ll definitely repay you," Tao Yu said with a beaming smile, though his heart grew increasingly somber watching Josef''s affable grin.


    He had thought Josef was just an Inner City youth who liked to be ttered, not a bad person.


    But it turned out it was all a facade. Tao Yu, a former office drone, was nearly tricked by a boy barely eighteen and once again felt the darkness of this world.


    Without provoking anything, merely possessing a bit of talent had elicited such ''free'' goodwill.


    "You deserve to die..." Tao Yu muttered to himself in the depths of his heart...

 Chapter 15 - 14: Aberrations

    <h4>Chapter 15: Chapter 14: Aberrations</h4>


    ...


    On the second day, Tao Yu and his fourpanions lined up in the jungle, with Chen Guan wielding a steel pipe and a machete leading at the front, followed by Zhang Wei, then Jose, behind them was Tao Yu, andstly, Worr with his hunting shotgun.


    In the rainforest environment, only a few rays of sunlight fell through the branches and leaves. Stepping on the thickyer of fallen leaves, asionally a few tiny insects would be startled, and the vivid colors of venomous insects were also not infrequent, creating an unsettling atmosphere.


    However, including venomous snakes and other normal creatures in the rainforest, they would generally be scared away by their group, so they hadn''t encountered any trouble.


    Jose was adjusting the signal receiver on his mechanical arm on the way and it was obvious that his receiver was much stronger than Tao Yu''s¡ªone that didn''t even require climbing trees toplete signal reception.


    Moreover, in addition to the broadcast from the siblings in the Floating City, he seemed to have contacted another offspring from the Inner City, one that was close enough tomunicate with via walkie-talkie.


    "Wino, I''ve got four over here, thest two are pretty lucky, one with an Endurance at D+ and another with a Dynamic Vision at B."


    Sizzle~


    After a brief sound of electric current, an irate voice came from the other end,


    "Damn it! Dynamic Vision B? Outsiders born in mud with such talents are indeed lucky. Shit, why is my own talent only D?"


    "Haha, although your Rejection Optimization is only D grade, its potential is still better than the B grademon talents of those from the outer city. If he were born in the Inner City, he might have a chance topete with you."


    At this moment, Jose also seemed to be taking some pleasure in another''s misfortune.


    During the exchange, he also casually mentioned to Tao Yu beside him,


    "That guy''s awakened talent rank is a bit of a mess. Be careful not to offend himter."


    "Thank you for the warning, Big Brother Jose."


    Tao Yu was outwardly very well-behaved, appearing very persuadable.


    But inside, he was having some doubts.


    Ever since Jose gave him the ''Divine Medicine'', the man''s true colors werepletely exposed!


    If it were just an ordinary Outsider, perhaps they wouldn''t understand the threats and dangers of such a thing. For example, Zhang Wei was actually excited, genuinely grateful.


    Now Tao Yu was beginning to understand why so many Outers never seemed to have any excess savings!


    Poor family conditions meant that the parents weremitted to preparing for the day of awakening, excluding all of life''s and their own needs for eleration maintenance, plus payingnd rent. To save up a surplus of a thousand Yuan Force units for themselves, they probably had to tighten their belts for at least a year.


    And for many other families like Zhang Wei''s who didn''t care about survival at all and didn''t contribute any Yuan Force, it''s likely that a good portion of their spare money was squandered on ''happiness''!


    Not only did they control the basics of food, clothing, housing, and travel in the outer city, but even if there was a little surplus, it could bepletely scraped away by ''happiness'', leaving nothing left!


    If possible, Tao Yu really wanted to shoot the guy, but he realized after observing that the opponent also had modified equipment on his head, and it might not be so easy to take him out with one shot.


    If he failed, with the opponent''s absolute advantage in attributes, there would be no chance of survival for him.


    And leaving alone would seem too abrupt, not to mention the sense of crisis experienced from the three-snake attack; it was also uncertain whether Jose would let him go. Sneaking away would also require considering the risks.


    After considering all factors, for now, he could only endure. With the orders from the broadcast, they still wanted to bring more live Outers with them.


    And besides, his B-grade talent was more valuable! Jose ''generously'' offering him ''happiness'' for free meant he likely had his own thoughts and demands.


    Just then, after another sizzle of electricity, a voice came through,


    "But now that you have four over there, we coulde together and discuss taking down the Python''s nest and gather a full set of Skills."


    "What? Just a few mortal-bodied snakes, being so cautious? Doesn''t sound like your style. The starting funds you got were about one hundred thousand, right? Isn''t that enough for you to handle it?"


    Jose raised his eyebrow as he spoke.


    And the casual remarks made Tao Yu suddenly feel as if he was tasting bitterness.


    One hundred thousand Yuan Force units? Starting funds?


    The disparity was too great!


    All his parents'' scrimping and saving to scrape together a thousand Yuan Force seemed decent, Zhang Wei started at zero, and then there''s someone who got a hundred thousand Yuan Force units just for awakening!


    Is this the world of the rich?


    But then Tao Yu sighed and came to understand the situation; the wealth held by those in the Inner City definitely couldn''t bepared with that of the outer city.


    A substantial part of the profits drained from the outer city surely ended up with them. Given the danger of the first dive into the Abyss on awakening day, it seemed normal to give them more Yuan Force in one go to quickly get through the fragile early stages.


    It''s just that the hard-earned money of his family couldn''tpare to their pocket money...


    "That was in the city before, what''s the problem with being aggressive? Now, for the first time entering the Abyss, caution is never too much. Even if either of us is bitten or ensnared by one of those big snakes, it''s a matter of life and death."


    Wino, though irascible by the sound of his previous tone, demonstrated with these words that he wasn''t purely reckless.


    They couldn''t undergo the skill deification and transformative qualitative change like Tao Yu; they could only rapidly strengthen their proficiency in various skills to reach a mature bottleneck period in a short time.


    After all, if one hundred thousand Yuan Force were used in apressed time frame, based on the physical quality of an ordinary person, it would be equivalent to over twenty thousand hours of training, and the effects would be even stronger if the time were spread out!


    However, as their own strength rapidly improved, this eleration effect would only be weaker, and there would be diminishing returns.


    Additionally, they all mastered some higher-level skills to some extent, which would also increase the proportion of consumption.


    All things considered, their strength also belonged to an estimable range, starting above the end point of most Outsiders, but that didn''t mean they could fly to the skies and escape the earth.


    The Python could kill Tao Yu in a second, but looking at Jose''s current state, a sessful sneak attack would skin him alive, even if it didn''t kill him.


    Thinking about his own talent, Tao Yu quickly regained his emotional bnce.


    Then, his thoughts became more agile.


    It seemed that Wino might have already found the location of the Blood Orchid.


    However, unfortunately, with Jose and Wino from the Inner City, it would be difficult to get arge share of the spoils. He decided to take one step at a time and see how it went. If the Blood Orchid was hidden well, they might not notice such Yuan Force items...


    ...


    Orienting oneself in the rainforest was challenging, but Jose and Wino both had short-rangemunication devices. By following certain markers along the way andmunicating constantly, they were getting closer and closer.


    "I see the creek you mentioned. Did you light a fire?"


    "Yes,e over here. There''s an uninhabited primitive vige."


    Continuing along the creek, the group suddenly had a clear view, spotting a thatched hut made of branches and dead leaves, and then more and more, revealing a vige full of primitive style.


    It was now high noon, and with fewer trees in the vige, the scorching sun was zing down. Nevertheless, they could see a bonfire burning in the center of the vige, with ck smoke billowing into the sky.


    Near the bonfire, there were several small pavilions made of branches, with three people sitting inside.


    One of them, a hulking bald strongman over two meters tall, drew Tao Yu''s attention.


    With his superior Dynamic Vision, Tao Yu could see the man''s exaggerated inverted-triangle physique and the metallic luster shining on his body.


    At first, Tao Yu thought it was a mechanical transformation, but then he realized it was a full-body metal armor set!


    The man had removed his helmet and set it aside, next to a massive double-ded axe, presumably his weapon.


    Through the uncovered neck, one could see a kind of raised keratinous skin, extending all the way to the bald head, appearing somewhat fierce and clearly different from that of a normal person!


    This must be the ''mutation'' Jose mentioned, choosing to imnt non-human tissues for enhancement.


    Havingpleted the imnt surgery before entering, they primarily relied on Yuan Force to quickly adapt their skills.


    In the Outer City, mechanical arms and such were seen, but Tao Yu had never seen a mutated body before.


    Even if it might be rted to their family''s limited exposure, it was enough to show that the number of mutated bodies in the Outer City was less than that of mechanical limbs.


    Perhaps the side effects were greater, more troublesome, but from the fact that the other party could use the full-body armor as everyday gear, it was clear that it could bring formidable physical strength, surpassing the limits of the normal human body!


    No wonder he wanted to team up with Jose.


    This guy probably specialized in wielding heavy weapons and recklessly shing, going head-to-head with Pythons.


    Considering the Pythons'' exaggerated size and the hard data it presented, this was indeed not in his favor, and if he turned to use guns instead, he would be even less effective than Tao Yu.


    Now, inbination with Jose, who had long-range strike capability, they indeedplemented each other perfectly...


    ...


    Wino, hearing the noise behind him, also stopped his casual conversation, turned his head, and saw the group at the entrance of the vige.


    The two Outsiders beside him, however, were a stark contrast in appearance; one of them was ragged, with red swellings from bug bites on his body, along with clear signs of being beaten up.


    The other looked much better off. Despite being dwarfed by the over two-meter-tall Wino, his height of one meter eighty and his robust physique looked very strong. He was fully outfitted with tactical gear, including a bulletproof vest and goggles¡ªquite top-notch equipment for the Outer City.


    Seeing the people at the entrance of the vige, Li Le also eagerly said,


    "Lord Wino, my family used toe from the Inner City. ''Happiness,'' you might as well give it to them, hehe~"


    "Psh, what of the Inner City? I''m using it too, never mind, boring."


    Wino nced at Li Le dismissively and said no more, leaving Li Le to respond with a forced smile while inwardly rolling his eyes. Of course, you, with your body full of mutations, wouldn''t care. You might even need it to suppress the sensation of rejection.


    He knew all too well what that stuff was. Instead of calling it ''Happiness,'' it might as well be called ''Devil''...

 Chapter 16 - 15 Crisis

    <h4>Chapter 16: Chapter 15 Crisis</h4>


    "Yo, finally arrived, eh? I''m still sitting on two, when will we everplete the set?"


    Upon discovering Tao Yu and his party, Wino stood up and turned around.


    One could see not only the keratinizedyer of skin on his neck and the back of his head, but also his face adorned with warpaint akin to that of a barbarian.


    The whole man exuded an aura of wildness and ferocity.


    Over two meters tall with a muscr build, plus a full set of armor, he truly looked like a humanoid weapon, highlighted even more under the flickering firelight, like a demon incarnate.


    The burning branches nearby crackled intermittently.


    "Lucky, isn''t it normal?"


    Jose spoke carelessly, seeming quite familiar with Wino.


    "But these Pythons do indeed exceed the handling capacity of most neers from the outside city; the survival rate these past few times must be pretty low."


    "Most? Looks like your B-ranked bumpkin managed to kill a Python."


    Wino said with relish then extended his palm,


    "Hurry up, how many teeth you got? Let me helpplete the set."


    Jose red at him irritably,


    "Asking for a favor without the slightest bit of manners, here, five."


    After finishing his sentence, Jose handed over the Yuan Force Serpent Fangs to Wino.


    "Not bad, adding mine, once we take down the snake nestter, it should be just about enough. If it''s still a bit short, I can make up the difference with Yuan Force."


    Wino tossed the Serpent Fangs and then tucked them into his chest.


    Tao Yu estimated based on Jose''s earlier projections that Wino himself must have saved up quite a few as well.


    Considering he had found the snake nest, he must have deliberately tracked these giant Pythons.


    "So happy over such a Skill? Probably gonna need a breather once you''ve learned it."


    Jose mocked from the side, but when the two bigwigs from the Inner City spoke, the others fell silent.


    "Pfft, the path I walk is different from yours. I don''t know what Skill the Yuan Force Serpent Fang will bring, but a wild beast filled with a violent aesthetic should be a match for me. Either way, it''s a Skill not yet seen in the new Development Zone."


    Having received the goods, Wino naturally didn''t mind Jose''s attitude.


    They were all careful when learning Skills because of the potential mental contamination during absorption, so they usually chose something morepatible with themselves. Even if the Skill provided by the Python wasn''t that strong, it could still fit Wino very well.


    Tao Yu already knew what the Skills were; not to mention "Lurk - Python," but "Burst - Python" might indeed add wings to the tiger if applied to Wino.


    The strain it brought on tendons and ligaments might be forcibly endured by his mutated, strong body, resulting in an effect that exceeds that of normal humans.


    "By the way, which one''s the B-ranked bumpkin?"


    Wino then casually scrutinized the four Outsiders among Tao Yu''s group.


    "There, Tao Yu, a pretty decentd. He might even enter the Inner City in the future. We''ll likely stay in this new gathering spot for quite a while, so let''s all get acquainted."


    Yose casually picked Tao Yu, but perhaps Tao Yu picked up on his ''good intentions,'' so his words were somewhat protective, almost like dering sovereignty.


    With temporal anomalies, cultivating thisnd from now on wouldn''t be too bad with a B-level talent bumpkin under one''smand. As long as they are touched by ''joy,'' they are easily controlled, and others would have to give face and not just snatch them away.


    "Got it, you''re so annoying, always wanting to meddle," Tao Yu replied.


    Maybe Yose''s words had an effect, for although Wino sized up Tao Yu from head to toe, he didn''t actually do anything. He just smirked without warmth, saying,


    "Not bad, I hope to see you in the Inner City. Don''t get killed in an awakening task and waste such talent. You''re so skinny¡ªare you not getting enough to eat?"


    Then it seemed he remembered something and chuckled,


    "Oh, I forgot, you Outsiders don''t have much Yuan Force saved up, do you? You probably haven''t mastered any skills yet, right? Can you still get support from your family when you go back?"


    The condescension and undisguised mockery in his tone made Tao Yu sigh in his heart.


    His own self-acknowledged B-level talent had managed to somewhat unsettle theposure of this Inner City guy with sub-par talent.


    Indulging purely for emotional release, without caring about actual benefits, they deriveplete satisfaction from their mental and emotional state, obtaining emotional value.


    These Inner City folks actually acted more like people their age.


    Considering everyone was about eighteen years old, but those from the Outer City, including himself, had been dulled by oppressive circumstances, whereas these Inner City folks seemed unconcerned with gains or losses.


    They say youth is impetuous, after all...


    Tao Yu nced at the man''s shiny bald head, which, unlike Yose, showed no signs of mechanization. It made one curious about just how strong the defensive capabilities granted by mutation were.


    He then took another look at the helmet on the ground, concluding that it probably wasn''t as durable as that bald head...


    "Wino is right, our foundation and umted resources are too poor, with mostly Basic Skills, and we don''t get much meat to eat regrly¡ªnot as good as the food we get here," Tao Yu said with a smile, seemingly unaffected by Wino''s previousments.


    Suddenly, feeling a chill on his scalp, Wino listened to Tao Yu''s words and seemed to have discovered something new,


    "Really? Only basic skills? Don''t you have a few dojos out there? Li Le has learned a few moves."


    Wino nced back at the tall and sturdy young man named Li Le, andpared to his scar-covered Outer Citypanion, Li Le looked much better off.


    Noticing Wino''s look, Li Le stepped forward respectfully and said,


    "You tter me, sir. I only have E-grade talent with ''Super Strength,'' far from enough. I merely have a few basic skills, but now, perhaps my strength is slightly better."


    Li Le was perceptive; he recognized Tao Yu because his father worked with Tao Hu, and he even greeted him.


    But such verbal promises meant nothingpared to the preferences of Inner City bigwigs!


    Tao Yu also nced at Li Le, perhaps he too found Tao Yu a bit displeasing.


    Was it assumed that all he would do was take it lying down?


    It seemed that without any ident, against an Inner City offspring, that was indeed the case.


    If the factor of ''joy'' was added to that, then...


    Thinking of some warning images in his mind, people driven by cravings could do anything to obliterate their humanity.


    Truly condemned to a life of endless servitude!


    "''Super Strength'' is at least two levels higher than ''Dynamic Vision,''" if it could go even higher, maybe your generation could make aeback."


    Being a muscle-bound closebat type himself, Wino admittedly provided some care for Li Le with his ''Super Strength.''


    The most obvious contrast was the youth from the city outskirts beside them, covered in wounds and too timid to speak.


    "It''s also our family''s lifelong dream."


    "Hmm, as it stands, your strength still seems greater than his, so you''ll be ced behind him in the ranking."


    Wino casually set the tone, but then nced at Joseph and said,


    "No issues with that, right, Brother Joseph?"


    "You handle it, it''s your snake pit we''re dealing with, isn''t it? Let''s solve the problem and go find Young Master Sun and Miss Sun."


    Joseph knew Wino did it on purpose, but he wouldn''t disrespect Wino over something so trivial.


    Tao Yu wouldn''tment on it, and everyone else thought it was only natural.


    This was the way the world worked!


    Even Chen Guan and Woll, who were originally on the same team, were now looking at Tao Yu with some schadenfreude.


    Zhang Wei was also showing some hesitation.


    Now that an Inner City elder had openly shown his stance, he too did not dare to get close to Tao Yu anymore.


    When Joseph did not object, Wino looked at Tao Yu with augh, feeling very at ease, and said,


    "You''re not discontented, are you, kid?"


    "How could I be? We''ll follow the will of the two Inner City elders, our job is to obey."


    "Good, you''ve got some insight."


    Seeing Tao Yu''s attitude despite his B-grade talent put Wino at ease.


    The frustration of awakening a less impressive talent finally seemed to ease a bit.


    So what if your talent is great? Outsiders are outsiders! Just country bumpkins who still have to lie down in front of us!


    "Let''s get moving."


    Seeing Wino satisfied, Joseph urged again.


    "Sure thing."


    When it came to business, Wino couldn''t help but grin, and he put on his helmet and looked up at the sky,


    "Let''s get going. We can get there by evening if we leave now. A quick battle is preferred¡ªwe shouldn''t drag it out until nightfall. They''re probably in their mating season. It''s uncertain whether the vigers have been eaten, or if they moved away beforehand, but it doesn''t seem to have been abandoned for long."


    Wino and his team had been staying in this ce for a while, and had already checked everywhere they needed to.


    "Oh, right, we also found a weird python carcass on the way; you guys should take a look as well."


    Wino''s towering figure, cloaked in full armor and with the helmet covering his horn-like skin, now seemed even more imposing.


    He casually carried the man-high double-ded axe on his shoulder and strode ahead with strong, powerful steps that seemed to make the ground quake.


    Soon, the group came upon the withered corpse of a python.


    "Here it is, this one," Wino pointed out the python found in the vige. "Initially, I thought it was shedding its skin, but it seems like it was eaten by something. Yet, it doesn''t look like it was our doing."


    Wino poked at the snake corpse with the tip of his axe, sensing a hollow feel to it, yet it still retained some sticity.


    Tao Yu also approached to examine the snake carcass.


    What in the rainforest could possibly kill a python like this?


    What the heck?


    They saw that the python''s body had a huge gash on the abdomen, with flesh turned inside out; peering into the wound revealed much of the internal tissue and meat were missing.


    But...


    Tao Yu, with a trace of fear in his eyes, noticed something horrifying about the abdominal wound¡ªit looked as if it had been burst open from the inside.


    "The wound was made from the inside out; it must have swallowed something problematic, which then ate its way out."


    Wino, who had already studied the snake corpse, nonchntly pointed out the obvious.


    He then seemed to remember something else,


    "Oh, right, we also found a dead bug nearby; do any of you recognize it?"


    As he finished speaking, Li Le quickly opened his backpack and took out a limp, white insect resembling a spider. Its long stinger hung lifelessly, sending a chill from Tao Yu''s spine to his scalp.


    Facehugger!


    The news he had heard on the broadcast still echoed clearly, ''... that Yuan Force creature is good at lurking, very fast, highly explosive, and poses a significant threat to you...''


    Big brother!


    Come on, be more specific! Acidic blood, strong tail stinger, and aunching sub-mouth¡ªwouldn''t that have been clear?


    And how did that thing, which was supposed to be on the ins, end up in the forest?!


    Yuan Force creatures are typically considered indigenous to the current world.


    Wasn''t it said that Yuan Force creatures face resistance when moving to other world fragments? How weak is that resistance?!


    Facehuggers, a python it sessfully parasitized¡ªwhat a nightmare of a start!


    Although the two from the Inner City harbor no good intentions, thanks to the Suns'' broadcast order, their safety was somewhat assured for the moment.


    But now, what to do when encountering such creatures?


    Good thing he hadn''t opted to split from the group...


    ncing back at Joseph with mechanical modifications and a shoulder-mounted cannon, and then at Wino wrapped in full armor, Tao Yu could only view them as budget versions of Predators now.


    I hope they step up, don''t let the Inner City down!


    As for Tao Yu himself, he quickly focused his attention on his other rtively affordable skill.


    ''Basic Shooting''...

 Chapter 17 - 16 Urgent Matter

    <h4>Chapter 17: Chapter 16 Urgent Matter</h4>


    Because he didn''t have many Wish-Power points on him, and previously there wasn''t a significant safety risk, Tao Yu wanted to save up his skills for Deification. On ordinary days, when using eleration, he would typically expend just one or two points of Wish-Power simply as a gesture.


    Now, with the one hundred and fifty points he had on him, his original n was to save up three hundred for the Deification of "Python."


    The consumption of Deification skills and that of training were somewhat simr, increasing rapidly. For instance, to Deify "Bullet Time" would require tens of thousands of Wish-Power units, while "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified" would need around thirty thousand.


    The effect was likely excellent, but the cost-performance ratio was certainly not as economical as Deifying amon skill for the first time, and it wasn''t something that could be umted in the short term.


    The three hundred unit consumption for "Python" made Tao Yu curious, but he also felt that this ability could help increase his chances of survival.


    But now, having seen the Facehuggers and the gut-spilling Pythons, he couldn''t afford to keep saving up!


    As regards the effects of bodily enhancement, he was still not quite bulletproof. His greatest destructive power actually depended on the capability of firearms, which is why Tao Yu''s attention was focused on the "Basic Shooting" skill.


    Even though this skill was merely at the level of having just reached Lv1 to be disyable, since it required feeding it with bullets, this skill was considered one of Tao Yu''s rtively expensive abilities to use.


    While Jose and his group were discussing the Facehugger''s strange shape, Tao Yu already concentrated his mental energy on "Basic Shooting."


    Soon after, as Wish-Power flowed in, the skill''s orb radiated a strand of golden light.


    "Basic Shooting??" Lv1: Expending a small amount of mental energy allows for minor shooting trajectory correction. Concentrating mental energy consumes more but can significantly alter the bullet''s path and endow it with a substantial mental st from the attached mental force.


    After adjusting his will to "Basic Shooting - Modified," a hint of pleasure surfaced in Tao Yu''s heart.


    It''s quite good, even surpassing his expectations! It not only significantly improved his hit rate but, whenbined with the passive Dynamic Vision from "Bullet Time," it was like adding wings to a tiger, and it even added ''mental st''¡ªthis type of ''magic damage''!


    For an average person with low mental strength, attaching mental attacks recklessly might backfire and injure themselves. But Tao Yu, equipped with "Mental Immunity," wasn''t afraid of severe bacsh¡ªit was more like a physical exertion, only bearing the burden of consumption.


    Tao Yu''s strongest attack now relied on external forces. Dealing with Pythons was still quite manageable, since this generation of Pythons didn''t possess the ability to resist assault rifles. As long as he could lock onto the head, he could execute a kill.


    This was also the reason why Tao Yu hadn''t upgraded his shooting before; his firepower was sufficient, and his uracy was enhanced by the passive Dynamic Vision from "Bullet Time."


    But now with the appearance of Facehuggers and the parasitized Pythons, it was very likely that breaking their defense with assault rifle bullets would be a struggle.


    Aliens had exoskeletons after all!


    While not immune to gunfire, a standard Alien could withstand quite a few shots. The added defense from the Python Alien could ensure it withstands fire long enough to knock him out during its attack!


    Whether it was a regr Python, a standard Alien, or a Python Alien, Tao Yu had a clear picture in his mind¡ªthat he could only take one hit.


    At most, he could rely on the "One Proof Forever Proof" ability to use Wish-Power to recover a bit.


    If he encountered a Python, he could hope that its way of feeding would be to swallow him whole, and he would escape from the stomach. But an Alien''s cherry-sized mouth...


    Thinking of certain images, Tao Yu quickly shook the mental contamination out of his mind.


    With enhanced attack capability, Tao Yu felt a bit more confident, but thinking of the difficulty of dealing with Aliens, as well as the unpredictable number, still gave him a sense of urgency.


    Seeing the others had finished studying the Facehuggers and the snake carcass withouting to any conclusion and were preparing to head toward the snake den, Tao Yu timely spoke up,


    "Excuse me, Lord Wino, how well can your armor defend against assault rifles?"


    Tao Yu''s timid tone made Wino frown inside his helmet, then he responded through the helmet with a bit of distortion but still a lofty voice, sarcastically saying,


    "What? Do you n to shoot me in the back?"


    This voice also made the others turn to look at Tao Yu, causing him to hurriedly wave his hands and say,


    "No, no, no, you''ve misunderstood me. You are an important figure from the Inner City. Even if you lent me a hundred guts, I wouldn''t dare."


    Tao Yu''s statement didn''t surprise anyone, nor did Li Le and the other Outsiders think there was a possibility of such a sneak attack.


    This was a big figure from the Inner City, and they were banded together!


    One would have to be mad to make such a boneheaded move.


    Yet Tao Yu hesitated before continuing,


    "Previously, I didn''t feel much pressure just dealing with those Pythons because I wouldn''t let Zhang Wei take the lead. It was sufficient to just fire away brainlessly. With my natural gift, it indeed wasn''t difficult..."


    Hearing this, the others also caught on because Wino''s attire was clearly geared toward closebat.


    If he were to dash forward to fight, an inuracy in shooting from behind Tao Yu could indeed lead to friendly fire.


    Wino hadn''t spoken yet when Li Le took the initiative, his eyebrows lifting as he said,


    "Beforeing here, one could practice Basic Shooting too. After entering, just add a bit of Yuan Force to get familiar; it shouldn''t be that bad, right? My talent doesn''t even have a shooting bonus, and I''ve already passed halfway to proficiency level 3. It shouldn''t be a big problem as long as I pay attention to a few issues."


    Before turning 18, Li Le had learned not only Basic Shooting, but also Gunfighting and Moving Shooting. Aftering here and elerating with Yuan Force, his shooting skills had indeed be quite strong.


    "Brother Li must have heard a bit about me from Uncle Hu; it''s mainly because my family couldn''t afford the bullets to feed my practice. Sinceing here, I haven''t practiced shooting at all, I''ve focused solely on the Breathing Technique, Zhang Wei knows."


    Tao Yu''s face showed embarrassment.


    "So what level is your shooting skill at?"


    Wino asked, somewhat concerned, as his armor did offer decent bulletproofing, along with an under armor for extra protection. However, to maintain freedom of movement, there were still vulnerable spots it couldn''t cover, unlike the integratedbat suits of those two from the Floating City.


    If luck was truly poor, getting hit in the knee with a bullet would indeed be troublesome.


    "Level 1, and my proficiency is almost non-existent, so I''d like to borrow some Yuan Force from the two of you. I''m willing to pledge this bottle of ''Joy'' as coteral."


    Tao Yu took out the ''Joy'' that Joseph had given him, which caused several people at the scene to react with subtle changes in their expressions.


    Walter and Chen Guan were envious, while Joseph, Wino, and Li Le all showed somewhat strange expressions.


    Especially Joseph, who was somewhat at a loss for words. Isn''t this very thing what I gave you?


    You''re pledging it back to me to borrow Yuan Force?


    "Ahem, Joseph, your man, are you going to let hime over to me or not? His talents actuallyplement mine quite well."


    Wino hadn''t outright refused, but instead looked at Joseph with a somewhat yful gaze.


    "A Rank B talent, what are you thinking?"


    Joseph scoffed, rejecting Wino. Then he looked at Tao Yu with displeasure,


    "If you wanted to borrow Yuan Force, you should have just asked me earlier. I gave this to you, and there''s no need for coteral."


    This magnanimous attitude made the other Outsiders show looks of envy, especially Walter and Chen Guan. They had started to think that Tao Yu, having upset Wino, would surely have a tough time; they revised a lot of their internal opinions.


    Zhang Wei also looked moved, his expression hesitant, yet he still didn''t dare to approach Tao Yu as he had before.


    "Thank you, thank you, brother Joseph."


    While saying this, Tao Yu passed over the thousand Wish-Power Metal pieces his parents had given him, dried up by usage.


    After losing them to the Python and then killing that Python, he had effectively gotten them back.


    This left Joseph weighing the bag and feeling a bit speechless himself.


    One thousand. Although it was a small sum to him, it wasn''t something to be outright ignored.


    But thinking of Tao Yu''s talent, he still promptly infused the bag of metal with Yuan Force.


    To avoid infighting, the World Will ensured that, apart from some items and Yuan Force objects carried on their person, no Yuan Force was dropped when Pioneers killed each other. Trades of Yuan Force among each other mainly relied on these pieces of Wish-Power Metal being continually absorbed and infused.


    Or, alternatively, some more efficient carriers of Yuan Force.


    After Josephpleted the infusion and before passing it to Tao Yu, he said in a calm tone,


    "However, you know we can''t lend out Yuan Force for nothing. There''s too much risk with possibilities like death or the inability to pay it back, so let''s just say 90% returned for 130%, as a gesture."


    Before Tao Yu could reply, Li Le chimed in from the side,


    "That''s the lowest interest rate for us Outsiders anyway. The skill installments you can choose from in the various town dojos are at this rate too, and before awakening, it''s almost impossible to borrow at all. After awakening, it''s very difficult for those with poor talent to borrow, so it''s really kind of Lord Joseph to lend under such risky conditions."


    Outsiders typically don''t have much, and the death rate on the day of awakening isn''t low, so it''s normally impossible to borrow before that. Even after awakening, such ''low interest rates'' were only encountered when studying for certain skill teachings, simr to ''student loans.''


    Anyway, they weren''t given Yuan Force, just taught skills; if one really couldn''t pay back or got killed, the loss was manageable.


    Tao Yu didn''t hesitate at all and took the bag of Wish-Power Metal back, absorbing it and saying cheerfully,


    "Of course, no problem. Thank you, Lord Joseph, for helping me out of a tight spot."


    After absorbing, Tao Yu passed it forward again, saying,


    "Could I get another thousand?"

 Chapter 18 - 17: I’m Really Not an Assassin

    <h4>Chapter 18: Chapter 17: I''m Really Not an Assassin</h4>


    Joseph looked at the bag in front of him, and after merely a moment''s pause, took it again.


    "Okay."


    As he infused Yuan Force into the bag, multiple thoughts shed through Joseph''s mind.


    It was Li Le who exined the interest rates before, not himself!


    So whether the repayment schedule was one year, one month, or one week, it was all up to him to decide!


    The loan of two thousand Yuan Force, along with ''happiness'', should be about enough.


    Joseph actually never intended to let Tao Yu repay those two thousand Yuan Force. He nned to keep him in debt indefinitely, treating the interest aspensation for his services, and with the help of ''happiness'', that should be enough to maintain control over him!


    With this thought, a slight smile could not help but curl at the corners of Joseph''s mouth.


    An Outsider with a Grade B talent was actually quite good; Dynamic Vision also counted as a talent that could rapidly developbat ability, the Python he had killed alone being the best example.


    A small investment could quickly yield a loyal henchman who''s a human artillery piece, why not go for it!


    This time they had run into a spacetime anomaly, making it somewhat difficult to find a valuable henchman!


    While watching Tao Yu finish absorbing once more, Joseph even asked again,


    "Do you want more?"


    "Yes!"


    Tao Yu, seeing such a good opportunity, did not hesitate at all.


    "As much as you can lend, that''s how much I want."


    Having said that, he looked expectantly at Wino.


    "And Lord Wino as well."


    Upon hearing this, Wino scoffed.


    "You belong to Joseph, I won''t overstep and interfere."


    "I... I also want to borrow!"


    Chen Guan said, trembling as he raised his hand.


    His gun had been taken, and now he had no long-range weapons, which made him feel very much in danger.


    Indeed, Chen Guan didn''t want to borrow Yuan Force at such interest rates, but, borrowing the lords'' Yuan Force should prevent his easy demise, right?


    Let the interest be the price for his life!


    But no sooner had he spoken, Joseph, who had cheerfully lent three thousand units of Yuan Force to Tao Yu, backhanded Chen Guan across the face.


    The blow lifted Chen Guan off his feet, his teeth spraying out mixed with blood.


    "Tao brother has a Grade B talent, what are you worth? You can''t even know your own value and you dare to speak?"


    The teeth would not grow back; Joseph''s p had virtually crippled Chen Guan!


    If it led to an infection in his mouth or something, he might well drop dead on the road.


    Head spinning, Chen Guan staggered to his feet, his visionyered with multiple images, but after such a blow, he didn''t dare utter a word of retort.


    Instead, he kept apologizing profusely, with his now whistling mouth,


    "I am wrong, I am wrong..."


    "Aren''t you going to take your things and get up front? You really want Lord Wino to go in front?"


    It was Wino, who was always quick to anger, who now noisily spoke up,


    "Enough, if this guy really dies on the road we''ll have to find another recement. Just let it be, don''t get in my way."


    After speaking, he even cast a teasing nce at Tao Yu,


    "Since you have Yuan Force now, practice well on the road. The one with the Endurance talent doesn''t have much shooting ability, right? Give the bullets to him, don''t shoot recklessly."


    With Chen Guan in front of him having just had his teeth knocked out, Zhang Wei didn''t dare to say anything and nodded repeatedly, handing all the spare bullets over to Tao Yu.


    And Li Le, who had been observing coldly from the sidelines, alsoughed inwardly.


    Did you really think borrowing Yuan Force was a good thing? Haha, ignorant!


    Only Tao Yu at this moment cheerfully thanked Jose for a moment, then took the bullets passed by Zhang Wei and began to distract himself by focusing on his numerous skills.


    Three thousand Yuan Force units credited!


    His own parents would have to scrimp and save for several years to umte the amount of Yuan Force that a child of the Inner City could lend casually!


    Although by the ''free'' offer of ''happiness'', Tao Yu also knew the general idea and intention of the other party, but the fact that they could lend it outright was sufficient to demonstrate the absolute disparity in wealth umtion.


    Without the issue of the facehugger, Tao Yu actually had no intention of borrowing Yuan Force.


    Now that the two children of the Inner City had joined forces, there wasn''t much room for him to maneuver unless there was a significant change in circumstances.


    The gap in absolute strength was just too great.


    But now that there was the facehugger, knowing what kind of monster was out in the grasnds, he didn''t hesitate at all. Safety first, he must use every means possible to improve himself!


    Basic Combat, Basic de, Stealth - Python, Burst - Python.


    Tao Yu underwent Deification of the fourbat-rted skills with his eyes closed.


    Three thousand Yuan Force units credited¡ª he had never been this wealthy!


    The first Deification of skills was the most cost-effective choice!


    Basic Combat - Modified lv2: Consumes a small amount of mental energy to have certain insight into the enemy''s weaknesses and can add a mental shock tobat attacks when concentrating.


    Basic de - Modified lv2: Consumes a small amount of mental energy to have certain insight into the enemy''s weaknesses (stackable) and can add a mental shock on the de when concentrating.


    Burst - Modified lv1: Able topress muscles for a sudden increase in explosive power, significantly draining physical strength when concentrating to enhance thepressed state, which could damage the body if exceeding physical limits.


    These three skills, consuming about eighty to one hundred Yuan Force units, satisfied Tao Yu greatly with their usual efficiency in Deification.


    What caught Tao Yu''s attention the most was Stealth - Python, which alone consumed more Yuan Force than the other three skillsbined!


    "No wonder it''s more than twice as expensive as Basic Breathing Technique in terms of strengthening cost," he couldn''t help but admire the skill as he felt the influx of skill information.


    Stealth - Modified lv1: Can passively reduce one''s presence and actively expend more mental energy to fade into shadows. By increasing physical energy expenditure, one can move through shadows, with a certain chance of being detected by perception abilities.


    Originally, it was just ordinary stealth, a camouge and ambush technique simr to how a python stalks its prey, but after the enhancement, it took on a magical quality!


    Shadow Evasion!


    Had this turned into a skill for invisibility?


    Moreover, by expending more physical strength to move in shadows, through the information sensed, it wasn''t about moving slowly as some stealth abilities suggest, but instead, it could allow one to burst forth at speeds faster than one''s full sprint when in the shadows!


    Even theoretically, this speed could also be applied to attacks!


    Paired with Burst - Modified as well as the Qi-Blood enhancement from Basic Breathing Technique - Modified, along with Bullet Time, and the mental attacks added by Basic de, Tao Yu realized that with the right weapon, his melee burst capabilities seemed to have suddenly increased substantially.


    "So I''ve really be an assassin..."


    Tao Yu felt somewhat rueful, but this was also somewhat of an inevitable and cost-effective choice.


    For people like Jose and Wino, who could freely lend three thousand Yuan Force units, their starting funds from earlier conversations were at least one hundred thousand! Plus, with mechanical modifications, alien imnts, and some high-level skills training from the past eighteen years, once they mmed their Yuan Force into boosting their strength, they surpassed the endpoint of most Outsiders right at the beginning!


    When Tao Yu was given ''happiness'' for free, he observed Jose with Bullet Time, who seemed to have metal covering even his vulnerable head area, making it very difficult to achieve a one-hit kill.


    Adding the shoulder cannon, mechanical arm, and other rted abilities, one could say that their panel abilitiesprehensively crushed Tao Yu.


    Even if Tao Yu spent all three thousand Yuan Force points, it was still the same!


    But...


    Even as strong as they were, if they were sessfully ambushed by a python or an alien, the chances were high that they would be done for. Now, with the skills Tao Yu had to enhance his assassination burst, it was also very likely that he could reach the threshold to kill them!


    But since he hadn''t actually tried it yet, he couldn''t bepletely certain.


    With the troublesome alien enemy out there, Tao Yu really wasn''t nning on doing anything extra in the following time period. He simply wanted to focus on improving himself.


    Looking at the remaining two thousand plus Yuan Force, Tao Yu hesitated only for a moment before focusing his attention on auxiliary skills such as Basic Herbal Identification.


    Even though they seemed to offer little support inbat, they were cheaper to use at about fifty units each. Fully strengthening them wouldn''t affect his n to preserve most of his Yuan Force for eleration...

 Chapter 19 - 18 Racing Against Time

    <h4>Chapter 19: Chapter 18 Racing Against Time</h4>


    "Wow, even the effects of the auxiliary abilities are excellent..."


    As he followed the team forward, Tao Yu focused his mind on some flowers and nts nearby. Soon after, he could instinctively gain a certain understanding of those nts.


    There were no words or images to describe it, but the information allowed him to understand the general properties of the nts¡ªmainly, whether they were edible, poisonous, or had some therapeutic effects on his current physical state¡ªjust some basic information.


    While not much information, Tao Yu felt it waspletely sufficient. It undeniably made some of the knowledge he had umted more effective and allowed him to be safer in external environments.


    He could even determine if someone was trying to poison him.


    Fifty Yuan Force units for a Deification skill, who needs a bicycle?


    With possible future enhancements, or as his proficiency with the skill improved, perhaps he could gain even better effects.


    Because of the pressure from the potential presence of facehuggers, Tao Yu took some dried snake meat from Zhang Wei and munched on it while following the team, all the while focusing on elerating his proficiency in "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified"!


    Yuan Force''s eleration typically needed to target a specific skill.


    If one had the ability to multitask, it was also possible to elerate multiple skills at the same time, but this would consume more Yuan Force. It wouldn''t save on Yuan Force cost but could save a bit on time.


    But Tao Yu wasn''t worrying about that right now. He kept to the rhythm of the breathing technique, elerating his practice of "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified," all while continuously gnawing on the dried snake meat.


    Qi-blood tumbled inside his body, circting throughout. With each cirction, he felt a slight enhancement, a tangible effect each time!


    While chewing, he also took the opportunity toplete a few shots, improving his proficiency in "Basic Shooting - Modified."


    "''Bullet Time'' enhanced by ''Dynamic Vision'' makes shooting practice improve much faster than the breathing technique. No wonder talent is everything for most people..."


    Tao Yu was merely firing a couple of shots at some nearby leaves and branches in passing, with the main Yuan Force eleration applied to the breathing technique, but his shooting abilities were improving even faster!


    Ratatat~


    A three-shot burst hit the base of a branch thirty meters away. Wood splinters flew as the branch broke off and fell.


    "Not bad at all, deserving of a B-rank ''Dynamic Vision.'' How many times did you choose to elerate? You''ve reached lv2, right? With your talent, that should be enough," said Li Le, who was in line with Tao Yu in the team, both ahead of their rear-guard Wino. At that moment, Li Le watched Tao Yu chew on snake meat while firing and showed some surprise.


    Noticing the meat fibers remaining in Tao Yu''s mouth, Li Le continued, "You''re practicing a breathing technique, right? ''Basic Breathing Technique''?"


    Tao Yu swallowed thest of the snake meat and said calmly, "No choice, I don''t have a family like Li Ge. I have to take advantage of the abundant meat avable now; what will I eat when I really go back?"


    This fragmentary area''s abundance of meat was actually a benefit. Once back, aside from some food they brought, if you wanted to buy more from the forts in the Outer City, it would cost two Yuan Forces per pound¡ªprohibitively expensive.


    Private trades ran the risk of having your cannon fodder points reset to zero and might even encounter sting operations; there was no need to take such risks.


    As Tao Yu spoke, he quickly walked to a nearby bush, broke off a stalk that resembled sugarcane, and started sucking on it¡ªreplenishing his fluids and sugar.


    "Do we have data on this nt? You sure are bold," Li Le remarked, somewhat taken aback by Tao Yu''s actions. He even suspected that what the other was practicing wasn''t ''Basic Breathing Technique.''


    He himself had learned the ''Knight Breathing Technique'' brought from the Inner City by his family, but such a non-basic breathing technique was incredibly rare in the Outer City. There was nowhere to even learn it, and Tao Hu probably didn''t have it either.


    "My backpack was eaten by a python when I came here; I was so thirsty I gave it a try, and it turned out pretty good," he said.


    If he hadn''t deified all his auxiliary abilities, Tao Yu wouldn''t dare to eat randomly, but now it all seemed much simpler.


    The nt, which was both cane-like and bamboo-like, was crunchy to bite into. He could directly absorb the liquid inside, which was extremely rich in water content.


    Stepping on the thickyer of fallen leaves and soil, Tao Yu didn''t waste a second.


    He knew practicing the Breathing Technique so intensely might seem odd and potentially attract some attention.


    But there were better Breathing Techniques and rted skills in the Inner City. He wasn''t too concerned about them, nor could he hesitate because of their gaze. He couldn''t let that stop him from eating!


    With the facehuggers appearing, aside from deifying his skills, he also had to speed up his practice as quickly as possible!


    Whether it was the Basic Shooting - Modified or the Basic Breathing Technique - Modified, he had invested at the rate of one hundred units of Yuan Force per hour in eleration.


    The difference was that he didn''t continuously practice Basic Shooting - Modified; it was sporadic, consuming less than one-tenth of what the consistently practiced Basic Breathing Technique - Modified did.


    Regrettably, he had started off with poor physical conditioning during the golden era of Breathing Techniques. Although he had initially spent only five hours per hour at ten points for improvement, the effect was tremendous, bringing his overall ability to the level of an amateur athlete.


    Now, even though he had increased his consumption rate to ten times per hour, the diminishing effectiveness of the Breathing Technique itself, along with the reduced eleration multiples after getting stronger, meant Tao Yu no longer felt he was undergoing constant transformation.


    Thew of diminishing returns was hitting hard.


    After all, the description for Basic Breathing Technique - Modified was just ''it can increase the physical upper limit to a certain extent,'' which, while far better than the unmodified Breathing Technique, wasn''t overly exaggerated. The main benefit was actually the active surge of Qi-Blood during a burst.


    Continuing at this rate of increase, Tao Yu estimated that when he used up all the Yuan Force points for eleration, he might just barely reach a levelparable to an Olympian all-around, being able to run a hundred meters in about ten seconds would be pretty good.


    Uh, but because it was an all-around increase, he could almost achieve this level even with weights on, and he could keep it up for longer...


    However, looking at the speed of proficiency improvement, the Basic Breathing Technique - Modified should soon reach lv2, and the surge from the instantaneous burst of Qi-Blood would increase a bit more.


    Due to his talent, shooting had already reached lv2. After getting used to the gun he was holding, he could ensure a decent hit rate despite the unpredictable trajectory.


    "Another increase in burst capability, it feels like I''m getting more and more off track," Tao Yu muttered as he chewed on another pile of snake meat, feeling slightly helpless. While it''s true that most life-or-death situations are decided in an instant, he couldn''t help feeling that there was something odd about it¡ªwasn''t the dream of every man to be a muscr, enduring powerhouse?


    "We''re getting close, stay alert," Wino''s voice came from up ahead, and the team''s pace slowed a tad more, everyone heightening their vignce.


    Thanks to Tao Yu sporadically firing a shot now and then, this tactic of alerting potential threats worked in their favor, allowing them to avoid minor troubles along the way.


    Tao Yu, meanwhile, had stopped his shooting practice and asionally looked around.


    He had already reached lv2 in shooting; it was time to stop wasting bullets.


    And after firing the gun for so long, he wondered if they might attract something prematurely.


    For normal animals, and even for pythons, an unknown sound warranted evasion first and foremost, an instinct for survival etched into their genes by nature.


    But...


    For some other abnormal creatures, perhaps it was a different story.


    If it weren''t for the facehuggers, where would I have borrowed so much from, eh? You guys better think of something...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 20 - 19 Blood Orchid

    <h4>Chapter 20: Chapter 19 Blood Orchid</h4>


    The dim light filtered through the foliage.


    After hours of travel, they had now ventured into twilight.


    The rainforest was growing darker, and soon it would be engulfed inplete nightfall.


    "It''s just ahead, in a valley. I''ve picked a good geographical location, we can start by depleting them from a distance," Wino said as he removed several grenade-like devices from his waist.


    With his physical abilities, using these explosive projectiles could be considered a major weapon and a very effective means of long-range attack.


    "Ho, that shouldn''t be hard, our long-range firepower is not bad," said Jose with a rxed face. He had always been carefree; understanding the python''s situation, he felt no substantial threat to himself and, with a friendly turn to Tao Yu, the debtor, he said,


    "Little brother Tao, you can see clearly at night, right?"


    "Yes, the night doesn''t affect me, I can keep watch then," Tao Yu responded while observing the surroundings.


    Although he hadn''t detected anything approaching, he could vaguely sense an unsettling atmosphere, as if something was lurking in the shadows, spying on them.


    Knowing the alien would be tough to handle and worried that the two from Inner City hadn''t yet experienced the brunt ofbat and might be taken out in an ambush, Tao Yu still reminded everyone,


    "Although I haven''t found anything unusual, I always feel something''s off. I don''t know if it''s because of my shooting practice earlier drawing attention. Everyone, be extra vignt."


    "Don''t worry, who wouldn''t be careful in a ce where giant snakes might appear any minute?"


    Li Le smiled beside Tao Yu.


    "Mhm, my shooting has also reached LV2, so even if Brother Wino rushes forward, I''m confident about avoiding friendly fire," he added.


    "That''s good, but I still hope we keep them at bay directly; these creatures pack quite a punch."


    At that moment, Wino''s attention was already fixated ahead, heightening his vignce.


    As they proceeded, the density of the rainforest sharply decreased, revealing a cliff edge and the valley Wino had mentioned.


    Even before getting closer, they could faintly smell a stench that grew stronger as they approached.


    The cliff edge was covered in pale stone blocks, resembling granite and overgrown with moss-like vegetation.


    Some of the uneven rocks had clear signs of friction, as if the moss had been rubbed off, and next to them, palm-sized scales could be seen.


    These seemed to be the spots where the pythons rubbed against while shedding their skins.


    The valley below the cliff was steep but manageable with caution. The valley was about a hundred meters wide, and the opposite side featured even steeper terrain, resembling a vertical forest area that was slightly shorter in height.


    Following the valley''s flow, a small stream stretched outward.


    As everyone drew closer, the twilight sun cast its dying light into the valley.


    Below the several-meter-high valley, in a pool of water, two to three dozen pythons were entwined with each other, forming a massive ball of snakes!


    The sight was shocking, given the monstrous size of these pythons intertwined together.


    The slippery snakes coiling over each other also evoked abined sense of disgust from both trypophobia and megalophobia.


    Such wild beasts seemed to excite Wino,


    "There''s even more than I saw before, haha, taking them all down should be enough."


    He had been concerned about there not being enough of them, but now that worry seemed unnecessary.


    Tao Yu, meanwhile, was closely examining the walls of the valley.


    In short order, his keen vision caught sight of a peculiar red flower. The brilliant blossom glowed under the setting sun like a burning me, easily noticeable even to the untrained eye.


    However, everyone''s attention was fixed on the pythons; no one had noticed the Blood Orchids.


    "Shall we start right away?"


    Tao Yu readied his gun without keeping his gaze fixed on the Blood Orchids.


    Given their n to snipe from a distance, it was highly unlikely they''de close to the Blood Orchids, and without contact, they wouldn''t realize the import of the nts.


    He had a perfect opportunity to keep the spoils to himself.


    Just as his supply of snake meat had run out, freeing up space in his backpack.


    "You guys don''t shoot first. Jose and I will handle it," Wino reminded calmly, then looked to Jose, "I''ll throw first; you snipe based on the situation. The rest of you wait until Jose fires before shooting. I''ll intercept the first ones thate close."


    A straightforward tactical arrangement; they had never trained together, so making it tooplicated would be pointless.


    "You two with the good marksmanship, aim for the head," Jose advised Tao Yu and Li Le.


    "Understood."


    "Get ready; I''m starting," Wino said as he appeared to set a timer on his grenades by twisting them.


    He showed his superior arm strength by hurling seven or eight grenades toward the massive snake ball.


    Tao Yu could even see the grenades bouncing off the snakes'' bodies.


    The falling devices seemed not to interrupt the writhing snake ball.


    But a momentter, several huge explosions nearly burst forth simultaneously!


    Wino''s high-explosive grenades had more power than the fragmentation grenade Tao Yu had left. The tightly coiled ball was suddenly sted apart.


    Several pythons were blown to pieces, sending blood and flesh flying!


    Their close proximitypounded the damage, maximizing the grenades'' lethality.


    However, because they had been coiled up so tightly, some of the pythons at the core were unharmed.

 Chapter 21 - 19 Blood Orchid_2

    <h4>Chapter 21: Chapter 19 Blood Orchid_2</h4>


    At such a critical moment, the sudden strike caused even the notorious screamers, the Pythons, to let out wails of agony.


    That feeling of rage was palpable even to those who couldn''t understand thenguage of snakes.


    As the undisputed overlords of the jungle, when had they ever experienced such humiliation?


    Boom~


    Wielding a shoulder cannon, Joseph fired, instantly blowing the head off a Python!


    The hit rate and power far exceeded that of firearms.


    Tao Yu, who had been observing from the side, could tell from the mes shooting out of the rear of the shoulder cannon that it seemed to be designed as a recoilless rifle.


    But it was still a gunpowder weapon, and the ammunition capacity and reserves must be limited, probably stored in the ammo box on his back. Yet, with a hit rate like that, there must be some sort of fire control system.


    Upon closer examination, what seemed to be normal pupils in Joseph''s eyes seemed to sh with numbers.


    Brain-machine connection, iris data, truly formidable...


    While Joseph''s shot had instantly killed a Python, it had also marked the direction for those that were still able to move.


    The enraged Pythons, with blood rushing to their heads, didn''t even consider fleeing; they swiftly began slithering toward them.


    The water below sshed violently, and the boulders on the path were tossed aside by their frenzied movements; even those standing on the edge of the cliff could feel a vibration on the ground.


    It was the noise of their massive bodies rapidly closing in.


    The sight of the remaining twenty or so Pythons, each a symbol of immense pressure, was genuinely terrifying.


    Especially a few blood-covered, wounded Pythons that were still shedding flesh and blood along the way, their speed was even faster!


    At this moment, Tao Yu, Li Le, and Zhang Wei, each armed with assault rifles, also opened fire.


    Zhang Weicked shooting skills, but with suchrge targets, he could almost hit them with his eyes closed; he just couldn''t guarantee a headshot.


    In contrast, Tao Yu and Li Le each fired with precise shots.


    Tao Yu, relying only on his eyesight to achieve ordinary shooting standards, didn''t expend mental energy for correction.


    Even so, his long-range precision shooting was not inferior to the more skilled Li Le, and he even had a greater advantage in shooting at moving targets, second only to Joseph in the number of kills.


    As one Python after another was headshot, soon only five remained!


    But these five had closed in to within ten meters!


    "I''ll take the nearest one, you guys handle the others," Wino crouched slightly, and then the armor on his legs visibly bulged, his entire body, weighted down by the armor, shot toward the nearest Python like a cannonball.


    His speed was so fast it even stirred up a strong breeze, clearly surpassing human limits even with the armor!


    He viciously chopped down at the nearest Python with his double axe in hand.


    The Python, disying its Dexterity, raised its head to dodge the vital strike, but still suffered a deep cut nearly severing it, blood sma flew everywhere, fully expressing Wino''s brutal aesthetic.


    Long-range attacks were simpler than closebat, free from geographical interference.


    After Wino chose his target, the others easily divided the remaining Pythons among themselves.


    Tao Yu continued his standard procedure, locking onto a Python''s head and firing repeatedly, then changing the magazine.


    Li Le achieved his target, while Joseph took on the remaining two.


    By then, Wino, having bought some time, did not persist in exerting himself and swiftly retreated following a collision with the Python.


    The Python, nearly bisected by an axe strike, furiously shoved Wino aside butcked the strength to pursue and eventually fell under the barrage of gunfire.


    "Heh, that beast''s strength is no joke," Wino said, sliding back a distance afternding, an indicator of the Python''s power.


    Though he only briefly engaged with a single Python, his voice still held a breathless quality.


    Given the Python''s size advantage, even a skilled close-quartersbatant like Wino had to be thoughtful; hence, after dying for a bit, he retreated with reserved strength to leave the kill to the more efficient firearms.


    To resolve the battle within a minute may seem unremarkable, but if Wino hadn''t taken the initiative, things could have definitely gone south...


    "Alright, proceed in sequence to assure they''re all dead and don''t touch the Serpent Fang, I''ll handle that myself," Snakes are known to have a death rattle, so it''s quite normal to have some slip through the.


    Thest Python to hit Wino had demonstrated such terrifying bursts of strength; naturally, they''d be wary of sticking their faces into the bushes!


    Cannon fodder, isn''t that what they''re used for?


    Blindly sending cannon fodder is an inefficient waste; probing for mines this way is optimal.


    "Got it, but be careful, big brothers, there seems to be something in the woods," Tao Yu obediently epted the arrangement, and even though he was behind in sequence, promptly took a few steps forward,nding on a raised rock tform.


    While securing a spot in the Blood Orchid''s area, forcing others to look for other footholds upon arrival, Tao Yu also turned back to peer into the increasingly gloomy Rainforest as The Sun set.


    This time he truly saw something moving stealthily between the trees, making very little noise!


    It wasn''t just an unnoticed presence appearing out of the dark; they''d likely been observing the situation here all along, waiting with cunning patience.

 Chapter 22 - 19 Blood Orchid_3

    <h4>Chapter 22: Chapter 19 Blood Orchid_3</h4>


    Even during the most intense moments before, several non-firing cannon fodders always stood by the side of the Inner City bosses, gathering together.


    But now, they had actively separated!


    Therefore, their increasingly close actions were indeed captured by Tao Yu himself.


    Upon realizing the main character had arrived and warning the two targets to be on guard, Tao Yu changed his magazine and nonchntly swept the Blood Orchid on the tform into his backpack.


    On the way, he had been collecting nts all along, and even quenched his thirst with nts found on the road, so such a tant act didn''t cause anyone toment further.


    If everything went normally, it would likely be possible to ask about them afterwards and take a look.


    But now, there probably wouldn''t be a chance...


    [Blood Orchid]: A Yuan Force item, a nt that can stimte cell division, can increase a tiny limit of cell division, can increase a tiny limit of physical potential, and add a small amount to physical strength.


    If not using the effect, it can be directly absorbed as Yuan Force at a conversion of ny to one hundred units per orchid.


    Although the increase is ''tiny'', the [Blood Orchid] is undoubtedly a good thing!


    Even if simply converted for Yuan Force absorption, the thirty-something orchids Tao Yu had collected were at least worth three thousand, and if sold after taking them out, the price would undoubtedly at least double!


    After collecting this most concentrated bunch of Blood Orchids, Tao Yu made no attempt to hide his movements as he headed towards a few more scattered ones.


    The noise in the forest was already causing Wino and Joseph to start looking up, and Tao Yu no longer needed to hide!


    The Alien boss wasing, and he would take as much as he could!


    If discovered, then so be it, he wouldn''t stop eating for fear of choking!


    "Come, let me help you."


    Li Le, who was also standing midway and waiting for Wal and others to scout ahead, saw Tao Yu suddenly start picking the mboyant red flowers outside and felt a slight stir in his heart.


    While verbally offering help, he moved towards the nearest Blood Orchid at the fastest speed and casually picked it.


    At the same time, Tao Yu had already given up on thest few Blood Orchids, grabbed his backpack, and started rapidly heading down the valley.


    He also began stuffing the remaining Blood Orchids that hadn''t made it into his backpack into his mouth, and then, channeling his Qi-Blood, he powered up for a leap and vanished into the shadows alongside him.


    Like an ink painting dissolving into water, he disappeared in an instant...


    By that time, Li Le had just been shocked back to his senses after reading the properties of the [Blood Orchid].


    It actually had such miraculous effects!


    Compared to Tao Yu, he understood the value of this thing even better!


    Although every increase was tiny, the points added were impressive, and some who had reached a bottleneck period would definitely not be stingy with their Yuan Force, not to mention that it seemed to possibly extend one''s lifespan slightly?!


    Even if a single orchid didn''t extend life by much, the price would at least increase tenfold, or even dozens of times!


    And there might be no market for it despite the price!


    This made Li Le''s eyes also filled with greed.


    Who could have thought that the best thing here wasn''t some Python? And the two from the Inner City had no idea, there was totally room for maneuver!


    Damn, that bumpkin took away too much, wasn''t he afraid of bursting after seeing the attributes?


    Under the impact of huge benefits, his eyes reddened as he lifted his head, looking for traces of Tao Yu.


    But soon his expression froze, where was he?


    Where was the person carrying that big backpack? How could he have disappeared in a blink of an eye?!


    As Li Le frantically searched for any sign of Tao Yu, he also swiftly moved towards thest few scattered Blood Orchids.


    He couldn''t let others find out!


    This way, he could still suppress it...

 Chapter 23 - 20 Shopping Spree

    <h4>Chapter 23: Chapter 20 Shopping Spree</h4>


    While Li Le was searching for traces of Tao Yu and collecting the few scattered Blood Orchids left,


    Above the valley, Joseph and Wino had alsopletely shifted their gaze away from the corpses of the Pythons in the valley and frowned as they looked back at the dim Rainforest.


    Rustle~


    A slight noise emerged from the dense forest as if something was approaching.


    In the already darkened forest, one could vaguely see the swaying of branches and leaves in the shadows.


    "That kid wasn''t lying, there really is something out there."


    Wino, carrying his Double-ded Axe, twisted his body, his armor making the sound of metal friction, and a hint of wariness appeared on his face.


    He was confident in his strength; it shouldn''t be possible for anything to go wrong on the day of awakening.


    But in the fragments of the Abyss, anything is possible, so carelessness is an ironw.


    "It''s not those giant Pythons, the noise would be bigger. Some smaller creature, and fast, too¡ªnumber... not just one... be careful."


    Joseph''s pupil mechanically contracted for a moment, switching to infrared mode.


    However, even in infrared mode, looking at the dimly outlined Rainforest in front of him, he still couldn''t see anything useful!


    Lizards in the trees, mice on the ground, and even some insects were visible in this mode, but he definitely couldn''t find anything else.


    "Can''t find it with infrared? Must be something with a heat-isting shell..."


    Hardly had Joseph finished speaking when a dark shadow swooped down from above, moving extremely fast!


    But faster still was the raising of Joseph''s shoulder-mounted cannon.


    Bang~


    The diving figure was blown apart in mid-air, green liquid sttering everywhere.


    Joseph didn''t know the problem with the blood, but still cautiously avoided it.


    Still, some of the green viscous blood sma sshed onto him and immediately began to sizzle~.


    His metal arm, though supposed to be corrosion-resistant, showed signs of slight corrosion, which caused Joseph''s face to turn pale.


    "Be careful, the blood of these creatures is highly corrosive! It must be one of those Yuan Force beings from the ins."


    As he reported the situation, his other hand swiftly pulled out a bottle of water and washed the blood-stained area, while the raised Mechanical Arm instantly transformed, turning into a Gatling-like barrel!


    He hadn''t switched to this mode when attacking the Pythons before, but now he did so without hesitation.


    The two from the Inner City, though arrogant, indeed had strong abilities.


    The broadcast had only given a rough description, but they still made quick judgments and, with a rtively small price, determined the acidic nature of the blood.


    Meanwhile, Wino, watching the ck and green mixture of Alien remains on the ground, listened to the sizzle of the corrosion,


    and with an ugly expression on his face, he pulled out a metal te from his waist, which flicked into a triangr Boomerang Mark with just a shake.


    "Blood with strong acid? That targets me too well. How many bullets do you have left?"


    "That depends on how many there are!"


    Joseph''s expression also gradually darkened as he saw those exoskeletal, ferocious creatures peering out from between the treetops and behind trees, yet not pouncing.


    Just a rough nce and he could already see more than a dozen!


    Jet-ck exoskeletons, long, dangerous tails, hideous faces, and the asional dripping of viscous saliva.


    Moving behind tree trunks, shuttling through the dim shadows.


    "Are they trying to trick me into firing? Wasting bullets?"


    Seeing the Aliens trying to peek out and then immediately withdraw, Joseph couldn''t quite believe it.


    That meant they had more brains than those Pythons!


    "All of you, get up here! Prepare for attack!"


    Wino bellowed out as he quickly tossed the Boomerang Mark forward.


    The triangr metal Boomerang, propelled by Wino''s immense strength, instantly pierced through the air, cutting off several branches along its path and revealing its terrifying sharpness.


    An Alien barely dodged it by swerving to the side; however, the returning Boomerang Mark sliced a deep wound across its body.


    Along with the Alien''s furious roar, green acidic blood sshed out, and before Wino caught the returning Boomerang Mark, he had already thrown the second one.


    Though its power was far less than his High-Explosive Incendiary Grenade, it had the advantage of being reusable!


    Catching the first Boomerang Mark and seeing its slight corrosive marks still made Wino look solemn.


    This was too restraining for him!


    On the other side, Wino''s roar also changed Li Le''s expression as he was collecting scattered Blood Orchids; his eyes flickered, and then, carrying his gun, he continued to slide down towards the bottom of the valley.


    And he yelled at the others,


    "Didn''t you hear? Get up there! Or I''ll shoot you dead!"


    While forcing the other four people up with his gun, Li Le also looked up to assess the situation above.


    Since he was standing in the middle waiting, he had heard some of the conversation. It seemed like they were facing some very troublesome creatures!


    Thinking of the Blood Orchid in his hand, and the bag full of Tao Yu, he urged the others to climb faster while he himself quickly retreated, running towards the gap on the other side of the valley along the bank.


    God damn it, I haven''t joined the cannon fodder squad yet! You won''t die with me; I have no obligation to follow your orders!


    Just need to find that guy who fled, just find him, that''s all!


    Thinking of the other''s backpack, which was stuffed with dozens of Blood Orchids, Li Le felt a fiery desire in his heart...


    Zhang Wei, who was climbing up and had fallen behind, also heard the noise of Li Le''s escape behind him, looked back at Li Le''s retreating figure, nced ahead, and then his face darkened as he quickly pocketed his gun and retreated.


    Having barely awakened abat talent, he had to survive this time, he just had to!


    Seeming to sense the others drawing near, the Alien that had been lurking and probing behind the trees suddenly changed its original tactical n.


    With just a few short roars, the Aliens quickly attacked the two from multiple directions!


    Although they were not as big and strong as the Pythons, their greater dexterity provided them with better evasion tactics.


    Moving swiftly between the trees, constantly using various forms of cover!


    Bang~


    Tat-tat-tat~


    Jose fired first, sting one Alien to pieces with his shoulder cannon, while the transformed Gatling gun in his wrist turned another into a sieve.


    Their hard exoskeleton was torn to pieces, and green acidic blood sttered everywhere, hissing as it hit the ground.


    Though he quickly dealt with two, Jose''s expression soured.


    "Damn it! These things have a decent resistance to bullets!"


    Although his shoulder cannon could still achieve one shot per Alien, his arm-mounted Gatling gun was far less effective than expected!


    If this were against those giant snakes'' heads, they''d have been pierced and he''d have switched targets two or three times over.


    But here, twenty to thirty shots barely managed to take down one?


    With a slight movement of his finger, a belt-like device at his waist rapidly shot out a row of small spheres towards the area in front, quickly setting up Guile Thunder for close defense.


    He then pulled out a red grenade from behind his back with the same hand that seemed human and tossed it into the woods without looking.


    Boom~


    A fierce me erupted. Even though the branches and leaves were damp and hard to ignite at once,


    the st from the High-Explosive Incendiary Grenade spread like a molotov cocktail, instantly covering the front and burning several Aliens as they writhed in agony.


    Meanwhile, another Alien approaching from a different direction was automatically hit by a Guile Thunder on the ground and exploded into pieces with a bang~.


    The precious items they hadn''t used against the Pythons were now being thrown around like they were free, an indication of the foundation that set them apart from the Outsiders.


    Wino, while being careful not to be hurt by the Guile Thunder, was also constantly throwing more and more Boomerang Marks.


    Despite his bulky appearance, he was extremely agile, throwing five Boomerang Marks at high speed while continuously reloading to maintain the barrage.


    The Double-ded Axe was stuck in the ground, ready to be drawn at any moment to face the enemy!


    Every now and then, he threw a high-explosive grenade to stop the Aliens from getting too close.


    However, what should have been a sustained ranged attack for Wino seemed somewhat awkward against the Aliens.


    After cutting through the bodies of several Aliens a few times, the corrosion-resistant alloy on his weapons became pockmarked.


    Soon, only two battered Boomerang Marks remained out of the five; the other three got stuck in the bodies of Aliens and couldn''t return due to losing their smoothness.


    "Damn it! I need to take some meds; watch out for yourself!"


    Seeing the resilient pests lessening their probes against Jose and turning their attention towards him, Wino roared and then forcefully pped his left shoulder.


    A needle hidden within the shoulder guard pierced his neck, injecting an unknown substance into him.


    Almost instantly, along with Wino''s roar, his whole body seemed to grow in size, stretching the seams of his armor, exposingyers of scale-like skin.


    "Roar!"


    Letting out an animalistic roar, Wino, whose size and strength had surged, lifted the Double-ded Axe and charged in the opposite direction towards the Aliens.


    Thump~


    One blow from the axe ttened an Alien, sttering viscera!


    Although his armor and axe were still vulnerable to corrosion, the thickness meant it wasn''t fast-acting, which seemed trivial given his desperate state, likely due to side effects.


    One after another, Aliens lunged at Wino, only to be smashed away or crushed t.


    That''s when Worl, who had just climbed up, witnessed this scene.


    Although frightened, the deep-seated reverence for the Inner City elitepelled him to grip his shotgun and step forward.


    But in the next instant, he too was cleaved in two by Wino''s axe!


    Guts and blood spilled everywhere.


    This tightened the hearts of Chen Guan and Wino''s group member, aside from Li Le who was an Outsider, and they slid down the valley with the momentum.


    Looking back at Li Le who was almost out of the valley, and Zhang Wei, who had run halfway, as well as Tao Yu who had disappeared without a trace, they cursed under their breath...

 Chapter 24 - 21: Harvest

    <h4>Chapter 24: Chapter 21: Harvest</h4>


    "Wino, this guy..."


    Joseph saw Wino split Vor into two with an axe and felt a heaviness in his heart.


    He knew that his adversary had used a special drug, relying on a mutated body to endure, drawing out greater potential.


    Strength, speed, defense, as well as healing and vitality would greatly increase, the effects far surpassing adrenaline''s impact on amon person, but the consequence was a decline in rational thinking.


    Not only might one be unable to distinguish friend from foe in battle, but it could even increase the likelihood of madness!


    Still, things had reached this point, and coupled with the acidic blood''s effectiveness against Wino, his actions were probably born out of desperation...


    Boom~


    Another Guile Thunder was triggered, and an Alien that had drawn near was blown to pieces, its blood and guts scattered, with several droplets of acidic bloodnding on Joseph.


    Joseph''s expression darkened as he looked at the mere three Guile Thunders remaining before him.


    This damned creatures weren''t limited to the dozen or so that had shown themselves earlier!


    They had intentionally given us false hope and illusions!


    ncing back at Wino, who had begun a fierce rampage after taking the drug, but whose body was increasingly stained with acidic blood, Joseph sighed.


    "Buddy, let''s split up and run!"


    Having said that, he retreated to the edge of the cliff, click-click~ a pebble was dislodged by his footsteps, rolling down into the valley below, where he could see the clearly defined three waves of fugitives.


    Damn it!


    They hadn''t even formally entered the cannon fodder ranks, and it was already this troublesome; otherwise, why would they dare to run?!


    Standing on the edge of the cliff, digits once again appeared above Joseph''s irises, and his legs underwent visible changes soon after.


    Looking across the valley at the opposite side that was lower but spanned nearly a hundred meters in width, he took in a deep breath.


    If this thing really caught up, it would be too troublesome; his ammunition was definitely not enough, he had to risk it!


    He powered up from his feet, and as he leaped, the bottom of what seemed to be an ammo box on his back, ejected a jet of me to assist him in the jump!


    As he began to fall in a parabolic arc, Joseph readjusted his direction mid-air and initiated another jet.


    After adjusting four times in the air like this, he crashed heavily onto the lower ground of the opposite side of the valley, mming into the branches of a tree.


    Using the continual breaking of branches to slow his descent, Joseph finally fell onto the leaf-strewn ground.


    He then struggled to his feet and hastily ran into the rainforest.


    Meanwhile, Wino appeared unconcerned with hisrade''s departure, still furiously shing with the Aliens, raging like a madman.


    Against Aliens who surpassed human dexterity, speed, and strength, the enhanced Wino gave off the impression that they could not get close to him.


    He rampaged here, causing acidic blood to ssh and scatter.


    The Double-ded Axe, collisions, headbutts¡ªeach strikended heavily.


    He could even directly catch an Alien''s tail mid-strike, hurling the creature to the ground and then stomping on it to burst it open!


    And yet, he showed no intention whatsoever of using this power to escape.


    He allowed the acidic blood to corrode his weapons and armor; even the originallyplete full-body armor had fallen off in many ces due to corrosion.


    Plenty of the acidic bloodnded on his callous-like skin, yet it seemed as if he felt no pain.


    But it was at this moment that a tail whip, far exceeding those of the ordinary Aliens,shed out from the depths of the rainforest and pierced Wino''s body brutally.


    Whereas the ordinary Alien tails that Wino could grab with one hand, or even fling back, this sudden strike left him with no recourse except to firmly grab hold of the tail.


    Wino stood on his legs, his abdomen pierced through, his arms tightly clutched the long tail that far surpassed that of an ordinary alien, pulling it as if he was trying to drag the owner of the long tail out of the rainforest in a frenzied manner.


    However, as the long tail exerted force and lifted him off the ground, his movements became somewhatical.


    Apanied by the rustling friction on the ground, a massive alien,pletely different from the ordinary ones and with a hint of a python''s outline, slithered out from the shadow of the rainforest, looking utterly terrifying under the moonlight.


    Its body was covered in ck exoskeleton,cking limbs, but its head resembled that of a giant trilobite, and its length wasparable to a python''s, but even thicker!


    In fact, it would be more urate to say it was a super-sized trilobite with a long tail rather than a python!


    The alien python slowly lifted Wino''s writhing body to its eyes, seemed to sniff at him, and, without ejecting its more disgusting oral appendage to kill him, flicked its tail and hurled Wino into the rainforest.


    A number of regr aliens quickly pounced toward the area where Wino was thrown, and then the alien python locked its gaze on the opposite side of the valley, let out a hiss, and charged towards the other side of the valley with a reckless abandon.


    With no bit of concern for the few small Karamis that had escaped, the few remaining ordinary aliens that hadn''t been tasked with transporting Wino also followed hot on its trail towards the opposite side of the valley.


    While they couldn''t leap such a great distance, the cliff along the mountain was nothing more than t ground to the aliens, who were unaffected!


    They easily crossed the valley, then climbed up and entered the woond.


    The once fiercely contested battlefield suddenly returned to calm, leaving behind a field of alien corpses and a pile of python bodies below.


    The night wind blew, bringing a whiff of sour blood and the stench of decay.


    Then, after a moment, as the shadows twisted, it seemed a figure formed from the ck smoke within the shadows.


    Continuing to chew on the Blood Orchid, Tao Yu looked at the scene before him, his eyes carrying some solemnity.


    "As expected of someone from the Inner City, his pockets are indeed deep, and he''s got quite a few tricks up his sleeve."


    Seeing the aliens sted into pieces, thinking of Joseph''s earlier autonomously ejecting seeker Guile Thunders, and Wino''s suddenly unleashed trump card, Tao Yu also mused to himself.


    To judge their limits based on their initial dealings with those giant snakes would be folly.


    If one were to base their attack on that earlier performance, they''d really die without knowing how.


    But the aliens were truly strong.


    Now it seemed that the people from the primitive tribe had likely not run away due to the pythons; it was highly probable that they were abducted by the aliens to be used as breeding machines.


    The aliens being here, aside from being attracted by my own gunfire, might even havee specifically to hunt these pythons!


    Thinking of thatst terrifying alien python, Tao Yu felt a chill in his heart.


    If these twenty or thirty pythons were to be captured by the aliens, for neers like them who had just awakened, it would truly be a hellish difficulty!


    But Tao Yu didn''t have time to think further; he immediately started searching for the Yuan Force items condensed from the dead aliens, enduring the disgust.


    Most of the Yuan Force was concentrated in the tails of the aliens, with a smaller amount in the oral appendages. Tao Yu didn''t care about the strong acidic blood that identally stained his hands during collection; he forcefully sped up the harvest using the exaggeratedly potent action capability from [One Proof Forever Proof], even surpassing that ofbat movement.


    Initially, Tao Yu was worried that the aliens might have the ability to sense his presence. However, after trying to approach a couple of solitary aliens and confirming they really couldn''t detect him using [Bullet Time], his courage grew.


    He waited for an opportunity from the shadows in the distance all along.


    The continuous consumption of mental energy to hide in the shadows was significant, and under normal conditions, he wouldn''t have been able to stay for so long.


    But by continuously consuming Blood Orchid to enhance himself, the side effect also rapidly replenished his mental energy.


    The Blood Orchid not only strengthened his body when ingested but also contained energy far surpassing ordinary meat, allowing Tao Yu''s consumption while hiding to be even slower than his replenishment rate.


    For ordinary people, the Blood Orchid might only provide fullness and energy, having no healing properties.


    But for Tao Yu, the injuries he sustained while searching for loot, acid burns included, were also healed on the go!


    Now was the time for harvest, and his wait had not been in vain...

 Chapter 25 - 22 Direction

    <h4>Chapter 25: Chapter 22 Direction</h4>


    "Different abilities can be stacked, but it''s a pity that the same ones can''t be exploited for bugs."


    Tao Yu looked at his new "Stealth - Alien" skill, also feeling somewhat sentimental.


    Through the previously modified "Basic Combat" and "Basic de," which allowed for stacking by doubling the energy consumption for w insight, Tao Yu also knew that some redundant parts within Deification skills could indeed be stacked.


    The dozen or so Aliens provided him with over three hundred units of Yuan Force, and the information carried by the Alien tails also sessfully converged to form the "Stealth - Alien" skill.


    After his Deification, Tao Yu found that this ability was simr to the Python''s stealth deification effect, only it cost four hundred fifty Yuan Force and was stronger in all aspects.


    The most critical aspect was that the effects of both stealth abilities could be stacked!


    Once the skills were stacked, his degree of transformation during Shadow Evasion had significantly increased. Now, passing through shrubbery while in the shadows, he no longer experienced ''collisions''.


    However, the price of the power stacking was an increase in the consumption of mental and physical energy. Fortunately, the degree of stacking could be adjusted by the individual based on the varying levels of energy exerted.


    Having already tasted the benefits of "Stealth - Modified," Tao Yu was quite satisfied with this skill.


    With the reaction from "Bullet Time," as long as he still had enough physical strength, he could even use this skill to evade some damage.


    He took another step towards bing an assassin...


    Unfortunately, Tao Yu excitedly collected another Python tooth, only to find out that he could not acquire Python abilities again¡ªbugs are hard to exploit.


    After absorbing another Alien''s Yuan Force mouth, Tao Yu also closed his eyes to sense the new skill that had yet to take shape.


    Unlike the Python, whose two skill informations lies in the teeth, the Alien''s skill informations were in its tail and mouth. However, the chances of a Yuan Force mouth appearing after death were much lower than that of a Yuan Force tail, so Tao Yu hadn''t yetpleted that new skill.


    But through the chaotic fragments of information, he could roughly make out that it might be some kind of ambush ability that increased stealthy killing power...


    "If I''m to be an assassin, then so be it. It seems I''m quite suited to this ghastly environment, and the speed of my physical enhancement isn''t too bad either," Tao Yu pinched his bicep.


    Previously skinny, his body had be strong thanks to the elerated Basic Breathing Method and sufficient blood food since his arrival here.


    Especially after indulgently consuming dozens of Blood Orchids, Tao Yu could vaguely feel that his current physical condition had reached, or even exceeded, the limits of an ordinary person!


    Not only that, but as the Qi-Blood surged within his body, he could feel that his upper limit had increased a bit, and he could continue to develop his remaining potential using the "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified."


    The increases to the upper limit from the Breathing Technique and the Blood Orchids could be stacked.


    "Although it''s a bit extravagant, it''s also absolutely necessary," Tao Yu knew that if he took the Blood Orchids back to sell, he could get a high price, but he did not feel a loss spending on his own strength.


    If he were to sell them, such a number of Blood Orchids might even attract trouble; better to consume them himself.


    It''s crucial to stay alive for now!


    Nevertheless, Tao Yu still kept five Blood Orchids just in case.


    Not only could he have the opportunity to sell them outside, but they could also be used in critical moments as high-energy food for rapid replenishment of physical and mental energy.


    Beyond that, his backpack was packed full with the remaining Serpent Fangs.


    These Serpent Fangs couldn''t provide a new skill anymore, and while they also weren''tcking as a source of three or four hundred points of Yuan Force, they didn''t offer the same rapid, direct enhancement as the Blood Orchids.


    Should he urgently need it, Tao Yu would certainly absorb them directly, but if there was a chance, they could also be sold, especially since they were part of a set of skills from the Development Zone.


    Wino''s effort to recruit people indicated that these skills were quite valuable for some Pioneers, potentially worth several or even more than ten times their value oncepleted.


    His parents'' annual ie without spending was only three or four thousand, and if daily expenses were deducted, they had to save for several years!


    "No wonder the aristocrats of the Inner City start off so easily with a hundred thousand units of Yuan Force, and their equipment and items are probably of the same level, the ie gap is just too vast."


    Tightening his backpack, Tao Yu, standing within the valley, looked towards the opposite bank


    "However, the Inner City aristocrats don''t get this sort of reward every time, or else Wino wouldn''t bother recruiting people.


    "So, the three thousand Yuan Force that Joseph lent must be quite important to him?"


    With this thought, a profound look appeared in Tao Yu''s eyes.


    "The interest rate of returning thirteen for a loan of nine is too high; I need to clear the debt soon."


    Afterward, he didn''t choose to leave through the path leading out from the valley along the bank but instead climbed towards the opposite bank where Joseph had jumped towards, in the direction where the Aliens and Python had gone.


    The Alien could climb up swiftly with a simple scratch of its ws, but since arriving here, Tao Yu had to climb as though he was rock climbing.


    Fortunately, with his current physical condition being quite exceptional, even carrying a backpack that weighed several tens of pounds, his climbing was still rtively smooth.


    He didn''t have a system-based climbing skill, but his physical fitness was enough topensate for this deficiency.


    Moonlight poured over him, and thanks to the passive dynamic vision provided by "Bullet Time," Tao Yu''s sight waspletely unaffected by the darkness.


    After climbing the cliff on the opposite shore, the dark rainforest before his eyes appeared quite clear, and he could even discern the traces of the Python Alien moving through the woods.


    ncing at his "Stealth - Modified" and "Stealth II - Modified" skills, Tao Yu''s courage surged.


    Previously, a single stealth skill was enough to slip past an Alien; now, with two stacked, there was no reason to fear anything!


    Moreover, even without actively using Shadow Evasion, thebined passive stealth capability of the two skills ensured he had a decent level of concealment, not easily detectable by others.


    Passive stealth might not be as good as Shadow Evasion, but you just can''t ignore that it has no consumption...


    "Actually, my body has be quite strong, climbing up such a steep cliff easily with a load on my back, and without even being out of breath."


    Tao Yu looked back at the cliff face, which was far more steep than the descent had been, and felt a sense of achievement in his heart.


    When he had first arrived, even with the enhancement from the Breathing Technique, climbing a tree would leave him breathless; the difference now was quite clear.


    Nheless, it''s a pity that with only the physical qualities of a human pushed to the limit, he was still rather insignificantpared to monsters like the Aliens and Pythons.


    Compared to the enhancements from his skills, he was still too weak, extremely unbnced in abilities.


    "The body is the foundation of everything."


    With these musings in mind, Tao Yu also tucked his gun away and, carrying his backpack, entered the dark rainforest ahead.


    Being in debt makes even sleep uneasy; it''s time to resolve this debt.


    It''s inconsequential if others scatter; the slight injury is of no major concern, but I definitely need to find Brother Jose and repay him properly...


    ...


    An Alien crouched atop a tree, its mouthparts continuously sniffing at the trunk, oozing mucus that kept on dripping, looking utterly disgusting.


    Its slender tail swished about, emitting a lethal threat.


    The next moment, as if it heard some movement below, it pounced on the ground covered with thick leaves, moving closer to arge tree trunk in the direction of the sound.


    It elerated suddenly and poked out its head, its tail seemingly ready to strike at any moment.


    But then, it discovered that there was nothing behind the tree trunk, no sign of anything.


    All it saw when it looked down was a pebble that had just stopped rolling, and it slowly extended its mouthparts as if to sniff at something once again.


    A sh of cold, white light swept by and the Alien''s body stiffened, and after a moment, its head slowly slid off, resulting in a decapitation.


    Pfft~


    As the head fell, the Alien''s green acidic blood gushed out, staining the surroundings green and emitting a sizzling corrosive sound.


    Only after the Alien''s bodypletely stopped moving did a figure emerge slowly from the shadows with a wisp of ck smoke, looking at the Alien''s tail, which was gathering Yuan Force, and couldn''t help but purse his lips.


    "It''s the tail again, what a misfortune."


    Shaking and folding the slightly damaged Boomerang Mark in his hand, Tao Yu reattached it to his back, and also took a moment to feel the strain on his body.


    A double-stealth charging,bined with Bullet Time, the Qi-Blood from the Breathing Technique, and the multipleyers of charge from "Burst - Modified" and "Basic de - Modified."


    Using Wino''s alloy Boomerang Mark to behead, cutting through the Alien was as smooth as slicing through butter, decapitating the Alien in an instant.


    However, this test also made Tao Yu aware of minor strains from his thigh to his waist, and then to the tendons and ligaments in his arms, along with nearly forty percent physical exhaustion and about twenty percent mental fatigue.


    "Compared to the previous encounter with the three snakes, this is much better, at least it''s just a strain without any tears, and it''s less costly to repair. An additional ten percent of my energy should be enough to recover from the injury, and there''s still energy to spare. But my endurance is still inadequate."


    Tao Yu stuffed a few plump tree bugs into his mouth.


    With some Auxiliary Abilities from Deification, his eating habits had also be much bolder.


    However, looking at the chunk of Alien corpse aheadbeled ''toxic'', Tao Yu still couldn''t bring himself to eat it.


    Best stick to eating bugs instead.


    "Jose is pretty good at hiding; the Alien that came over obviously hasn''t found him yet, so he must have some unrevealed abilities."


    After securely collecting the Alien''s tail spike and realizing he couldn''t fit it in his backpack, Tao Yu hesitated briefly then directly absorbed it.


    Such skills need to be in sets to fetch a high price; if not in a set, it''s better to just absorb them as units of Yuan Force.


    Ordinary people can''t ignore the mental impact of cluttered information; they need much more than I do, so it''s probably very difficult to assemble anotherplete set that would be sufficient for ordinary people to take with them.


    The absorbed Yuan Force can be used to heal injuries when necessary; it''s somehow more reassuring...

 Chapter 26 - 23 Paying Off Debts

    <h4>Chapter 26: Chapter 23 Paying Off Debts</h4>


    Joseph relentlessly weaved through the forest, his skin showing numerous signs of corrosion, exposing half of his mechanically augmented face, which resembled a metallic skull.


    One of his eyes glimmered with a red brilliance.


    "Beasts..."


    The half-skull mechanical visage of Joseph twisted into a ferocious expression.


    Who would have thought that a mere Awakening Day would bring about such a mess?


    The death of Inner City offspring on Awakening Day, how long had it been since that was news?


    Such a disgrace!


    But thinking of the troublesome Yuan Force creatures, and the Python-like monster he had caught a glimpse of when he had looked back earlier, Joseph felt a heavy weight in his heart.


    Fortunately, he was partly mechanized, and inbination with certain devices on his body, he had fairly advanced methods of masking his scent; otherwise, he might have already been caught by those creatures.


    Even now, through the early warning devices he had set up along his path, he could sense that those things were drawing near.


    Although the number seemed small, enough for him to deal with, Joseph had no intention of turning to fight!


    These were cunning Yuan Force creatures, they would intentionally expose weaknesses to entice their prey, giving the illusion that they could be defeated.


    The reason he and his partner hadsted so long was precisely this; having barely escaped, he couldn''t risk trying his luck!


    "When I make it back sessfully, I''ll bring people to wipe out your nest, damn it, the losses are massive!"


    Even by Joseph''s worth, he couldn''t help but feel pained at the losses incurred along the way.


    Whether it was the Guile Thunder or the cost of repairing the corroded parts on his body, the expenses were not cheap.


    To gain nothing and lose so much was truly embarrassing.


    "I hope that B-rank kid is still alive; otherwise, there''s really no gain at all."


    Joseph then thought about the three thousand units of Yuan Force he had lent out and the B-rank talent from the Outer City mud-leg.


    If that mud-leg survived, it might make up for some of the loss.


    Having suffered such a great loss, he needed to recover somewhere.


    However, the idea of using the loan rtionship to make him ackey felt like a bad deal, he had to find a way to turn him into a personal cannon fodder and ve!


    This wilderness environment was more dangerous than expected!


    "Get a loan from his family, give them a bit more ''Happiness'', I should be able to arrange something, I''ll think it over carefully..."


    Joseph pondered to himself, surely an Outer City mud-leg receiving favor from an Inner City offspring like himself would be eternally grateful?


    "Hmm?"


    It was at that moment Joseph froze, halting and on high alert, as thest early warning device he had set up was triggered, but it failed to send back a clear image!


    Something wasing!


    Standing still, ceasing the noise created by his own movement, Joseph increased his ability to process sounds.


    But apart from the sound of the wind through the branches, no other noises were captured by him.


    Joseph''s shoulder-mounted gun elevated, his mechanical arm once again switching to Gatling mode, his other hand withdrawing a High-Energy Incendiary Bomb, as a look of seriousness appeared on his half-mechanized skull-like face, the mechanical eye scanning all around.


    However, the next moment, a bullet struck his forehead with a sneaky angle!


    The severe impact made the bullet seem embedded into the metallic skull.


    Before Joseph could recover from the massive shock, a soul-tearing sensation suddenly emerged!


    He had felt this kind of attack before!


    It was the kind of attack his father had him get ustomed to in advance, to remind him of some special offensive techniques!


    It was an attack from the psychic side!


    Psychic energy on a bullet?


    What the hell?!


    But his thoughts were immediately shattered by the second bullet, followed by the third! The fourth!


    The continuous ripping sensation disrupted all his thoughts, breaking every consideration!


    Da-da-da~


    A session of bursts came from the treetops in the distance.


    Intense pain caused Joseph to twist and struggle in ce, but it was futile; the bullets, as if they had eyes, locked firmly onto his head!


    The Alloy Exoskeleton, specifically thickened for vital areas, which even Aliens couldn''t prate, now burst with sparks from the bullet collisions.


    The relentless psychic onught in his brain left Joseph incapable of mounting an effective counterattack, only able to madly fire his shoulder cannon aimlessly.


    Breaking the surrounding branches, leaving terrifying gashes on the giant trees, even toppling two of them!


    The transformed Gatling in his hand whipped around wildly, sending debris flying.


    The unactivated High-Energy Incendiary Bomb also fell limply from his hand to the ground.


    The next moment, he even opened his mouth, revealing a dark gun barrel, and began shooting indiscriminately.


    He looked insane!


    Bursts of electronic noise poured out of the ''speaker'' in his chest.


    "Come out, beasts! Beasts!"


    "Who is it! Who is it!"


    But obviously, no one could answer his questions, leaving Joseph in agony as he struggled futilely and raged in vain.


    Finally, a bullet pierced through thestyer of protection, lifting the armor over his eye socket, and drilled in mercilessly.


    Da-da-da~


    After firing blindly into the air for a while, Joseph''s body stiffened and he fell to the ground.


    But even though he was already on the ground, the shooting never paused for a moment, continuing until two magazines were emptied. It was only then that Tao Yu started to reload a fresh magazine while refilling the empty ones with bullets.

 Chapter 27 - 23 Debt Repayment_2

    <h4>Chapter 27: Chapter 23 Debt Repayment_2</h4>


    ```


    "No wonder mechanical and alien augmentations are so popr; they do have an innate advantage in terms of defense,"


    Tao Yu looked at the head of Joseph, which had already been battered, and couldn''t help but feel some emotion deep inside.


    In the many shards of worlds within the Abyss, situations where the weak ovee the strong and make a first-kill were quitemon.


    Top warriors being shot in the head and dying in resentment wasn''t anything out of the ordinary.


    The many stories he had heard, as well as rumors from his parents, all contained such records.


    Clearly, Joseph''s head modifications were likely meant to guard against sneak attacks with firearms, equipped with armor, taking more than a dozen bullets before losing the ability to fight back.


    The additional stabs made Tao Yu feel uneasy too.


    Earlier, Wino, with his alien enhancement providing a more robust physique, also had full-body armor; they must have armed themselves that way to increase their margin for error.


    They were guarding against a catastrophic failure.


    "This dead man was also an Inner City Pioneer, still had a gun in his mouth, if it hadn''t been for the sneak attack, even if we had knocked him to the ground, giving him a chance would''ve possibly led to a turnaround against the odds,"


    Tao Yu thought about how the other had chaotically shot from his mouth at thest moment, and felt somewhat sighful.


    This was something he had not exposed even when fighting the Aliens.


    He had considered crippling the opponent and then forcing him to convert his Yuan Force over, but now thought it was good that he hadn''t acted on it.


    After all, he wasn''t foolish, had he really converted it for himself, it would have truly been worthless.


    Looking at Joseph''s body, Tao Yu fell silent for a moment and ultimately chose not to search the body.


    After being pressured by an Alien onught, this guy had probably been forced to reveal most of his trump cards.


    After all, with mechanical augmentation, who knew if there was anything installed for a desperatest stand...


    Boom~


    A violent explosion rose to the sky; even at some distance, Tao Yu could feel the strong wind and heat wave hitting him directly!


    Seeing the explosion bigger than Wino''s high-explosive grenade, Tao Yu couldn''t help but inwardly curse.


    You Temor really had something up your sleeve!?


    ncing back at the deep rainforest, Tao Yu hesitated no longer, stuffed several plump and pale caterpirs into his mouth, and then leaped down from the treetops, quickly moving toward the east.


    The danger was resolved, and his gains were already considerable, now it was all about sessfully making it back alive!


    His current abilities were sufficient enough for survival, the remaining Yuan Force could be considered for extending the usage period based on the leftover time, to increase the cost-effectiveness of the Yuan Force.


    Taking advantage of the abundant meat in the rainforest, he nned to use up all the Yuan Force before heading back...


    ...


    "... Zzzt~, that kind of Yuan Force creature should possess a parasitic ability; its young are very weak and responsible for infesting hosts, developing different abilities based on the host. We discovered that the radio we received was from a crashed spaceship, but most of the useful stuff has been destroyed, which is a shame.


    "We killed a synthetic human who kept trying to trick us into feeding one of those Yuan Force creatures, but there''s a toxin called ckwater around here, and one careless move could be dangerous for you. It''s not suitable as a new settlement location..."


    Atop the treetop, Tao Yu held his antiquated receiver, picking up the new day''s reports.


    It turned out the siblings from the Floating City had almost cleared the neighboring grasnd area.


    Joseph and Wino, these Inner City Pioneers, had shown various powerful trump cards at the critical moment of life and death, which made Tao Yu tense just thinking about it now.


    ```


    The sneak attack on Joseph would have likely resulted in our position being locked onto from a distance for a precise counterattack had it not beenbined with a psychic assault.


    Wino''s fury was quite explosive.


    It seems that it''s not all that strange for the siblings from Floating City to bulldoze through the neighboring fragments.


    "...The mission objectives have now been updated. Centering around the descendants from the Inner City, everyone should start to disperse and explore, to select a site for gathering, searching for new world fragments. There are still three days left before the first batch of Pioneers returns. The main task for all Pioneers these few days is to stick together and survive."


    "After returning to Starshine City, we''ll arrange ording to everyone''s specific circumstances. As long as you make it back alive, you''ll havepleted the mission. Any recognizedbat talent or support talent will receive a guaranteed reward of a thousand units of Yuan Force..."


    Obviously, because of the presence of the ckwater Toxin, capable of giving birth to Aliens, the prairie area is indeed not suitable for use as a gathering ce.


    If they put in some effort to develop the forest area and spend some time, it does have the potential. However, it''s clear that the siblings are still looking for a better area.


    A temporary gathering ce is fine, but there are many factors to consider if one intends to develop it into a new long-term gathering ce.


    The environment for survival, resources for living, the general situation of the nearby world fragments, safety, and risk, among other things.


    Although the guy from Floating City is sometimes blunt, Tao Yu has to admit that for ordinary people entering this time, it''s indeed fortunate to have two strong supporters from Floating City.


    Only they have the ability to mobilize enough resources to create a rtively stable area.


    The reward of at least a thousand units of Yuan Force forbat talents and recognized support talents alone after returning is already quite generous.


    This is probably a benefit that only happens during a temporal anomaly when newnds are opened, enough for the average families of the Outer City to go wild with joy.


    There is quite a big difference in style between the Floating City siblings and the two Inner City Pioneers.


    Or to put it another way, to the people of Floating City, the slight gains of the mud-legged folks from the Outer City are not worth considering...


    Tao Yu, who had been crossing the rainforest alone for several days, could also feel that kind of fatigue thates with solitude.


    In terms of strength, he could defeat the Aliens and Pythons, and even if it were a Python Alien, if he got the chance, he could engage it by overexerting his body.


    His ability to sneak attack could create various possibilities.


    But...


    The oppressive feeling of having to keep one eye open even while resting kept Tao Yu''s nerves stretched tight.


    He was afraid that the moment he opened his eyes, he would meet the cherry-like mouth of an Alien.


    Most of the time, the vignce and caution are of no use, just wasted effort, yet he had to maintain constant alertness.


    Tao Yu could develop different versions of "Infiltration" from both the Python and the Alien, which shows that they were extremely good at sneak attacks as well.


    With Tao Yu''s current strength, if he were sessfully ambushed, he would be done for.


    It''s only by relying on the power of "Bullet Time" that he could detect threats in advance while remaining vignt.


    And now that he had "Infiltration ¡¤ Modification," his ability to save himself was very strong, provided that he had enough alertness!


    "Still, it''s theck of stamina and defense. If I could maintain ''Shadow Evasion'' throughout the whole journey, or if my defense was strong enough to survive one sneak attack without dying, I wouldn''t need to be so tense..."


    Tao Yumented in his heart, thinking of Joseph''s head that took over a dozen bullets, and then of Wino''s full-body armor.


    After listening to the broadcast, Tao Yu flipped down from the tree and cut off a piece of meat from the roast wild pig on the fire with a small knife.


    Even though he still had some salt, without anything to remove the gamey taste, it was really hard to eat...

 Chapter 28: 24 Chapter Clues (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch, Novice Village Chief Typhal)

    <h4>Chapter 28: 24 Chapter Clues (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch, Novice Vige Chief Typhal)</h4>


    "Is this..., the barrier of a world fragment...?"


    Tao Yu looked at the grasnd ahead, his eyes also filled with a shocked expression.


    An abrupt scene change!


    On thest day before returning, he barely made it through the rainforest and arrived at the grasnd mentioned by the radio.


    Looking back, the dense rainforest that suddenly appeared was right behind him!


    You could see many giant trees, all of them were violently torn apart in the middle!


    Many of the outermost giant trees looked as if they had been cut vertically, exposing their uneven cores.


    The cut surface was not smooth, as if nibbled by a dog, the same as the higher ground below.


    The messy cut surface of the ground also revealed many tree roots; the ground was about three meters higher than the grasnd side.


    It was as if a piece of the puzzle was violently torn off and then forcibly stuffed here,pleting the assembly!


    One line apart, and there are two worlds!


    Tao Yu raised his head to look at the sky; for now, the cloudyers and the sunlight didn''t seem to show any obvious signs of division.


    Perhaps there used to be, but clouds change constantly, and after being torn, they slowly became a new form, and overall the puzzle was stillpleted.


    As for sunlight and day and night, I had heard that the situation within the Abyss fragments was also rtively chaotic. Sometimes several fragments are unified together, sometimes adjacent worlds arepletely different, and there are even wholly independent worlds.


    In short, the situation in the Abyss is very chaotic andplex, even thepany''s records are notprehensive.


    And whether one can fly out of the atmosphere to see if the outside is a star-filled sky is also entirely uncertain, likely Schrodinger''s superposition, you only know once you go there.


    "It''s said that near thepany''s gathering ce, when a new world fragment appears, it''s possible that it will fall from this kind of division area, or even directly from a world, and then immediately form a new world, turning seas into mulberry fields overnight..."


    Tao Yu thought of the limited information he had learned and couldn''t help feeling somewhat emotional.


    Besides that, when he jumped from the rainforest''s ground, three meters high to the grasnd, he could faintly feel a slight sense of difort.


    This must be what they call the difference in ''World Forces.''


    Different world fragments have different rules, and the upper and lower limits of the power exhibited in many world fragments greatly vary.


    However, this kind of restriction and upper limit is just a passing mention by my parents at home, it''s not much rted to the Outsiders who are merely reaching for their own limits.


    Actually, the most apparent ce for these restrictions is the world we currently live in. The World Will is suppressing the power while resisting the consumption by the Abyss. It must be each world''s self-protection mechanism.


    But then again, these things don''t matter much to the Outsiders, the mud-legged peasants; it seems the stronger one is, the more significant the suppression.


    Besides that, theoretically, unique Yuan Force creatures from world fragments should meet some resistance when entering other fragments.


    But seeing how the Aliens are happily roaming everywhere in the rainforest, this resistance''s strength must also vary depending on the world.


    "The grass is growing quite lush here, so I don''t need to worry about not finding shade."


    Tao Yu surveyed the grasnd; the grass here generally grew to chest height and was exceptionally lush.


    With the Qingfeng breeze blowing, you could see wave-like ripples in the sea of grass.


    But beneath this grasnd lie various hidden dangers.


    Leaving others aside, if the Alien crawled and moved at high speed, it couldpletely hide itself within the sea of grass!


    Fortunately, there is also shade here, and Tao Yu also has superior hiding skills.


    "From what I heard in the broadcast, this should be that ruined from the Prometheus World, which, due to the ck water, normally has no life on this grasnd, and there''s not much food."


    Because he had always maintained the eleration Breathing Technique, Tao Yu''s need for food was still quite substantial, and this was the first thing he considered.


    But since this ce connected to the rainforest and the Alien as a Yuan Force creature had entered the rainforest, it''s certain that animals from the rainforest would venture into this deathly silent grasnd.


    There are no restrictions on the movement of ordinary animals.


    However...


    Due to the ck water, many of these animals will probably encounter misfortune and be Alien materials!


    It''s not known how long these two world fragments have been adjacent.


    But since the Facehuggers are already running everywhere, the situation is probably quite severe.


    This made Tao Yu''s eyes fill with concern...


    With the presence of ck water, and the addition of Facehuggers, all the animals in the rainforest have the potential to be Aliens!


    As time goes by, two worlds eroding each other, will they eventually form an endless army of Aliens...


    "Tch~, those guys from the Floating Cities are quite keen; they know this isn''t a good ce to settle down. But in fact, if their choice of location is close to here, they might still be affected, or it''s almost unavoidable."


    The Pioneers from Starshine City on foot, searching for a suitable gathering spot, could possibly be slower than the spreading speed of the Aliens.


    What kind of world is this?


    If there were only the Pythons from the rainforest, it would be more challenging than a normal Awakening Day, but it''s still somewhat manageable.


    Just having the Aliens from the grasnds would be the same!


    Because originally there were no creatures on the grasnds, the number of Aliens was limited.


    But when these two cursed cesbined, the resource-rich rainforest with the superior Python and the Aliens, thisbination directly causes a disastrous situation.


    At least even for the current Tao Yu, it''s enough to make his scalp tingle.

 Chapter 29 - 24 Clues (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch, Novice Village Chief Typhal)_2

    <h4>Chapter 29: Chapter 24 Clues (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch, Novice Vige Chief Typhal)_2</h4>


    "We must find a new world fragment, preferably one that can block Yuan Force creatures. These two ces are too demonic,"


    Tao Yu didn''t venture deep into the grasnds but kept walking towards the distance along the border of the rainforest and grasnds.


    Beside him was the over three-meter-tall rainforest floor and the asional roots appearing through the mud below, looking like a mud wall.


    He surveyed the area but didn''t see the smoke signals set by the two-man team from the Floating City, so the distance must be very far.


    Given that, he wanted to try to reach another world fragment.


    He didn''t know howrge these two world fragments were. If a whole was torn apart and thrown here, that would really be a leg-breaking journey.


    Traversing the globe on foot?


    What a hellish joke...


    "I wonder if I can get some kind of assembled mountain bike when I go back. It would be even better if it were sr-powered electric..."


    Since it was thest day, Tao Yu allowed himself to rx a little and cleared his mind.


    However, at that moment, he frowned slightly, turning to look at the sea of grass as tall as a person. The rippling of the grass was wrong!


    Something wasing his way!


    "An Alien?"


    Tao Yu''s heart sank, and then he quickly slipped into Shadow Evasion. Suddenly, the surrounding scene became mottled, turning into a view from within the shadows.


    The next moment, he moved rapidly towards the source of the noise.


    The perspective of moving through the shadows, with reflections all around him speeding past. Although his spirit and physical strength were declining, the speed was much faster than his own full sprint!


    The most critical thing was, as long as he increased his mental energy consumption, he could ovey double the depth of shadow with two major stealth Skills.


    He could keep reducing his own ''collision volume,'' though not capable of passing through walls, but moving through the grass he could almost not affect its sway, and no footprints or traces would be left on the ground!


    "Looks like it''s five of them, tsk, quite troublesome."


    Tao Yu now had a clear judgment of himself; he could dispatch one or even two Aliens with consecutive closebat sneak attacks!


    But if he encountered more than three at the same time, he would have to consider using firearms for a tactical retreat.


    Five was about the limit he could handle! He would need to use all his abilities and items.


    The endurance was nearly pushed to the limit, which was too risky.


    He would probably have to make a tactical retreat first.


    He had high burst damage and high killing power. Even if an Alien''s individual strength was a bit stronger, he was confident he could handle it, even assassination in a sneak attack.


    But facing an ongoing battle or encirclement was quite awkward.


    Still not enough endurance...


    However, soon after, Tao Yu, looking at the ferocious grey wolf in front of him that was about half his height, couldn''t help but feel speechless.


    It turns out it was just a few grey wolves. Wasn''t that a scare...


    Although the grey wolf he saw had the size of an skan mmute and was quite ferocious,pared to the previously assumed Aliens, it still made Tao Yu breathe a sigh of relief.


    "Not bad, not bad, think of it as a supplement to my meat intake. I''ll dry it and hide it, who knows if there''ll be any next time."


    While thinking this, Tao Yu swung his sword and beheaded the grey wolf in front of him without wasting any enhancements.


    Although he swung casually, Tao Yu did not underestimate the grey wolves.


    Without tools and weapons, fiverge grey wolves could still be lethal to Tao Yu!


    Because of their number, it is easy to be overwhelmed!


    In the evolutionary process of canines, their teeth are very good at tearing and biting; they bite and run, easily ripping off a chunk of flesh, specially designed for group attacks.


    On the other hand, although felines have long canines that kill in one strike, they''re not actually good at group attacks. Even when lions, which live in groups, cooperate, they mainly rely on their ws, using their teeth to lock the throat or the spine. If the ws are not well set, their teeth can easily break.


    Five wolves of this size in an environment with such grasnd height can easily cause even an individual with a gun to have an ident.


    "But now with my physical fitnessbined with a weapon, paying attention, I should also be fine, right?"


    After killing one wolf, Tao Yu didn''t want to waste extra mental energy to slip into Shadow Evasion again. Looking at the bay on the assault rifle and feeling the burst of strength from his body, he prepared to get a bit of practice.


    With Bullet Time to fall back on, he wasn''t afraid of messing up.


    This is indeed a good opportunity.


    Whoosh~


    The next moment, the second gray wolf sprang out from the bushes; its ferocious teeth interlocked, revealing a wildness utterly unlike that of domestic dogs!


    Without using any additional skills, just passive Dynamic Vision and the passive enhancement of Basic Weaponry.


    Taking a casual step to the side, Tao Yu, with his physique at the limits of a normal human, thrust the bay precisely into the wolf''s neck.


    After crashing heavily to the ground, the gray wolf struggled for a bit, but soon, as the blood soaked in, its struggles grew weaker and weaker.


    "Humans, can indeed be considered fierce beasts."


    Tao Yu chuckled lightly, then turned and mmed the butt of his gun hard against the head of another wolf attempting to attack from behind.


    The strength of a human at their limit,bined with the striking techniques of Basic Weaponry, cracked open the skull of the attacking wolf with a single hit!


    It''s time for you to recall the memories of being dominated by those terrifying upright apes!


    When Tao Yu saw the little mouth of the fourth iing alien, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.


    This number six, I knew you guys would be so cunning!


    Bullet Time!


    The scenery around him slowed, and the lunging creature''s movements suddenly decelerated.


    Because the alien was in mid-lunge, apart from its deviously aimed tail, itcked points of leverage.


    Relying solely on the consumption bonus provided by Bullet Time,plemented by the Qi-Blood from his Breathing Technique and the [Explosion¡¤Improved], Tao Yu pushed his tendons to the extreme and easilypleted the evasion.


    This time, Tao Yu did not immediately resort to Shadow Evasion, but instead turned, lifted his gun and focused his mind to squeeze the trigger!


    Ratatat~


    Bullets drilled into the body of the sneaky attacker from behind!


    Acidic blood sttered!


    After being hit by the bullets, the alien, aside from the physical rigidity caused by the bullet''s impact, also seemed to react much slower.


    It was left writhing and rolling on the ground, unable to mount any effective counterattack!


    After firing half a magazine, Tao Yu retreated into the shadows while moving back; his speed surged again as he headed towards thest wolf at high speed...


    "Why has it turned back into a wolf again."


    After casually chopping down thest one, Tao Yu also appeared somewhat speechless.


    He was all ready, prepared for thest two creatures to be aliens, nning to deal with one using firearms to save strength and mental focus, and then stealth-killing the second, but the confidently anticipated second hit turned out, yet again, to be a wolf.


    Four wolves and one alien?


    Tao Yu even suspected that the alien had originally intended to quietly trail and capture these gray wolves.


    That seems to be the only reasonable exnation.


    However, given the appearance of the alien, Tao Yu wasn''t in the mood to rx and slowly make jerky anymore.


    After cutting off the hind legs of two wolves, Tao Yu didn''t get greedy. It was already thest day anyway, and he cut off two legs just to bring back some meat.


    "Hey, not bad luck at all."


    Feeling the location where the alien was concentrating its Yuan Force in its mouth, Tao Yu also appeared somewhat pleased.


    He was only one or two away from his second skill, and the chances for the Mouth of Yuan Force were rather slim.


    Even if it didn''t fully form after absorbing this one, the added Yuan Force should be enough.


    "But, are there suchrge wolves in the rainforest?"


    While absorbing the Mouth of Yuan Force, Tao Yu also wondered.


    Traveling through the rainforest for so many days, he had only seen one type of frail little wolf that ate fruit, never one thisrge.


    Does that mean, it could havee over from another fragment of a world?


    Creatures infused with Yuan Force might face resistance when traveling through world fragments, but ordinary creatures wouldn''t...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 30 - 25 Return

    <h4>Chapter 30: Chapter 25 Return</h4>


    ```


    "Time is up..."


    With that moment of enlightenment in his heart, Tao Yu knew that the fifteen-day trial of Awakening Day was about to end!


    Everyone who awakens their talent at the age of eighteen and bes a Pioneer must stay in The Abyssal Rift for fifteen days by force, and only then will they reestablish contact with the will of the world and return!


    Besides this time, subsequent travels between the Abyss and the real world rely on individual meditation, and after getting proficient, a quarter of an hour of meditation is enough toplete the transfer.


    However, no matter which side, the minimum cooldown time for transfer is five days, and staying too long in the real world could lead to umting insanity. Therefore, it is best to visit the Abyss once a month.


    The same holds true in the Abyss; one must regrly return to the real world if they stay for too long. However, this varies from person to person and is not absolute; some canst longer, others go mad in less than a month, and current conclusions are drawn from experience.


    It is only certain that the stronger one''s power, the longer they can maintain continuity, whether in the Abyss or the real world.


    Stories circte about some powerful figures who are thought to be dead because they haven''t been seen for a long time, but in reality, they have encountered some special events in the Abyss.


    It is said that in some unique areas of the Abyss that are beyond the influence of the world''s will, transfer bes impossible. Wealthy people can use Yuan Force to extend their duration and such.


    However, these special circumstances had nothing to do with Tao Yu, the former Outsider mud-leg.


    Ordinary Outsiders would travel to and fro once a month.


    Shua~


    Tao Yu found his body gradually disappearing like a mosaic being erased, and in the next moment, the scene before his eyes transformed.


    It was still the public square he had left from in the Outer City, with the same old spotty statue.


    The Floating City above their heads still hung in the sky, bringing with it a heavy sense of oppression. The Grey Mist Wall on the perimeter was also still churning.


    As he returned, human voices gradually began to enter his ears.


    "He''s back! He''s back!"


    "The first batch has already returned, why so few?"


    "Are there even fifty people?!"


    "Abao! Abao, are you there?!"


    "Why only so few!"


    "What has happened with the space-time anomaly?"


    "Even the Inner City has lost people?"


    "Where is Joseph?"


    "..."


    The chaotic sounds were like those in a vegetable market. Tao Yu looked around and saw that the perimeter of the square was filled with people, mostly poorly-dressed and even unkempt Outsiders. There were also security squads specifically maintaining order.


    Some well-dressed individuals stood apart, silently observing. They must be important figures from the Inner City or even the Floating City.


    In the center of the squarey or stood sparse groups of forty or fifty people, almost each one covered in dirt and mud, with many obviously injured and continuously crying out with bloodstains.


    Tao Yu himself was no better off, with fifteen days without a bath, rolling in mud, and some stench of blood sma decay on his body, reeking, and the surface of the cowhide armor all congealed and filthy.


    Yet his Dynamic Vision easily caught sight of his parents, who were full of concern. They seemed to be anxiously searching for him, and then Tao Yu raised his hand and called out:


    "Dad, Mom, I''m here, I''m fine!"


    Although Tao Yu had undergone a great change, strengthened by the Blood Orchid and the Breathing Technique, and with a diet constantly supplemented by meat, he had grown stronger. His height had increased considerably from being less than 1.7 meters with a skinny stature to a smooth figure close to 1.8 meters.


    But his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tao, recognized him immediately, relieved to see that he was safe and appeared to have had some significant gains. They both breathed easier.


    It was a relief that he had returned safely. The experiences of the eldest and second child had given them PTSD, so even though their ie wasn''t high, they gritted their teeth and managed to provide Tao Yu with a decent entry-level set and a thousand units of Yuan Force Points.


    It is indisputable that without their support during the toughest times, Tao Yu would have had little chance of returning alive.


    "How can this be? Where is Joseph?"


    "What happened to Wino? Why is he so badly injured?"


    Startled by two cries of rm next to him, Tao Yu jumped in shock.


    Damn, has someonee back to life?


    ```


    ncing back, it was certain that Joseph was dead, but unexpectedly, he really did see Wino''s towering figure!


    There was a gigantic wound torn open in his chest, with ribs syed outward; one could even see the mangled organs within, yet this fellow had somehow managed to survive!


    Traveling through the rift wouldn''t have any healing effects, so did this guy just tough it out?


    This even made Tao Yu''s eyes widen in astonishment.


    He had assumed that the frenzied Wino would have died earlier, but who would have thought that he would be the one to survive?


    Was he captured to serve as a breeding machine, and then lived on through some special lifeforce?


    It''s a bit exaggerated...


    Tao Yu saw a robust red-skinned man with horns on his head and a face like that of a demon, push through the crowd and quickly walked up to Wino. Without any hesitation, he stuck a needle into Wino''s body, his eyes full of rage.


    "Where in the world did the World Will toss itself? Howe some hick from the Outer City survives, yet Wino is injured so grievously?"


    "Joseph is dead!"


    Another figure, who looked ordinary but was exceptionally beautiful, so beautiful it was surreal and unclear whether it was male or female, also had a solemn expression on their face.


    How is it possible, how could Joseph die in a ce like this!


    "He was probably parasitized by creatures known as Aliens. If there were enough of them, it''s quite normal that they couldn''t cope with the situation upon entering."


    A cool voice came from the side, and Tao Yu also saw a slender figure.


    She was unblemished by dust, still in her tight ckbat suit, a sister from the Floating City duo, her brother, just as exquisite and ethereal in appearance, now came over and stood to one side with a cold indifference.


    There were only seven Pioneers from the Inner City in the first batch, and with one dead and another severely injured, the news was certainly not good.


    Seeing theme over, the clearly enraged red-skinned horned brute also suppressed his emotions and managed a smile


    "Miss Sun, I''m truly sorry, it seems my son won''t be able to serve you for a while."


    "It''s alright, this is a bottle of micro life potion; it should be of some use. Heal up quickly."


    Sun Shiyu''s pretty face still held some coldness as she tossed out a bottle of red potion, which the red-skinned brute gratefully epted and then poured directly into Wino''s wound, making a sizzling sound.


    Tao Yu could clearly see how Wino''s originally purplishplexion seemed to have eased quite a bit; the effects of the potion were significant.


    Wino''s condition quickly stabilized and he was ced on a stretcher and swiftly taken away.


    Such injuries would have spelled certain death for anyone from the Outer City, but there might be a chance of survival in the Inner City.


    After dealing with the problem of one injury and one death in the Inner City, Sun Shiqing, the brother of the duo, nced at someone on the outskirts.


    It was a man with a square face, impable attire, and neat moustache tufts.


    Tao Yu knew this man as well, the captain of the Outer City security team, and one of the most powerful individuals in the Outer City, named Ze Chuan. He wore no signs of mechanical or mutant alterations, but he firmly held the position of captain of the security team, which indicated his considerable abilities.


    With just a look, the square-faced captain of the security team hurriedly walked over to the tform where Uncle Hu had been and loudly dered,


    "Alright, quiet down."


    The somewhat chaotic scene, still filled with some sobs, quickly quieted down at hismand.


    Although there were still a few uncontroble sobs and some wails, the overall situation had stabilized.


    "This time-space anomaly was an unexpected event and the casualties are particrly tragic. Even Pioneers from the Inner City have perished on Awakening Day, which shows the difficulty of the ordeal.


    "However, the City Council has already urgently passed a construction proposal for a new settlement. With Miss Sun Shiyu and Mr. Sun Shiqing, two Pioneers, at the core, the Starshine Company has beenmissioned to build our second settlement in Starshine City!


    "Encountering a time-space anomaly is unfortunate, butpared to others who have faced time-space anomalies, this group is indeed fortunate..."


    The survival rate for Awakening Day, which was originally around 60%, plummeted by more than half, enough to illustrate the risks involved.


    But just as the captain of the security team, Ze Chuan, said, the Starshine Company will take charge of constructing a new gathering site with the two core Pioneers from the Floating City at the helm.


    Compared to the Pioneers of the past who faced time-space anomalies and were left to their own devices, it was indeed not too bad; at least there was something to look forward to.


    However, judging from the fact that they have immediately drawn conclusions now and it seems that the Sun siblings were already informed, the siblings from the Floating City must possess an artifact that allows directmunication with the present world.


    Indeed, their foundation is nothing that Pioneers from both the Inner and Outer City canpare to...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 31 - 26 Welfare

    <h4>Chapter 31: Chapter 26 Welfare</h4>


    "Developing a new settlement is difficult, and it may bring danger, but this is not just about developing a settlement for thepany, it''s also about saving yourselves!"


    "Thepany has supported you up to now, and it''s time for you to repay thepany! And thepany''s generosity has also provided a special bounty for this development mission! There''s even an Inner City quota!..."


    Like Uncle Hu before him, Ze Chuan first fed them some ''poisoned chicken soup'', but he also offered some benefits and promises.


    When the words ''Inner City quota'' came out, it was clear that many people''s expressions changed at the scene.


    Many of the Outsiders who hade had probably just lost loved ones, but now they were all ears, listening to what Ze Chuan had to say.


    Tao Yu was also listening; the Inner City had a better environment, and if he was truly strong enough to make a stand, of course, he wanted to move in with his family. But for now, that wasn''t something he needed to consider.


    Because the so-called Inner City quota was just a carrot dangled to entice them, still too intangible. Even if he really got it, considering the gap between his strength and that of those two Inner City sons of nobility, Tao Yu did not want to go in and be looked down upon.


    Some of the other rted favorable conditions might be more practical byparison.


    The first was ''Skill learning''!


    There were many dojos in the Outsider areas where skills could be learned, but Tao Yu''s family couldn''t afford to send him there, so he only had the Basic Breathing Technique, which his third brother taught him hands-on.


    The first truly practical reward this time was that owners ofbat talents, or those recognized with Support Talents, could choose a skill to learn for free from the many dojos in the Outsider areas!


    If thebat talent was high enough, they could even choose two free skills!


    The first skill beyond the free ones was half price, and this discount was not restricted by talent, applying to all Pioneers who survived in the new settlement.


    The interest rate for loans to learn the first skill was also reduced, bing a nine for eleven return, and as long as you were a Pioneer from the new settlement without a loan on your back, you must be allowed to pay in installments.


    In addition to the cash previously mentioned by the siblings, if the conditions were met, you could get a thousand units of Yuan Force, which essentially paid for the half-price learning fees if you only chose a standard skill.


    This was a case of tangible benefits being offered.


    Because of the usual hard-pressed environment, now that such a level of benefits was suddenly on the table, the scene was full of praise and gratitude.


    "...In addition, thepany''s Urban Construction Department has established a new subsidiary department, the ''Remation Agency'', under which a new Outsider Science section has been established, divided into Combat Squad and Support Squad. Anyone whoes back from the new settlement alive, regardless of their talent, can join! Note, regardless of talent!"


    At the sound of this, Tao Yu even heard exmations from beside him; many people''s eyes lit up.


    And Tao Yu understood the reason for their exmation.


    Don''t think that his parents''bined ie was only three hundred units of Yuan Force a month, but considering their rtively safe environment, this was definitely considered an ideal job for many Outsiders!


    Tao Yu''s family was below middle ss, and another reason they had such a hard life was that there were too many people, and his parents valued Awakening Day greatly, almost every child getting a simr level of preparation.


    Just after saving up for Tao Yu, they would certainly have to start saving for the eighth child. In two more years, the eighth would also be turning eighteen.


    On a regr basis, rtively stable jobs were to be fought over.


    You had to actively seek out departments or factories for work.


    Only if your talent and abilities were suitable might you be hired.


    Otherwise, you had to figure out how to venture into the world fragments outside the settlement.


    Maybe some lower-level Pioneers could asionally earn a substantial ie through adventure, but the risks and stability were evident.


    Often, children couldn''t be properly looked after, then due to insufficient points, they''d end up as cannon fodder.


    Tao Yu''s mother worked in a leather factory, and the durable cowhide armor he wore was made by her, while his father was a sentry in the Abyss settlement''s City Guard Agency.


    The Abyss settlement''s City Guard Agency was not like the Outsider''s security team; it was quite inferior, but still considered decent workpared to other Outsiders'' jobs.


    But now, ording to Ze Chuan, it seemed that as long as you chose to go to the new settlement and then returned alive, you could join this department under thepany''smand!


    Many factories in the settlement didn''t actually belong to thepany, but were run by Inner City people who just paid taxes regrly!


    Tao Yu''s mother''s factory was just like this.


    It could be said that being able to enter apany''s direct department was quite difficult.


    At the very least, a fixed sry was something many people could not refuse, and they could also earn cannon fodder points.


    But...


    The danger of pioneering a new settlement was beyond doubt, and since cannon fodder points were distributed based on rank, it would be meaningless if everyone could earn them unless there weren''t many people.


    However, due to the shortage of people in the new Development Zone, there wasn''t yet a cannon fodder mode, which was actually good news.


    Tao Yu was also quickly weighing his options, quite satisfied with the idea of freeloaded skills. He could deify skills, and with a Grade B talent, he could freeload two of them.


    But joining that so-calledpany''s Urban Construction Department-Pioneering Division-Outer City Section-Combat Squad or whatever, Tao Yu wasn''t really into it.


    He did need a ce in the Abyss where he couldnd and rest for sure but after experiencing an unsessful team-up once, he was quite cautious about this aspect.


    He had many secrets and didn''t mind the asional temporary team-up to do things, but as for joining a restricted ce for the long term, he''d rather not.


    Due to limited exposure in the past, Tao Yu wasn''t quite clear on some structures, jobs, and modes of operation.


    Previously, his family''s greatest hope was for him to awaken a Grade Cbat talent and join the City Guard Agency to bring glory to the family, or at least find a stable factory and screw in bolts.


    Uh, that certainly wasn''t an option anymore.


    "I''ll ask Uncle Huter, and I need to find a ce to sell the goods I''m carrying too," he thought.


    Carrying two wolf legs and with a bulging backpack on his back, Tao Yu had decided on the next thing he had to do.


    "Yo, little brother Tao Yu, I''m so d you''re okay. That backpack looks heavy; let me carry it for you, after all, Uncle Tao Hu asked me to take care of you..."


    Just then, a joyful voice came from the side. Li Le immediately walked over, his face aglow with excitement as he reached for the backpack.


    At that moment, Li Le was filled with surprise and excitement, not expecting the kid to have made it back alive too!


    Only he and Tao Yu knew the properties of the Blood Orchid!


    With his previous slight connections in the Inner City, he could definitely sell it for a good price!


    He didn''t think the other would resist, and he was sure to give him something for it.


    After all, do you dare to sell that thing yourself?


    You might just get too full of yourself and burst!


    Tao Yu nced at him and tapped his reaching hand with one of the wolf legs,


    "Don''t look any further, I''ve eaten it all."


    Feeling the pain in his wrist and shocked by Tao Yu''s strength, Li Le was dumbfounded upon hearing those words, his eyes turning red,


    "Eaten? How could youmit such a waste of heaven''s gifts!"


    Li Le didn''t believe it, but the pain in his hand told him that Tao Yu indeed had considerable strength!


    Looking around at the surrounding gazes, Li Le didn''t want to say much. He suppressed his anger to calm himself and came closer, lowering his voice,


    "I was wrong in our previous team, but my elder brother in the Inner City was pressuring me; there was nothing I could do. You can''t possibly consume that thing! Let''s coborate!"


    "I really ate it. I knew I couldn''t keep it, and absorbing Yuan Force felt too extravagant, so naturally, I ate it,"


    Tao Yu said with a smile, seemingly indifferent to Li Le''s previous and current attitudes.


    Back in the real world, even though it was also quite chaotic here, there were still basic principles. One couldn''t just kill another in broad daylight. A few nice words wouldn''t cost any flesh...

 Chapter 32 - 27: Excuse Me

    <h4>Chapter 32: Chapter 27: Excuse Me</h4>


    "Really ate it?"


    Li Le''s vision darkened, and fury surged within him. Yet, looking at Tao Yu''s smile and recalling his behavior within the team, he forcibly suppressed his anger.


    His own family had left the Inner City in disarray; now he too belonged to the muddy rank and file of the outer city. He could no longer act as carefree and impulsive as the scions of the Inner City.


    Rage solved nothing and brought no benefits.


    If it were just some trashy little Karami, it wouldn''t matter, but a grade B Dynamic Vision, after consuming so much Blood Orchid, probably meant his physical fitness wasn''t weak either¡ªa ready-made, rapidbat force.


    In the era of pioneering new territories, this could be a considerable source of strength.


    He had been unfriendly toward Tao Yu in the team and hadn''t given face to Tao Hu, mainly because Wino didn''t like Tao Yu.


    Now that Jose was dead and Wino was severely injured, this fellow was not without value!


    This made Li Le reluctantly muster a forced smile and say,


    "Alright then, investing in one''s own strength isn''t a loss. You have good talent."


    It pained him to say such words while holding back his anger, but he had no choice but to speak.


    "Is that so? I think so too. You''ve got quite an eye for talent."


    Tao Yu''s casual remark nearly broke Li Le''sposure, who then took a moment to don a feigned hearty expression before saying,


    "With talent like yours, you should be able to im two skills for free. What''s all this you''re carrying? It''s packed to the brim."


    Still hopeful but constrained by the rules of this ce, he couldn''t just rob someone in broad daylight.


    Initially, taking advantage of a torn bag to peek inside was feasible, but now there was no excuse.


    Regardless of the darkness here, the public rules had to be followed¡ªat least for Li Le, a fellow Outsider.


    Unless Tao Yu initiated, there was nothing he could do right now.


    Tao Yu, not wanting others to continually covet his belongings, slightly opened the gap for a peek,


    "Serpent Fangs, a whole skill set."


    Though this skill set was quite a significant haul, it wasn''t too conspicuouspared to a bag of Blood Orchid. With Uncle Hu''s support and Tao Yu''s own talent, they were more than enough to suppress the visibility of such wealth.


    "You went back there?"


    It was a casual inquiry, but upon seeing those Serpent Fangs, Li Le''s eyes widened.


    Fuck, all the Inner City folks are dead, and you''re still kicking! Tough as a tiger!


    "Why shouldn''t I go back? You''re not thinking of robbing me, are you?"


    "Of course not. Our Starshine City has its rules."


    Li Le silently scoffed. What a country bumpkin, unaware of the world''s ways. If it had been the bag of Blood Orchid, he might have been tempted afterward to make a move, but a meremon skill worth around three thousand units of Yuan Force? Not worth the risk or effort.


    "Well, actually, I went back afterward too, just a step toote," said Zhang Wei, lugging arge sack of snake meat.


    With his D+ grade Endurance and now armed with a gun, this kid was also lucky enough to survive.


    Li Le thought if they had really encountered an alien, he would have been done for just like both of them. They were just as lucky as the rest of the folks who survived in the square today.


    After Wino had shown his suppression of Tao Yu, Zhang Wei changed his attitude, but Tao Yu didn''t hold any grudge against him. Everyone had their own stance and interests to consider, which was fair enough.


    Such a stance could be understood but didn''t need to be epted.


    Their rtionship thus remained that of casual acquaintances, willing to team up temporarily, but without the need for closer bonds.


    Oh, and given the gap in their strengths, even temporary team-ups were unnecessary. It was unlikely they would cross paths again in the future.


    Of course, there was no need for harsh words either. Why make unnecessary enemies?


    Even small fry had plenty of nasty tricks up their sleeves to irritate others.


    "It''s a rare asion, that members of the same team can meet again. Perhaps in the new settlement, we can find opportunities to cooperate more," Tao Yu said, his words brimming with insincere politeness, but neither Zhang Wei nor Li Le found anything amiss.


    Looking around again, they realized that among their former team, only the three of them withbat talents and weapons had survived. The loss of life on this Awakening Day had indeed been horrendous...


    ...


    "Grade B Dynamic Vision? Goodd! Haha, I knew you had it in you. You''ve bulked up quite a bit, and you''re much easier on the eyes now," said Uncle Hu, who had been waiting with Tao Yu''s parents. He brightened up at the inquiry from Tao Yu.


    Seeing Tao Yu''s sturdy build and increased height, he guessed the boy had done well.


    Yet, he hadn''t expected a grade B talent.


    Dynamic Vision was amonbat talent, but it was still abat talent!


    With a grade B, he might even have the chance to enter the Inner City if he tried hard enough.


    The key was the timing coincided with the development of a new settlement. It was a risk and an opportunity all in one!


    "Although the space-time anomalies are troublesome, they are also your chance. The higher your talent, the better, and the more valuable you are, the more likely you are to be recognized. Now, when there''s a shortage of manpower, you might even get the chance to be listed under Young Master Sun and Miss Sun after your talent is reported!"


    Speaking of the two from the Floating City, Uncle Hu''s face naturally took on a respectful hue.


    Both Tao''s parents were so overjoyed that they wept, their eyes red.


    "My old Tao family has produced a B-levelbat talent!"


    Once their status improved, they too would rise with the tide, and even the scores for the cannon fodder series could be raised.


    In all respects, this was great news!


    As for the dangers of reimingnd...


    What isn''t dangerous in this godforsaken world?


    Out of eight kids in the family, four had already perished!


    Compared to that, having an opportunity and a channel to enter the Inner City was stronger than anything else!


    Thinking about what the head of the security team had said, Tao Long said through gritted teeth with a bit of a rough breath,


    "Seventh kid, go for it. We''ll sell the pot and iron if we have to, just to arm you up. You must learn those half-priced skills."


    Then he looked at Uncle Hu with a bit of a plea,


    "Uncle Hu, our family only knows you. You have to help out with this, give your big nephew a hand."


    "Haha, I would have given him a hand without you asking. A B-levelbat talent shouldn''t be wasted."


    A glint shed in Uncle Hu''s eyes as he readily agreed.


    Tao Yu''s talent was a very nice return on investment for him.


    Tao Long had helped him when he was down and out, but favors diminish the more they''re used, and ever since he got the mechanical arm, the gap between their families had grown even wider!


    But Tao Yu''s timely B-levelbat talent solved all problems anew.


    A give and take ensured a stronger rtionship!


    "Let''s go back and think carefully about the kid''s future ns. First, test the talent. Ah Yu, you can''t bluff your Uncle Hu with your talent, ha."


    Uncle Hu joked.


    Even though the head of the security team, Ze Chuan, spouted a bunch of words, there was no actual talent registration or testing on-site.


    Such things were always personal knowledge; you cannot just im anything to be true.


    Actual talent tests are typically administered when one proactively signs up for a job, with experiences over the years dictating different tests and ssifications based on different talents.


    So the talent levels imed by outsiders often had various degrees of truth and falsehood...


    "Hehe, only stronger, never weaker. Uncle Hu, rest assured."


    And so, Tao Hu with a mechanical arm took the three back to his home first.


    Tao Hu''s status wasn''t bad before the injury. His home was in a much better location than Tao Yu''s, already close to the Inner City wall, within the protective reach of wall-mounted firepower.


    This was a benefit for the members of the security team, being close and safe to their workce.


    It was impossible for Tao Hu to be driven out while he was injured on duty.


    There were many residences nearby, most cobbled together in a style typical of refuse, with limited items brought back from each Abyss trip. Haphazard construction had be the norm, and no one found it odd.


    In terms of living conditions alone, these ''family areas'' for the security team were much better than the fortresses in the Outer City.


    "Just right to work on these two good legs, let my wife show you a thing or two today."


    Arriving at their abode, resembling a tin shack, Tao Hu took the wolf legs from Tao Yu''s hand and shouted for his wife to prepare dinner as he entered.


    Tao Hu was dark-skinned and stocky himself, but the appearance of his wife was quite decent for an Outsider.


    Having been bombarded by the beauties of the inte in his past life, Tao Yu could rate her a six, and that was her bare face; a tall, good-looking woman whose only w was skin roughened by housework and exposure to the elements.


    At least next to Tao Hu, the aesthetic contrast was notable, intuitively reminding one of the mismatched couple of Wu Dng and Pan Jinlian.


    But in reality, due to his status and position, even during his lowest point with the disability, the good-looking but talentless Aunt Hu was definitely dominated by him.


    Just the omission of her name from the cannon fodder list for his on-duty injury was enough to make many women envious.


    Uncle Hu had two sons and a daughter who were still alive, but they weren''t home today.


    While Aunt Hu efficiently prepared the ingredients in the kitchen, Uncle Hu sat with the others in the living room on a genuine leather sofa.


    Genuine leather!


    It seemed to be stitched together from the pelts of three brown bears, stuffed with unknown filling apart from the supporting framework inside.


    Tao Yu, dirty as he was, left several marks on the sofa as he sat down, but for Outsiders, such tidiness was never much of a concern.


    "The specific standards of a B-level ''Dynamic Vision'' are only vaguely known to me since I don''t handle testing, but let''s give it a rough test first."


    He got straight to the point as soon as he sat down, as this needed to be rified. It was all well and good to boast in front of rtives, but if deception came to light during the official test, it would be over.


    While speaking, Tao Hu rubbed his mechanical arm, seemingly adjusting the speed with his eyes closed. In the next instant, he moved swiftly in front of Tao Yu.


    "Uh, sorry, I think I turned it up too fast."


    "Punch, three, two, punch, four."


    Tao Yu''s voice synchronized with Tao Hu''s, and then both fell silent simultaneously. The same thought unwittingly shed through their minds.


    Are you ying me?

 Chapter 33 - 28 Partners

    Chapter 33 - 28 Partners


    Tao Yu had no idea about the ranking parameters, he only possessed the passive "Bullet Time" Dynamic Vision.


    Even without actively using it, it was much stronger than the Grade B- Dynamic Vision he had when he first entered, a MAX ability certified by the will of the world.


    Without actively using it, it might reach or even exceed the MAX Dynamic Vision.


    In such a disparity, Tao Hu being a little faster or slower made no difference to Tao Yu.


    It was like humans watching a snake attack a cat, where everything seems as quick as lightning, but in the cat''s eyes, the snake''s speed is forever unable to catch up.


    "Is Grade B that urate?"


    Tao Hu gave Tao Yu a deep look, although he wasn''t responsible for testing, the second-hand mechanical arm had just gone full power, could Grade B really be that clear?


    This was about attack speed, not movement speed!


    "Cough, actually, I added a bit of a spin, mainly because I had experienced others'' envy in the Abyss before," Tao Yu coughed.


    That brought a sneer from Tao Hu.


    "What spin? Envy what? Not arousing envy is mediocrity!"


    After speaking, Tao Hu looked earnestly at Tao Yu.


    "Kid, when you are strong enough, you''ll find only good people and goodwill around you, there''s no need to mind the rest!"


    Tao Hu has been through ups and downs, from working in the security forces to being invalidly retired, then obtaining a mechanical arm to make aeback, so he had a thorough understanding of these matters.


    "Grade A Dynamic Vision in the Inner City should just be a standard ability, no need to pay it any mind."


    Speaking to this point, Tao Hu paused, then emphasized,


    "Besides, now is just the beginning phase of the new settlement project, your Grade A Dynamic Vision can easily catch the attention of the two big shots from the Floating City, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"


    Tao Hu''s face then turned somewhat solemn.


    "Even if some may feel you''re vying for favor and causing trouble, at times like this, you mustpete!


    "You''re an Outsider, apart from fighting and striving with all you have, there is no other path for you! You cannotpromise to make others agreeable, but you can when you are strong enough!"


    Upon hearing what Tao Hu said, Tao Yu also hesitated for a moment.


    Then let''s start with Grade A and adjust ording to the situation.


    Actually, this was what he had been thinking from the beginning, even feeling that it wouldn''t matter even if he showed off MAX Dynamic Vision.


    But after experiencing a round of talent envy among the Inner City youngsters, he felt it wasn''t so secure anymore.


    Furthermore, the new settlement really might encounter situations of ''vying for favor'' and entanglement of interests from others who think you''re ''in the way''.


    So at the beginning of his return, he only imed the innocuous Grade B.


    "Uncle Hu is right."


    Tao Yu disyed a look of having learned a lesson.


    But at this moment, Tao Hu''s heart was still filled with some lingering shock and delight.


    The gap between Grade A and B seemed not toorge, but in reality, the status difference was clear.


    A regrbat talent of Grade B had the chance to enter the Inner City, but even if they luckily made it, they would definitely be at the very bottom, several of his colleagues possessed such ordinary Grade Bbat talent.


    They could work hard and make it in, but they were still ustomed to the stable life of the Outer City.


    A Grade Abat talent, given enough time and resources to grow, could potentially climb to the middleyers of the Inner City. That was apletely different story, even having the chance to bring the entire family in to form a small n!


    However, all of these premises depended on having the time and resources to grow!


    asionally in contact with some bigwigs due to his status, Tao Hu clearly understood the huge difference in the foundation between the people from the Inner and Outer Cities...


    Tao Yu''s parents, standing beside him, were also looking somewhat confused, clearly still struggling to adapt.


    "Grade A is good! Now we can think of a new n, your main priority at the moment is totch onto the thighs of the two big shots from the Floating City.


    "Now is different from before, you''ve all arrived at the Development Zone, which isn''t the same as the old gathering grounds.


    "In times of need, whatever they carelessly let slip is enough for you to struggle for a long time, and if you can be trusted, it might save you decades of detours!"


    Tao Hu''s expression was somewhat excited. With such great talent, and coincidentally during the tough time of opening up the new settlement, the two bigwigs from the Floating City were short on people; this was a godsend opportunity!


    In fact, this suggestion from Tao Hu was something Tao Yu had actually considered and even been tempted by once.


    Watching the Miss from the Suns go by, he had even briefly fantasized about it.


    Having been baptized by the inte of the twenty-first century, Tao Yu acknowledged that women could affect the speed of drawing a sword.


    But not a wealthy woman...


    Thinking about how Joseph could casually lend out so much, one Awakenening Day alone could bring a dozen luxury equipment sets, and the starting unit for Yuan Force was a hundred thousand.


    What might the offspring of the Floating City have in their hands, with a disparity even greater than that between the Inner and Outer Cities?


    ```


    Indeed, those who can cultivate good rtionships truly can surpass Tao Yu''s current speed at wilding!


    Uh, but unfortunately, if you really go and cling to someone influential, you might just be setting yourself up with a tight restraint, and due to my talent, I might actually have a chance to get in.


    But during the pioneering period, I''d likely have to be at their beck and call, and over time, my plethora of unusual skills would easily be discovered.


    The people of the Floating City, who knows what special abilities they have?


    And I''d also have to fight bloodily amongst a crowd of fawningckeys, including the scions of the Inner City.


    It''s too much hassle, even for someone as tough as me.


    So this path was temporarily shelved by Tao Yu beforeing here, it could only be considered a fall-back n, like if I encountered major trouble and had to prioritize surviving.


    I''m not opposed to making contact, but I don''t want to be someone''s on-callckey.


    Tao Yu''s words caused Tao Hu, who had been excited, to stiffen, and then he spoke in a tone full of disappointment,


    "Uh, Uncle Hu, I''m not too fond of restrictions, so I''m not nning to sign a contract with the developmentpany," Tao Yu said.


    Tao Yu''s words caused Tao Hu, who had been excited, to stiffen, and then he spoke in a tone full of disappointment,


    "Foolish! Restraints? Who in this world isn''t subject to them? Could even the big shots of the Floating City be free of restraint?"


    "I just don''t want ones that are too big. I''ve heard about ''partnerships''; I wonder if Uncle Hu could tell me about that," Tao Yu continued unabashedly, inquiring further despite Uncle Hu''s attitude.


    Tao Hu red at him in irritation, while Tao Yu''s parents at his side also seemed like they wanted to say something, but ultimately, they remained silent.


    Grade A talent, ah, the child has grown up...


    "The decision is yours to make; we can only offer our advice.


    "However, with your talent being evident, you can always jointer if you have regrets, but by then, with more people involved, such an opportunity won''t be as readily avable. Every day for the past half-month, people from the Inner City have been choosing new Development Zones."


    Tao Hu first muttered a remark, but then patiently exined the partnership system to Tao Yu.


    He ''knew'' his nephew was too cautious to vie for favor with the Inner City offspring and had opted for a more detached approach, but this was indeed also a path he could take.


    "''Partners'' is a special mode within thepany, it''s meant to amodate guys with your kind of personality, providing you an alternative. It has a higher thresholdpared to the mercenary or bounty hunter roles anyone could y, but the benefits are also considerably greater."


    Speaking up to this point, Tao Hu paused slightly before continuing,


    "Even the lowest ''Junior Partner'' requires a Level 5 foundational skill or equivalent strength. However, with your Grade A talent, this threshold can surely be rxed."


    Tao Hu''s words gave Tao Yu a clearer understanding of the situation. Level 5 foundational abilities can be seen as the limit for ordinary people, a broad yet overall standard.


    Without using any special bonuses, Tao Yu should already meet these criteria, the Blood Orchid he consumed wasn''t for naught.


    "Bing a ''Partner'' also means considering the cannon fodder sequence, but with your talent so greatly enhanced, you usually don''t need to worry about that. With personnel needed for the new gathering ce, they likely won''t introduce the cannon fodder system right now..."


    As Tao Hu slowly shared, Tao Yu also gained a clearer understanding of the partnership system, something he''d only heard about in passing from his parents'' stories. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In thepany, ''Partners'' are categorized as Junior, Mid-Level, Senior, Silver, and Gold, with each tier offering certain privileges. The freedom is significant, but promotions are also strictly based on merit.


    There are a set of standards for the number of missions, mission points, mission difficulty, and even personal strength.


    "Several of thepany''s Gold Partners have capabilities and privileges no less than those of thepany''s decision-makers. There''s actually a future in it, but it''s all on you, and this path is a hard one."


    As Tao Yu still seemed determined, Tao Hu couldn''t help but sigh,


    "Alright, I won''t try to persuade you further. Go and get a feel for it yourself; with your talent, you can always turn back and do as you wish."


    "Heh heh, thank you, Uncle Hu."


    Tao Yu knew what was good for him; his parents and even Uncle Hu had helped him greatly up to this point. Perhaps Uncle Hu saw it as an investment, but regardless of motives, Tao Yu acknowledged this favor.


    "Oh, and if you register as a Partner, you could also register as a mercenary and a bounty hunter on the side. More types of missions mean more sources for information.


    "But carefully discern between mercenary and bounty missions; not all are directly from thepany and sometimes there are pitfalls."


    After a moment''s hesitation, Tao Hu added another piece of advice,


    "While Partner missionse directly from thepany, sometimes you need to watch out for traps too; generally, they''re better than the ones for mercenaries and bounty hunters."


    Bing a mercenary or a bounty hunter requires no threshold; anyone can do it and can even work part-time. Not only did Tao Hu himself register, but so did Tao Yu''s parents, his disabled older brother, and sister-inw.


    Both roles involvepleting missions, but there are certain differences; bounty hunters often work alone or in small groups and handle a variety of tasks.


    Mercenaries usually team up forbat, exploration, escort, convoy, rescue, or cleanup tasks.


    Some mercenaries form stable mercenarypanies or even establish their ownpanies, but many operate informally.


    A squad leader gets a suitable mission and calls out; a familiar and avable group of mercenaries quickly assembles, somewhat akin to a construction foreman and extras manager in film production.


    The biggest difference between ''Partners'' and these threshold-free jobs is that ''Partners'' take on officialpany missions, while the other two can ept missions from anyone.


    Allpany missions that end up with mercenaries and bounty hunters have already been sifted through by ''Partners''.


    There are even some pure Partnerpanies or mercenary groups that cherry-pick qualitypany group missions.


    This jumbled mix made Tao Yu feel somewhat confused, yet when he thought about this terrible world, it all strangely seemed to fit.


    This world seems to be normal in just this way...


    ```

 Chapter 34 - 29 Good Intentions

    Chapter34 -29 Good Intentions


    In the Outer City, among many oddly pieced-together structures, there stands a swastika-shaped castle that stands out like a crane among chickens.


    Speaking of craftsmanship and uniformity of materials alone, it is even more aesthetically pleasing than the patchy wooden walls of the Inner City.


    And this is also the Starshine Company''s office in the Outer City, handling nearly all of thepany''s affairs there, a ce even the security forces have no right to enter on their own, referred to by the Outsiders as the ''ck House''.


    The dark stone material of the building''s outer walls truly lives up to this name, but at the same time, it might carry other meanings as well.


    "Yo, Tiger''s here, eh? How''s it going, getting used to the Mechanical Arm?"


    At the gate, there''s always a security team patrolling and in charge of ess control.


    When the team leader saw Tao Hu bringing Tao Yu over, he greeted him with a smile, and Tao Hu handed out homemade cigarettes to all six members of the security team.


    "My nephew has some talent; I''m taking him to handle some business."


    "Wow, for you to say ''not bad,'' it must be at least a Grade Cbat talent, right? He can join the team. Do you have a Grade B?"


    The team leader lit his cigarette with a smile and chimed in appropriately.


    Tao Hu, who used to possess "Predictive Eye," was already strong; now that he has a Mechanical Arm, he''s be an even more formidable member of the security forces, so of course people treated him well.


    "Haha, Grade A Dynamic Vision, it''s a shame it''s just amonbat talent, a bit of a pity, eh?"


    Tao Huughed heartily, having been waiting for this moment, his face full of pride and bragging.


    "Grade A?"


    The sound made several members of the security team exim in low voices.


    The security forces are a fairly decent destination in the Outer City, requiring at least Grade D+ inmonbat talent for admission, along with assessments, and to get in securely, one needs to be as good as Grade C inmonbat talent. The talent level had to be solid even if current abilities were somewhatcking.


    It could be said that their own talents were not bad, and they had their pride on normal days.


    But now, hearing about a Grade A talent, each of them turned their heads, many showing expressions of envy.


    If they had brought him here, it definitely wasn''t just a bluff!


    This must be to take care of some business, and there will likely be a test!


    Even if it is amonbat talent, reaching Grade A is still extraordinary.


    "Haha, lucky kid, lucky indeed."


    Tao Hu had the expression of a fisherman who had caught a big one, a smug smile ying on his face, making Tao Yu feel somewhat speechless.


    However, this was something meant to be showed off to others; to unt it a bit wasn''t a bad thing.


    Because when you first witness the power of the Assassin, information is indeed very important, but what Outsiders need to ensure first is to use their talents to gain advantage!


    There are choices to be made; you can''t miss out on eating because you choke.


    So they watched as Tao Hu went through the procedures in an orderly fashion, signed a document, wrote down a destination, and then entered the castle.


    In the dim light of the outside environment that felt perpetually like twilight, the castle was extravagantly lit with electric lights, making it brighter than outside. There were some mottled patches on the walls but still much better than most buildings in the Outer City.


    asionally, the employees they passed had an inherent arrogance on their faces, while others who were obviously Outsiders there to conduct some business seemed somewhat constrained.


    In both attire and demeanor, it was easy to tell them apart.


    At this time, Uncle Hu''s Mechanical Arm became a symbol of status, and they encountered no trouble or petty difficulties along the way.


    Even for Uncle Hu, Tao Yu could sense that he wasn''t as carefree as he appeared outside, but as a seasoned denizen of the Outer City, he quickly led Tao Yu to an office and knocked on the door.


    Tao Yu saw the sign above the door of the office. He recognized the characters¡ª''Comprehensive Office''.


    "There aren''t many partners from the Outer City, so we usually handle business here, but don''t worry, you''ll find everything you need."


    Tao Hu quickly said to Tao Yu before hearing azy voice from inside the room,


    "Come in."


    Upon entering, they saw a middle-aged man with silver hair, lounging and flicking through a magazine.


    Last seen yesterday, Tao Yu had been in this world for eighteen years and had almoste to believe that there were no books in this world, barely able to recognize the characters, virtually illiterate.


    And yet, here he was, seeing a magazine.


    It must be something distributed from the Inner City; he hadn''t seen this in the Outer City, onlyrge-character posters filled with the smell of ink.


    "Team Leader Tao Hu?" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The silver-haired man nced at Tao Hu''s Mechanical Arm, raised an eyebrow, then folded down his legs and casually tossed the magazine onto a desk beside him.


    "Do you have something?"


    He showed the basic respect for Tao Hu, but as a direct employee of thepany, that was as far as he would go; there would be no semnce of a smiley service.


    "Manager Chen, this is my nephew, who has a Grade A Dynamic Vision talent, and he wishes to be a partner."


    "Whoa, just call me Chen Big Brother instead of manager, I''m only a few years older than you," said Chen Yong as he stood up from his seat, a smile gracing his face, before he turned to Tao Yu with a gentle expression,


    "Grade A talent, now that''s truly remarkable, and it''s even abat talent."


    While speaking, he rummaged through a drawer next to him for a moment, pulled out a form, and then went straight out the door saying,


    "Come on, I''ll take you to test your talent, and then fill out the form."


    Leading the two out the door, he closed it behind them, seemingly unconcerned whether anyone else came to conduct business.


    "Just talent testing, right? He also has an LV2 shooting level. Combined with his talent, the standard should be no problem, and there''s an entry bonus for Grade A talent, right?"


    Tao Hu hastily pulled Tao Yu along as he followed.


    "Haha, as you said, with the LV2 shooting level coupled with his talent, that should be enough to meet the shooting standards, so why test his strength? I''ll just fill it in for youter to save you the trouble of running around."


    Chen Yong''s face wore a smile, which was much warmer than before.


    Before the test, Tao Yu was still thinking that if he couldn''t control it well and ended up with MAX Dynamic Vision again, he''d have to exin himself to Uncle Hu.


    But this professional ce was not the same as Uncle Hu''s casual tests.


    Upon reaching a training-ground-like room and hearing about the talent and intensity to be tested, the operator smiled and casually operated a seemingly cumbersome machine in front of him, starting the test.


    On a big-bottomed monitor, high-frequency pattern changes appeared continuously, and Tao Yu had three chances to call out the correct sequence; reaching the overall margin of error or getting itpletely right on any single attempt counted as passing.


    And, of course, there were no surprises in this assessment.


    "Indeed it''s Grade A, and he got all of them right three times. Among Grade A talents, that''s pretty good, maybe even close to A+."


    Chen Yong''s face beamed with a smile. Even within the same grade, talents have differences¡ªit''s not a fixed number. Performance, condition, environment, among others, also y a huge role, which is why the test allowed for some fluctuation.


    "Thank you, Uncle Chen."


    Tao Yu was also on his best behavior next to him. Uncle Hu was right, once one''s own value is shown¡ªif there''s no conflict of interest¡ªthe attitudes of those around tend to be mostly kind!


    Arrogant Inner City youths like Wino were rtively rare in the Outer City.


    "Thank me for what? Can I call you Ayu? Do you have a girlfriend? Want me to introduce you to some girls to meet?"


    "Ah, I want to focus on improving my strength first. After all, the points for cannon fodder aren''t so urgent; there''s no rush."


    Tao Yu hastily waved his hands in refusal.


    Frankly speaking, with the nourishment from Blood Orchid, this body had already be very strong. His Qi-Blood was vigorous, and his orientation was quite normal. When he rxed, he even had some wild thoughts.


    asionally scenes and content from videos in his past life would spring to mind.


    But considering the hard-weathered facesmon in the Outer City, Tao Yu quickly suppressed his thoughts.


    Moreover, he truly did believe that enhancing his strength was the top priority at the moment and didn''t want to waste time or energy.


    "Haha, that''s right. Young people with potential are usually very choosy."


    Chen Yong''s face was full of smiles, not at all offended by Tao Yu''s rejection. Being persistently annoying could cause a bacsh, which would be foolish, wouldn''t it?


    However, as Chen Yong began filling out some application forms, he expressed surprise,


    "Wait, you''re a Pioneer of the new Development Zone?"


    The first batch from the new gathering area had juste back, and Chen Yong initially hadn''t realized that Tao Yu was among them.


    Choosing the ''partner'' model at a time when talent was urgently needed?


    After thinking it over, Chen Yong fell silent for a moment, then smiled and said,


    "With Captain Tao Hu as a reference and making this choice, it shows careful consideration, which is great. You know how to weigh your options. Children from the Outer City mature earlier psychologically."


    Chen Yong was somewhat moved as he finished thest signature and stamped the document.


    He also searched for a certificate casebeled ''Junior Partner,'' mounted one of them inside, and took out a handbook to hand over to Tao Yu together with it.


    "Congrattions, you are now officially a partner of thepany."


    After saying this, he paused before continuing,


    "Your decision to stay away from the vortex at the beginning is understandable. Every day for these past ten-plus days, Inner City youths are entering the new Development Zone. Not many among that number of people have a talentparable to yours, but their cumtive experience is much greater."


    Seeing Tao Yu''s earnest demeanor, he went on,


    "It''s good to step away from the core of the vortex first. A lot of the folks from the Inner City are arrogant, and the younger ones might not know their own strength. Once that side has been sorted out, and you return, the number of people wanting to win you over will definitely be more than those who fear you."


    This was also a kind-hearted reminder. If Tao Yu were just an ordinary young man with good talent, Chen Yong definitely would not have said so much.


    But with a Grade A talent and being from the new gathering area¡ªand knowing how to weigh his choices¡ªhe''d certainly be able to make it to a mid-level position if he could survive.


    "Thank you for the advice, Uncle Chen. I understand."


    Tao Yu looked at Chen Yong''s warm and kind expression,pared it with the attitude when he first came in, and the pride he''d seen in almost all the employees along the way, and he felt somewhat moved.


    Picking up the ''Junior Partner'' certificate, Tao Yu left with Tao Hu and noticed that the arrogance that seemed present on the faces of the passing employees along the way had disappeared.


    It seemed as if their expressions had always been normal and had been augmented by the filter he had previously applied.


    Or perhaps...


    It was his own mentality that had changed...

 Chapter 35 - 30 Family Status

    Chapter 35- 30 Family Status


    "Junior partners, huh..."


    After bidding farewell to Uncle Hu, Tao Yu began his journey home, his gaze drifting as he looked at the certificate in his hand.


    Before heading to the Abyss again, he could visit the task halls of various fortresses in the Outer City to look up partnership tasks.


    There were nopulsory requirements for partners; they were motivated by profit, and there were no mandatory tasks assigned to them.


    But if a partnerpleted at least one task per month, that junior partner would receive a base sry of 200 units of Yuan Force, and if theypleted tasks every month for a full year, they would also receive a 1000-unit Yuan Force bonus for perfect attendance at the year-end.


    Bypleting tasks, they would also passively increase their cannon fodder points, so there was no need to worry about being forcefully conscripted.


    "I''ve already finished the talent certification, and I can go collect the promised 1000 units of Yuan Force, then deal with the Serpent Fang Skill and the five Blood Orchids; that should make for a nice ie.


    "I wonder if I could learn the Skill at the dojo before entering the Abyss next time. With the help of Yuan Force, there should be a chance."


    As he walked on the muddy ground filled with potholes and sewage in the Outer City, Tao Yu felt it might be time to move his family to a better environment.


    His nostrils were full of the ''smell of life,'' and asionally a street vendor would appear, and the stinking sewage consisted of who knows what.


    However, ncing down at himself, Tao Yu felt he didn''t really have the right to disdain the environment.


    At Uncle Hu''s, Tao Yu had only washed his face and tidied up a bit without having time for a bath, and as he thought about it now, the filthiness he had grown ustomed to once again gave him the itchy feeling of being covered in grime.


    In his past life, he wasn''t someone who was particrly clean, and it wasn''t like he hadn''t gone without a bath for a few days.


    But uponparison, he suddenly realized the hygiene standards of his former self were practically that of someone with a cleanliness obsession.


    "Truly, the adaptability of humans is strong."


    Indifferent, he sidestepped a pile of refuse, Tao Yu saw his family''s farm - not that the farm was his; they simply took care of it - but the living conditions were satisfactorypared to others.


    It was not as good as the homes in the security team''s family areas, nor could itpare to the fortresses, but it was still decent for the Outer City and not subject to gang protection fees. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Some families didn''t even have autonomous machine guns to ward off the Grey Mist creatures.


    Smelling the familiar scent of cow dung, Tao Yu pushed open the door and entered the house.


    "I''m back."


    "Brother! Are you really Grade A talented?"


    A boy a head shorter than Tao Yu, skinny just like he used to be, rushed over first, his face brimming with excitement.


    Looking at his youngest brother, Tao Shi, Tao Yu smiled and ruffled his hair, only to stiffen as his hand came away greasy.


    Petting had really ''assassinated'' him; he had to admit it...


    "First get familiar with the Breathing Technique, and be better prepared."


    Tao Yu withdrew his hand and wiped it emotionlessly on his not-so-clean clothes.


    "I will choose a new gathering ce in the future too, I want to be with seventh brother."


    Tao Shi jabbered incessantly.


    But Tao Yu paused and sighed,


    "You still have two years, let''s see. If it were up to me now, I wouldn''t let you go there; it''s too dangerous."


    "Eighth, what are you thinking? Looking for a beating? Only fifty of the seventh''s group made it back! There were over two hundred when they left!"


    Tao Long had been repairing a three-legged stool, but now he stood up, posturing as though he were about to strike.


    "Tsk, I can awaken a good talent too; I want to help seventh brother."


    Though Tao Shi was small and skinny, he was quite agile, circling around Tao Yu, sticking out his tongue at his father, and then ran off as if he were set free.


    "I''m going out to y, won''t be back for dinner."


    Tao Yu shook his head helplessly as he watched his brother leave, then turned to his sister-inw, who seemed somewhat restrained, and said,


    "Sister-inw, is eighth still hanging out with those guys from the Chaoyang Society?"


    "Ah, yes, that child, really."


    Li Li didn''t have a great talent and no steady job, so she tended to the home more, making periodic trips to the Abyss every five days to meet requirements. She understood Tao Shi better than anyone else.


    Chaoyang Society is one of the many bizarre clubs and gangs in the Outer City, made up of a group of young people.


    Compared to those who collect protection money and run illicit businesses like the Wild Wolf Gang and the Skull Gang, it is much better.


    Overall, it''s not bad. They often help some suffering families. Being able to do this kind of thing in the hellish environment of the Outer City is already quite impressive.


    "Forget about that little brat, it seems he has learned some crafts at Chaoyang Society."


    Tao Long''s wrinkled face didn''t show much concern for old eight''s shenanigans outside. The Outer City''s children are left to fend for themselves, and he had already been more involved than most.


    "Old seven, your mother and I have saved up some money, and we''ll borrow some more when the timees. You must learn all the skills you can, too many people have died, it''s too dangerous."


    Even though Tao Yu was highly talented, Tao Long''s face was filled with sorrow when he mentioned the dead.


    In the Inner City, with such talent, one could initially invest a lot of resources and quickly secure a foothold, but that simply wasn''t an option for them.


    "Stop fretting over this, how long would it take with your earnings? Let''s sell the things I''ve brought back first. I''ve had Uncle Hu estimate their worth, and it''s at least a few thousand units of Yuan Force."


    Tao Yu patted his backpack. The initial one thousand Yuan Force of startup capital had already been scraped together by his parents, and considering their earning speed, it was too much to ask them to manage his expenses as well.


    "A few thousand?"


    Tao Long was shocked, then walked to the door, looked around, and closed the door that Tao Shi had earlier left open.


    "That much?"


    "Yes, that much. Danger and opportunity always coexist."


    "Why are you talking so fancily?"


    Being asked that, Tao Yu was at a loss for words. How was that talking fancily?


    But considering his background as a semi-illiterate, it did seem a bit...


    "Anyway, don''t worry about it. There are plenty of opportunities at the new gathering ce, and your ie isn''t going to be enough to support the upgrades I need."


    Tao Yu spoke harshly to prevent his parents from worrying. If they didn''t understand, they would probably just save money for him again. It would be better for them to have a better life.


    As his strength increased, the gap in Yuan Force consumption only grew. Even now, Tao Yu had to admit that the goods he carried in his backpack would take his parents a long time to save up for.


    Tao''s father opened his mouth, but in the end, his dry lips just quivered slightly, and he said nothing.


    "Don''t worry, I will definitely take any matter rted to my life seriously, and I will try my best to use the time to improve myself."


    Tao Yu looked at the wrinkles on his father''s face and sincerely smiled.


    "Alright, I indeed don''t have the ability to guide you, sigh, you should ask your Uncle Hu more when you have the chance, and remember not to go empty-handed when you visit him."


    Tao Long looked at his son, who had clearly be stronger, and sighed a bit, feeling proud that the Tao family had raised a good child.


    In the room, Tao Tong sat in a handmade wooden wheelchair. His legs were gone, but he was very clean, much cleaner than Tao Yu was now, with hardly any stubble on his face.


    Upon hearing Tao Yu''s words, Tao Tong''s weathered face also revealed a smile


    "Don''t put pressure on yourself, all we want is to be safe."


    "I am very afraid of dying."


    Tao Yu grinned, then went to the room to see his third brother, who also hadbat talents and was once full of vitality.


    However, because of his talents, losing a leg was a great blow to him, leading him to confine himself to his room every day.


    "Brother, don''t worry, I will definitely find a way to get you mechanical limbs in the future."


    In the room, Tao Tong sat in a handmade wooden wheelchair. His legs were gone, but he was very clean, much cleaner than Tao Yu was now, with hardly any stubble on his face.


    Upon hearing Tao Yu''s words, Tao Tong''s weathered face also revealed a smile


    "You fool, do you have any idea how much prosthetic limbs cost? It''s the thought that counts. Right now, your first goal should be to improve your strength."


    Tao Tong certainly wanted mechanical limbs, and he also knew that his brother with Grade A talent really had a chance to help him!


    But, all of this was predicated on his brother growing up. The resources of a family in the Outer City were too scant, and now the family''s primary task was to not hold him back and send him through the adaptation period as soon as possible.


    Anything that could potentially hinder his brother''s strength development, or affect his energy, must not be done!


    He could never show any desire for prosthetic limbs in front of his brother.


    Everything depended on his brother surviving and growing up. That was the consensus of the family!


    From today on, Tao Yu had be the core of the household...

 Chapter 36 - 31 Make a Friend

    Chapter 36 - 31 Make a Friend


    "d she hasn''t been nagging about marriage or anything..."


    Tao Yu, relying on his current physique, took a good cold shower, scrubbed himself clean, theny on his wooden bed, watching the gradually dimming night sky through the cardboard window, and lit the Lamp of Will by his bed.


    He pricked his fingertip with a needle and dropped two drops of blood into themp oil.


    Although it was only a dim glow the size of a soybean, it gave the room a warm and cozy feeling.


    "Speaking of which, since I have ''Mental Immunity,'' I guess I don''t actually need to light it at night, do I?"


    Tao Yu pondered at the bottom of his heart but did not act out of the ordinary.


    This kind of low-level Lamp of Will only had a certain protective effect in the city area, guarding against the invisible demons that emerged from the grey fog. It is said that some powerful Lamps of Will, ignited by the me of Civilization, could lead people through the grey fog to other cities.


    However, due to the danger of the grey fog, this kind of connection had be less and less frequent. Tao Yu remembered seeing a few dust-covered visiting caravans arriving, bringing with them specialty Yuan Force items from other city gathering ces...


    Having no previous experience, Tao Yu hadn''t tried venturing out at night and quietly passed his first night back home.


    Compared to the Abyss where he had to sleep with one eye open, home, despite also being in terrible condition, unexpectedly made Tao Yu feel secure.


    Even though the sounds of automatic cannons from other areas asionally broke the night, they somehow helped Tao Yu fall asleep and recover his tense mind.


    Indeed, humans are social animals after all...


    Too bad his talent meant he''d probably have to act alone most of the time...


    ...


    Early the next morning, Tao Yu went out.


    Tao Long wanted to follow him, but Tao Yu persuaded him to stay at home.


    The nearest fortress city to Tao Yu''s home was not far, less than a kilometer away. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The produce harvested from the farm was also transported to this fortress city for processing.


    There were over a dozen such fortress cities for Outsiders.


    Although Tao Yu had risen early, by the time he arrived at the city''s entrance, a queue had already formed. It seemed they were all Outsiders going to work or set up stalls in the city, with many carrying various goods on shoulder poles.


    The fortress city itself was quite rudimentary, with discarded oil drums and wireting on wooden frames at the entrance, and city guards with various weapons conducting checks.


    The perimeter of the city was piecemeal, with wood nks, wireting, and oil drums cobbling together a defensive barrier for the area.


    Beyond that were tall stands fitted with automatic cannons to fend off fog demons.


    With direct coverage by crossfire, these automatic cannons could cover arger area with fewer units, ensuring the safety of the fortress.


    This was the most stable environment in the Outsider area, second only to the Public Security Team''s family quarters. Many Outsiders'' lifelong goals might be to move into a fortress, but only a few could achieve it.


    "The fortress has a radio station, a quest hall, and partnership quests can also be epted here. Plus, there''s a Skill dojo in Hound Fortress City rmended by Uncle Hu..."


    Tao Yu''s main goal this time was to sell stuff, and once he had starting capital, he nned to begin using his free learning privilege.


    Since it was free to learn two Skills, naturally, he had to pick the expensive ones!


    Unfortunately, there were no Breathing Techniques avable in the Outsiders'' area besides the Basic Breathing Technique. Only a few people had this or simr abilities that could enhance human potential, and they were not shared.


    "Even if someone were willing to teach it for a price, the cost would probably not be worth another Deification of my Breathing Technique."


    If he could stumble upon such a thing for free, Tao Yu would certainly take it, but with his talent as a safety, he was not so desperate.


    Learning the Skills he could learn and then using the first, rtively cheap opportunity to -Deify them¡ª that was the most cost-effective choice...


    While Tao Yu was mulling over these thoughts, it was his turn in line. As soon as he showed his ''Partnership'' certificate for a brief moment, he was quickly let in without any trouble or questioning.


    Even as just a ''Junior Partner,'' one must have at least an LV5 Basic Skill to back that up.


    In the Outsiders'' area, that was already considered a respectable status.


    Moreover, seeing that Tao Yu looked so young, nobody was going to cause him unnecessary trouble.


    Although the oil drums and wireting on the outside of Hound Fortress City seemed pretty crude, the interior was much cleaner than the rest of the Outsiders'' area. At least, you wouldn''t see anything that needed to be pixted on the road, like in OLE.


    Inside, the buildings were tightly packed, resembling a refugee camp with makeshift structures forming rows, revealing narrow streets and alleys. Since there were no vehicles, it was still possible to navigate normally, thoughplexyouts made this not-so-expansive fortress seem like a maze, and it wasmon for first-timers to get lost.


    Tao Yu had lived in the area for eighteen years, and this was the city closest to his home, so he was fairly familiar with it.


    When selling, he didn''t choose to set up a stall or shop around for prices, instead he headed straight for the ''Starshine Recycle Station,'' which nominally belonged to thepany.


    This saved a lot of trouble and conserved energy since there weren''t many in the Outsiders'' area who could fork out so much cash all at once for Skills.


    Compared to the neighboring camp, this ''Starshine Recycle Station'' still decently passed as a normal three-story wooden building. Since Tao Yu arrived early, it seemed they had just opened¡ª there weren''t many customers around.


    After all, most Outsiders were penny-pinchers who would try to sell for more elsewhere rather thane here.


    "Yo, is that a customer I see? What can I do for you?"


    A man in his thirties, looking much cleaner and more cheerful than the average Outsider, greeted Tao Yu with a chuckle when he saw himing in.


    Judging by the slightly more refined clothespared to the average Outsider, this must be the manager, probably out early for a breath of fresh air.


    Compared to thosepany employees in ''The ck House,'' this manager seemed more like a businessman, pleasant and looking to make a profit.


    "I have a set of Skills to sell, from the new Development Zone, it''s a set with two Skills."


    Tao Yu got straight to the point, not intending to exchange pleasantries with the other party.


    No matter how pleasant their smiles or how good their attitudes, they were still aiming to make money from him.


    "Aplete set of skills? I''m in luck today, what a great start to the day."


    The store manager seemed somewhat surprised. It was rare for the Outer City to get aplete set of skills; they usually only received scattered Yuan Force items and had to rely on sorting andbining them themselves.


    What was most unexpected was that the other party mentioned they came from the Development Zone?


    This meant the skills could very well be different from themonly seen ones. Perhaps the skills themselves were ordinary, but they likely offered the possibility of stacking with what an untrained person already had, making their value significantly higher than normal.


    Since the other party explicitly pointed this out, the manager couldn''t try to deceive him on that front, so he gestured for Tao Yu to follow him.


    "Please,e with me to the private room, Ah Hua, bring some tea."


    The store manager led the way, instructing the staff to serve tea.


    The employee referred to as Ah Hua had the traditional look of an Outsider, and although she was female, she seemed rather robust, with the kind of presence you might expect from a ''I''m a farmer'' character in a kung fu setting.


    It was evident that working here afforded one decent meals.


    She was quick on her feet, bringing over the tea just as Tao Yu sat down.


    However, neither Tao Yu nor the manager drank the tea immediately, with the manager initiating the conversation.


    "It was only yesterday that the first batch returned, and you''ve alreadye directly here today. You must be aware that very few in the Outer City can afford such skills, and even if they bite the bullet to purchase them, they can''t offer a high price."


    "Of course, I wouldn''t havee to you otherwise. Your business is directly owned by apany, with ess to Inner City channels. Five thousand units of Yuan Force and you can flip it in the Inner City for several thousand more."


    Tao Yu knew the other side wanted to haggle, so he straightforwardly threw out a rtively high offer to shut down any attempts at driving the price down.


    Therefore, the markup was something Starshine Company had to earn. Five thousand was an inted price, but Tao Yu''s bottom line was three thousand five hundred.


    He had discussed with Uncle Hu before, and because it came from the new Development Zone, those two skills, "Lurking - Python" and "Burst - Python," would likely interest some people with corresponding talents in the Inner City.


    To those with the resources and foundation of the Inner City, if someone truly suitable and interested came along, they might be able to sell for as much as ten thousand.


    That being said, if he tried to sell the skills in the Outer City, he could get at most three thousand units of Yuan Force because the vast majority of Outsiders were not like the Inner City inhabitants, who had started to ''gild the lily''.


    For Outsiders, the skills from the Development Zone were no different from ordinary skills found near their own settlements.


    And Tao Yu himselfcked the channels to sell in the Inner City, and even Uncle Hu didn''t have them.


    Therefore, the markup was something Starshine Company had to earn. Five thousand was an inted price, but Tao Yu''s bottom line was three thousand five hundred.


    "Would it be possible for me to appraise the skill first?"


    The manager pondered for a moment and showed no reaction to Tao Yu''s asking price.


    "That''s possible, I have a few extra pieces."


    Tao Yu took a Serpent Fang from his backpack and handed it over.


    "Haha, there''s no need to absorb it. In our line of work, we must at least master some crafts."


    The manager chuckled, wrapping the Serpent Fang with a cloth before cing it on the table. He then moved his finger over the surface of the fang, following its textures.


    After a short while, he nodded and said,


    "Indeed, there are two skills, but both are rathermon. One should be rted to lurking, and the other boosts muscle explosiveness, possibly with side effects."


    Being able to roughly discern the content just from a single Serpent Fang, without absorption, made Tao Yu feel somewhat surprised.


    It was clear that one could only enjoy thepany''s support if they were not ordinary.


    Tao Yu himself would have had to absorb a fang to make a judgment.


    "How about this? Five thousand, we''ll take it. The price is a bit high, but let''s consider it making a new friend."


    After a moment of contemtion, the manager readily agreed to Tao Yu''s price.


    It even made Tao Yu briefly worry that he had sold it for too little!


    Just by looking at thepany''s carnivorous pricing, the disparity between their purchase and sale prices was ring¡ªit was a tremendous markup!


    This time, after consulting with Uncle Hu, Tao Yu felt that if they could sell the skills for more than the usual rate, it would be satisfactory. It would save him the time of setting up a stall and would him a little extra.


    Typically, fees for learning a simple skill at a martial arts hall ranged from eight hundred to one thousand, and two to three thousand for moreplex ones.


    Learning via direct absorption of a Yuan Force item was undoubtedly faster, but it also came with concerns over contamination. Hence, ordinary skills were priced about fifty percent higher.


    These two skills couldn''t be counted as excellent. Abined price of three thousand would be about right, with an extra five hundred to a thousand as a premium for being from a new settlement.


    But Tao Yu''s initial ''sky-high'' price was promptly epted by the manager, catching him off guard.


    He even struggled to maintain hisposure.


    "Do you think I''ve been too agreeable, young man?"


    The manager nced at Tao Yu with a smile,


    "Actually, just as I said earlier, it''s about making a friend. There must be no shortage of great items from the Development Zone, and they''re scarcemodities for a short while. I hope you''ll remember toe to me first the next time youe across something good."


    Returning from his first visit to the Development Zone with aplete set of skills, especially as an Outsider, was worth his investment, no matter the reason!


    Be it talent, mental fortitude, or just pure luck, he did not mind offering a good deal.


    After all, thepany could indeed make several thousand by flipping it in the Inner City. Earning a thousand less would still benefit thepany, and it might be worth trading for future performance...

 Chapter 37 - 32 Sudden Wealth

    Chapter 37 - 32 Sudden Wealth


    "It seems value grants the eligibility to be used..."


    After leaving the Starshine Recycling Station, Tao Yu felt like he was back in the ''ck House.''


    It''s not the use that scares people, but rather the fear of being worthless to others.


    Was Liu Hong, the store manager, fond of him at first sight?


    No, it was that he was optimistic about Tao Yu''s potential, a kind of expectation and confidence.


    Fifteen thousand units of Yuan Force!


    That was the current amount of Yuan Force Tao Yu possessed.


    A set of skills cost five thousand, but the bulk of it was from that Blood Orchid which sold for over twenty times its price!


    When Tao Yu presented the Blood Orchid, he could clearly perceive the other party''s breath be hurried.


    In the end, he could produce ten thousand Yuan Force, not just from the Blood Orchid itself, but also with the inclusion of intelligence about the general environment where the flower grew.


    In fact, Tao Yu knew even more about the Blood Orchid, such as the fact that it blooms only once every few years or so.


    But he didn''t give an answer beyond what seemed within his proper knowledge.


    Perhaps more detailed intelligence could also be sold, but what''s the use of money if you''re dead...


    Such matters weren''t for Tao Yu to concern himself with at the moment; what he needed now were resources and time to grow.


    Even casually releasing some simple information about the Blood Orchid was actually something Tao Yu had intended to do all along.


    After all, Li Le had also obtained the Blood Orchid¡ªif he were to collude with some heavy hitter to take long-term control of that canyon, then Tao Yu, who shared the same knowledge and secrets, would be an obstacle.


    If that was the case, it was better to just sell that information as a freebie along with the deal.


    No matter how high the price or profit, he couldn''t guard it just yet.


    Fifteen thousand was stretching it as is.


    "You still need strength."


    About eating dozens of Blood Orchids, Tao Yu had no regrets.


    Five was no big deal, but trotting out fifty, whether he could leave there alive would be in question.


    Store Manager Liu Hong might seem amiable and keen on peaceful profit-making, but Tao Yu had no means to probe his humanity. In fact, Tao Yu openly expressed his fear of being coveted, consuming most of the flowers himself to emphasize safety first.


    With fifteen thousand units of Yuan Force, Tao Yu had never been so wealthy, not even his entire familybined had ever seen that much money.


    His first expenditure was just over three hundred units of Yuan Force to finishpleting his nearly-formed second Alien skill.


    In an instant, as the Yuan Force flowed away, Tao Yu could feel a slight adjustment in the contour of his muscles, a tingling sensation throughout his body as if being shocked, apparently adapting to the skill and passively enhancing it a bit.


    [Ambush - Alien]: Attacks unaware enemies at their most vulnerable, increasing striking power.


    An excellent skill, it boosts neural response during an ambush, creating a predatory instinct that allows for a reflexive attack without even thinking, which is,paratively speaking, much better than the skills of the Python.


    Without hesitation, he spent about two hundred units of Yuan Force, even more expensive than the Breathing Technique, and poured it directly into Deification. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    [Ambush - Modified]: Walk with the shadows, and your first close-range attack upon emerging can gather all the Shadow Force umted during stealth.


    What a deal, directly linking up with both of his stealth skills!


    Because it was a direct mental injection, Tao Yu instantly grasped the essence of this skill.


    Both of his stealth skills allowed him to slip into shadows, and they could even stack. Before, the mental strength consumed to maintain stealth and the physical energy expended for high-speed movement during stalking were just that¡ªconsumed.


    But now, his expenditures would transform into an increasingly umting ''Shadow Force.'' The longer he remained undetected and the further he ran, the more Shadow Force he would gather, all of which would be unleashed with his first strike!


    This was outstanding¡ªrare was the chance for Tao Yu to enhance his explosive power without causing harm to himself in return.


    "What a shame it''s only for closebat¡ªif it could be added to bullets, that''d be even better."


    Although Tao Yu was delighted, he still had the thought of wanting more. Perhaps the next enhancement would allow it?


    With more than ten thousand units of Yuan Force, once Tao Yu saved a bit more, he would be able to afford a second Deification of the rtively less expensive "Basic Combat - Modified".


    However, Tao Yu did not consider it for the time being.


    His body''s potential had not yet been fully developed; much remained to be utilized from the enhancements provided by a wealth of Blood Orchids and the improvements from Deifying his breathing technique.


    Considering the expenditure of a second Deification, its cost-effectiveness was clearlycking.


    "First I''ll learn all the free and half-price skills, then pour everything into improving my proficiency, striving to boost my overall strength before entering the Abyss again," he reasoned.


    Fifteen thousand units of Yuan Force seemed like a lot, but when it came time to use it, it might still not be enough to fully tap into his existing potential.


    This was a staggering amount that his parents could save up only if they lived without any expenses for five years, or for at least fifteen years with daily necessities counted in.


    Suppressing some of the excitement in his heart, Tao Yu also began to head towards Wanliu Dojo, the only training hall in Hunter''s Fort, along the lively, crowded streets.


    Listening to the vendors'' calls and scents of ''living essence'' emanating from the passersby, Tao Yu walked briskly.


    He arrived at thergest courtyard in the fortress.


    While the exterior of the fortress was merely assembled with discarded oil barrels and wire fences, this courtyard was extravagantly enclosed with uniform stone blocks.


    From outside, one could faintly hear the rhythmic shouts of "Heave!" echoing from within, indicating the trainees had already begun their exercises.


    Wanliu Dojo was the only training establishment in Hunter''s Fort and ranked among the top outside the city.


    The martial essence of their Five Gate Boxing Techniques, Tiger, Crane, Python, Bear, Ape, each cost as much as five thousand, and that didn''t include eventual mastery.


    The establishment taught a variety of other skills including firearms, Basic Combat, ded weapons, Basic Breathing Method, footwork, climbing, and many others.


    Individual techniques like "Burst", highlighting specific explosive movements, were also avable.


    The prices varied widely.


    But even the cheapest cost eight hundred units of Yuan Force.


    It was safe to say that any Outsider who could afford to pay for lessons here in one go either had a considerable personal value or came from affluent family conditions.


    However, there were also those on a ''skill loan''.


    In the past, as long as one hadbat talent, they could ''borrow skills'' here, with an annualized interest rate of thirteen returned on nine borrowed, rued interestpounded over installment periods.


    Even among Outsiders, this was considered a reasonable rate.


    For the Dojo, if a student were to die during an Abyss mission and couldn''t pay back the loan, they''d only lose a bit of teaching effort, a loss they could easily absorb.


    This strategy greatly expanded the target demographic able to afford the services.


    Those already possessingbat talent were highly likely to be gathered in thepany districts, where survival rates were much higherpared to the initial Awakening. Individuals withbat talent were also more likely to possess the capacity to repay the debt, making it a no-lose situation for the dojo.


    Simrly, some people from less affluent backgrounds, who urgently needed certain foundational skills, would also opt for a loan to navigate through the difficult initial stages.


    The dojo''s registration area was located outside of the walls, entirely outdoors.


    It was just a sign that read "Registration", hanging near an old wooden desk, behind which sat a young person dressed in a gray dojo uniform.


    Compared to the rtive quiet when Tao Yu passed by before, he noticed the area now had a queue.


    And ncing over, he recognized quite a few faces.


    Several were survivors from the recent event, faces that Tao Yu, with his Dynamic Vision, had scanned and not easily forgotten.


    "Everyone''s here for a free ride, huh? But I get it, a learning fee of five thousand must be the high-end rate in the Outsider regions," Tao Yu pondered. Whether it was for the half-price deals, skill loans, or the free skill slots, if used on the most expensive skills, it seemed perfectly sensible.


    Isn''t that what I''ve been thinking too?


    But looking at the constipated expression on the face of the young person managing the registration desk, Tao Yu understood that Wanliu Dojo itself was probably not so willing.


    It was possible that they were being pressured to teach at low rates or even for free by thepany...

 Chapter 38 - 33 Blood Profit

    Chapter 38-33 Blood Profit


    "From the new Development Zone? Completed talent check yet? Combat talent, right? Fill out the form yourself."


    Behind the registration desk, a young man in the dojo''s standard grey training suit, with unkempt hair and a dark scar on his cheek, looked at Tao Yu with impatience and pointed at the form next to him.


    This was already the seventh one today, a bunch of freeloaders!


    There were even some withoutbat talent taking advantage of that half-price privilege and the mandatory ''Skill Loan'' condition to mooch off the ce, it was really unbelievable. Skills are expensive for a reason, they aren''t that easy to learn!


    "Just to remind you, we don''t care if you can learn it or not, there''s a high entry threshold for skills here. If your talent isn''t up to snuff, reaching level 4 in Basic Combat just to get started is pretty tough."


    This warning somewhat surprised Tao Yu; in the Outsider areas, if they were teaching it openly, it meant the skill was learnable, but a level 4 threshold for starters was definitely not low.


    Tao Yu''s father, blessed with "Eagle Eye," could only maintain Basic Shooting at this level. If he pushed for level 5, he would reach the margin period, causing maintenance costs to skyrocket.


    And that was an old hand who had toiled for decades and raised eight kids, definitely not a weak ability.


    "I have abat talent, it''s already been certified."


    Tao Yu then took out his ''partner''s'' certificate, which made the other person take a pause and then switch to a smile. Without bothering to look at the certificate, he stood up and led Tao Yu inside.


    "Ah, bro, don''t mind me. Got really annoyed by that group earlier, wasn''t in the best mood, don''t take it to heart. Come on, I''ll take you over to the senior brother, are you looking to pick up some fist techniques? You must have two free entitlements with your partner qualification, right?"


    Tao Yu still had two people behind him, but this guy just ignored them, and the two waiting didn''t make a peep, just obediently waiting there.


    "I do have two free entitlements, and I''m nning to use the half-price here as well."


    "Brother, what I said earlier wasn''t entirely to scare you, our dojo''s core abilities are indeed quite challenging."


    The registering student didn''t probe too deeply but still emphasized the point again.


    "Thanks for the reminder." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Tao Yu nodded, feeling somewhat confident about this.


    Firstly, his physical fitness was certainly up to par. There definitely weren''t many Outsiders with level 4 Basic Combat whose physical fitness could surpass his own.


    His "Basic Combat - Modified" might only be at level 2, but after Deification, all aspects were definitely stronger than level 4.


    Moreover, although he didn''t have a physical talent, "Bullet Time" provided Dynamic Vision, enabling him to observe and record details urately. Since others could learn, he probably could too.


    The investment in Yuan Force might be higher than for those with physical talents in theter stages, but at least for beginners, he had an absolute advantage.


    And so, Tao Yu followed the student to a corner of the dojo''srge courtyard.


    Inside the dojo''s courtyard there were several wooden buildings, but most students practiced in the open on the square.


    The ground waspacted with coal g and broken soil, looking a bit uneven, and there were wooden posts, stone locks, weapon racks, and other training aids scattered about.


    Although the environment seemed a bit rough, it was actually quite decent by the Outsider standards.


    No wonder the dojo uniform was grey, dirt-resistant...


    At this moment, there were seven or eight people in front of Tao Yu, one of whom wore the same dojo uniform, and the others were dressed differently, looking somewhat out of ce.


    Tao Yu also saw Zhang Wei.


    The guy had an "Endurance" of D+, which indeed qualified him for a free slot.


    Although he was still skinny and somewhat dirty, he seemed quite a bit more confident from his expression.


    As Tao Yu was brought over, the special treatment that hadn''t been offered to others made everyone look his way. Zhang Wei, seeing Tao Yu, stiffened his gaze and then took the initiative to smile and nod in greeting.


    "Tao, you''re choosing this side too?"


    He knew Tao Yu had a B-grade "Dynamic Vision," so it was normal for him with such a talent to be brought over.


    However, this was a ce to learn fist techniques, and he felt that his "Endurance," a physical side ofbat talent, might be more advantageous.


    But deep down, Zhang Wei also knew that his change of attitude due to Wino might have left a poor impression on this man.


    Yet, given the circumstances, he felt some regret but didn''t think there was anything toment, and if he were to do it all over again, he''d make the same choice.


    "Yeah, we''ll have to work hard together in the future."


    Regardless of personality, Tao Yu did recognize Zhang Wei''s abilities; he could endure hardships, had determination, and with the emergence of abat talent, he should be able to make a name for himself in the Outsider area, maybe even get a chance to join the security forces.


    "Senior brother Smith, this one''s also here to learn boxing, and he''s a partner, too."


    Seeing his junior brother directly bringing someone over, the tall man with light yellow hair and a receding hairline at a young age understood it might be someone with decent talent.


    But upon hearing it was a partner, he still couldn''t help but raise his eyebrows.


    Here to mooch? Didn''t they justplete the first Abyss exploration yesterday? And now a partner already?


    The talent must be at least a B-ranking ordinarybat talent, even better than his own.


    "Sure, we will definitely follow thepany''s requirements, but I have to be upfront, I will teach diligently, but whether you can learn or not is really up to you."


    Smith nodded at Tao Yu as a greeting, and the scar-faced junior brother who brought him in exined to Tao Yu in a low voice


    "Brother Smith is an old-timer at the dojo, all five of the boxing techniques are at lv3 standard, and the key is that he has reached this level in each one of them.


    "The master said that as long as he can push all five boxing techniques to lv4, he can attempt to integrate and grasp Qi-Blood."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu also had a thought, and then he lowered his voice to ask


    "Brother, there''s always been a rumor about a high-level breathing technique at the dojo, is it true? Is it used inbination with boxing techniques?"


    "Uh, it does exist, but definitely, it''s not something that is shared publicly, only a true disciple might have a chance, even Team Captain Ze Chuan of the security force has tried begging the master to take his son, but he did not agree."


    This was not a secret, Tao Yu was just asking; if there was a chance, he would not pass it up, but that doesn''t mean he had to learn it.


    "My name is Yi Wei, if you don''t understand anything you can ask me. I need to go back outside now, they are waiting for me there."


    The scar-faced junior brother who brought Tao Yu had neglected him a bit before, whether out of pettiness or not, it was better to cate him first. Now that he did his due diligence, naturally, he had to return to his post, as this could be used to offset tuition fees, something not everyone could take advantage of.


    "Alright, has everyone arrived?"


    Smith scanned the group.


    "It seems like two are still missing, I''ll tell them toe over, brother, you start first."


    The scar-faced junior brother quickened his pace and waved his hand at the same time, and Smith evidently had no intention of waiting for others.


    "I know why you chose this ce, simply because the skill tuition is expensive, but expensive has its reasons. The dojo''s Five Gate Boxing Techniques are indeed the top skills one can learn in the Outsider area.


    "Moreover, if you manage to learn all five gates, you''ll have the opportunity to integrate them and seize the Qi-Blood, enhancing the body''s limit."


    The usual limit for Outsiders is the average human body limit!


    This ability to enhance the human body''s limit, just that description alone would energize people.


    Some showed excited expressions, knowing they didn''t choose wrongly.


    But some others showed worry, as they would only have the opportunity if they could learn all five boxing techniques, and they didn''t have the money to pay for the subsequent lessons.


    It seemed that Smith noticed some people''s concerns and chuckled


    "In fact, you don''t need to worry about how to gather money for subsequent lessons. Specializing in one boxing technique, the dojo will have workstations to offset the tuition fees. The first thing is to learn one technique well, as the entry is quite difficult."


    Having said this, he directly sunk his waist into horse stance and then performed a set of boxing techniques on the spot.


    He performed this set of boxing techniques very slowly and it seemed rather awkward, as if itcked any killing power whatsoever.


    But Tao Yu, possessing extremely strong dynamic vision, could discern something from the opponent''s muscle twitches and the tension in the movements.


    This must be some kind of skill practice, but he didn''t know its rtion to the boxing techniques they were learning. Weren''t there supposed to be five gates? They should have the chance to choose from the beginning, right?


    Tao Yu watched intently, memorizing every movement, and the others gazed with widened eyes, equally focused.


    Even the twoters who ran in and didn''t hear the start of the lecture didn''t have the time to ask anything.


    Some students even started to try practicing along.


    About a quarter of an hourter, after the set of boxing techniques waspleted, Smith also slowly exhaled a breath,pleting the final form.


    "You might be wondering what I would teach first among the five boxing techniques."


    Smith wore an almost smiling expression


    "Now I can tell you, the set we just practiced is the prerequisite required for learning all five boxing techniques, the Universal Stance Skill."


    Seeming to know what the students were worried about, he waved his hands and said


    "Don''t worry, this skill, which is a free addition to each boxing technique learned, won''t charge extra fees. It''s simplified to facilitate your quick mastery and invest Yuan Force to elerate. Reaching lv2 in this skill will make learning the boxing techniques a bit easier."


    When everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Smith''s lips slightly curled up


    "But, precisely because this skill is taught, regardless of whether you can learn the subsequent boxing techniques or not, there are no refunds or exchanges..."


    If you have talent and ability, one lesson equates to learning two skills. If the talent isn''t enough, you''ll only learn the introductory stance skill.


    However, Tao Yu was excited on the side.


    This Stance Skill was clearly an excellent movement for exercising the muscles throughout the body. If it truly bes a skill andpletes deification, it''s like a free bonus, a huge gain...

 Chapter 39 - 34: Introduction

    Chapter 39 - 34: Introduction


    ```


    "I will hold a small ss for you for three days. During these three days, you can ask me anything you don''t understand, but I''ll only answer the same question once. After three days, whether you''ve mastered the Stance Skill or not, you will join the main ss to practice together until you master the skill..."


    Smith''s expression was very indifferent, causing a tight feeling in everyone''s hearts. A few, with lessbative talents, even felt a bit regretful. They didn''t have free spots but had exchanged half-priced loans for the opportunity.


    They had wanted to take a chance but it seemed not so simple now.


    "It''s not toote to regret it now. Does anyone want to quit?"


    Whoosh~ Whoosh~


    Three students immediately raised their hands, and after a moment a fourth person did too. They were all students withoutbat talents!


    Originally there were nine people after two more were added, but now the number had nearly halved.


    "Good, you may leave now. It''s wise to recognize the situation."


    Smith didn''t mock them; being able to cut losses in time wasmendable. He continued to the remaining five, n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I know you all probably havebat talents, and there''s one with a decent talent, but whether you can integrate that depends on yourselves. We''ll start directly today. Perform the sequence I showed earlier, replicate as much as you can..."


    As his words ended, the five students spaced themselves apart, standing on the coal g practice ground, recalling the previous movements.


    But how could the average person memorize an entire set of Fist Techniques that took fifteen minutes to perform?


    Even the calisthenics, with their simple repeated movements, are difficult to rememberpletely after one exnation!


    Without breaking it down into individual movements, it was a recipe for failure.


    Some even fell down on the spot due to the strange, unnatural postures that went against the normal use of human muscles.


    This didn''t surprise Smith; he watched with a smile.


    However, his expression soon turned serious as he stared at Tao Yu and frowned.


    Although Tao Yu didn''t replicate it perfectly, relying on his Dynamic Vision to memorize every movement,bined with his slightly above-human physical condition, and the Grade Level 2 of Basic Combat - Modified, he was the only one in the ce who lookedpetent.


    Not to mention how well he performed, he managed to flow through the sequence smoothly. By the time the other students had stopped, Tao Yu hadpleted the entire set with some bumps along the way, even finishing properly with a closing stance.


    Tao Yu, who could sense Qi-Blood due to the Deification Breathing Technique, unexpectedly found that the sequence could provide anciry benefits.


    Though it wasn''t perfect, he already felt a tingling sensation, his entire body soaked in sweat.


    Because of [One Proof Forever Proof], his body must have experienced a slight improvement. It wasn''t much, but it filled Tao Yu with excitement.


    This was something that couldplement the Breathing Technique.


    "What is your talent?"


    Smith looked at Tao Yu, who had just finished, with aplex gaze.


    "Grade A Dynamic Vision."


    Since it was something to be shown off, Tao Yu naturally wouldn''t hide it.


    "Grade A?"


    "So it''s Grade A, no wonder!"


    "Good grief..."


    The other few students, who had feltplicated emotions and even jealousy, suddenly felt bnced.


    A Grade A talent was expected to be like that!


    Zhang Wei also sighed to himself, thinking his physical talent should have given him an edge, but now it was clear there was noparison!


    What did it matter if his physical talent wasn''t as good?


    Grade A Dynamic Vision allowed him to memorize the entire sequence in an instant!


    And his physical condition was much stronger than Zhang Wei''s!


    Even though Zhang Wei was the one supposedly with the physical talent...


    "Dynamic Vision? No wonder. Your physical condition is also quite remarkable, probably not far off from mine. The levels of Basic Breathing Technique and Basic Combat must be quite high as well, you must''ve invested a lot of Yuan Force, right?"


    Smith felt a twinge of sentiment; this was an absolute neer who had justpleted his awakening! To have such a level after only one visit to the Abyss was rare.


    Only a few Outsiders could afford such a generous investment, likely because his Grade A talent had received some funding or as a condition for joining certain powers.


    But he didn''t dwell on these thoughts and didn''t wait for Tao Yu to respond, saying,


    "With Yuan Force, this Skill is actually easy to learn. Looking at you, you should be able to get the basics today. I''ll correct you, and then try to use Yuan Force to level up to Lv 2. In three days, when they join the main ss, I''ll teach you Fist Technique."


    He paused there,


    "This Stance Skill is fundamental, and the Yuan Force required to elerate it isn''t substantial. Don''t worry."


    ```


    Compared to before, Smith''s mood might have been a bitplex, but on the surface, he was now much more enthusiastic as he continued to instruct Tao Yu.


    "However, training can be very draining, and if you want to make quick progress, you need to nourish your body. The dojo''s canteen sells medicinal meals. Qi-tonic Soup is 10 Yuan Force per bowl, which is a welfare price exclusive to the dojo and not avable outside."


    10 Yuan Force was the daily ie of Tao Yu''s parents, just for a bowl of Qi-tonic Soup, and it was likely that he would need many bowls a day, so it was actually quite a substantial expenditure.


    Luckily for Tao Yu, he had just earned a good amount and could afford it.


    When practicing the Basic Breathing Technique in the Abyss, he had already felt that even the nutrition from meat couldn''t keep up with the Basic Breathing Technique - Modified, and now with the added Stance Skill, even continuous eating and training might hardly suffice.


    The Qi-tonic Soup should have a recovery effect simr to eating Blood Orchid raw, supplementing with a smaller and more easily absorbed quantity to provide more nutrition.


    And hearing this, Tao Yu took the opportunity to humbly ask Smith for advice,


    "Senior brother, I wonder if the dojo has any skills that could facilitate digestion?"


    "Haha, you''re a clever one. If there were skills to improve digestion, you could probably eat more and make do, but in reality, it wouldn''t save you much, as buying meat still costs money."


    Smith immediately understood Tao Yu''s intention, but still exined,


    "The dojo does have one, the Swallowing Essence Skill, which aids in digestion and food uptake, but although it only costs 1000 to learn, it''s best to have reached lv3 in a core fist technique before attempting to master it, otherwise you won''t be able to control your stomach properly, and it will be difficult to learn."


    Seeing Tao Yu''s talents, Smith clearly became much friendlier.


    "Furthermore, this skill is originally intended to meet higher consumption needs. It is usually used in conjunction with the Qi-tonic Soup. It''s a bit early to consider it at the Stance Skill stage."


    "Thank you, senior brother, I understand."


    Tao Yu nodded, that''s all he needed!


    His various Deification skills would significantly increase his physical or mental consumption. Relying on the recovery effect of [One Proof Forever Proof] to eat heartily provided the best value for supplementation.


    Tao Yu had tried using a dozen or so points of Yuan Force to replenish his energy, and indeed, the speed was swift. Both recovery and healing were much faster than eating, but the cost-effectiveness of this kind of consumption was extremely low.


    With his current physical condition, just recovering physical strength might cost several hundred points, and the stronger the physique, the greater the expenditure on recovery, not to mention healing. It was only for emergencies and definitely not sustainable for regr use.


    So for Tao Yu, learning this digestion skill was even a higher priority than the dojo''s secret advanced breathing techniques.


    But all these prerequisites required him to master the fist techniques first!


    Tao Yu took a deep breath and then gave Smith a formal bow,


    "Please guide me, senior brother."


    "Alright, let''s save time. You alle and watch. I will exin while guiding Tao Yu junior brother. Pay attention, and I don''t want to see the same mistakes repeated."


    Having said that, Smith signaled Tao Yu to start, effectively using Tao Yu as a teaching example for everyone.


    "Although it looks standard, there are still many areas that are not quite right. This is stance training, not fighting, so you should not even consider speed and power. The purpose is to train each muscle group, with some movements even requiring you to slow down deliberately..."


    While speaking, Smith continuously patted various parts of Tao Yu''s body to correct minor ws.


    Every so often, the sound of cracking joints could be heard, and Tao Yu could also feel a burning sensation all over.


    But with the cooperation of Qi-Blood, the effect this time was at least several times better than the first set!


    After the second set, Tao Yu was very tired, and his clothes werepletely soaked through, but he didn''t rest.


    He was not afraid of training his body to exhaustion!


    The right thing to do was to keep up the momentum while he was feeling motivated!


    "Junior brother, you should rest for a bit, don''t rush for sess. Although you have good physical quality, you don''t have a physical talent after all."


    Smith frowned slightly when he heard Tao Yu was going to continue.


    It seemed like he had only done two sets, but the load on the body was not light!


    "Senior brother, I know my own limits. I ate a lot of special herbs in the Abyss, and the effects might not all have been digested yet, my whole body feels warm."


    Tao Yu casually revealed information about his consumption of Blood Orchid yet again.


    This made Smith''s face show a trace of shock and suspicion. What kind of herbs were those? He remembered that Tao Yu had collected a lot of red flowers; were those items that significant?


    The thought made Smith ponder his own intentions.


    "Alright, as long as you know your limits, do thest set, then take a rest. The dojo sells specialized Blood-activating Ointment for 20 Yuan Force a jar, that''s an in-house price."


    After saying this, Smith once again signaled Tao Yu to start, feeling somewhat respectful of his determination.


    Never mind if his body could handle it, just starting out and continuing consecutively like that, the soreness was particrly unpleasant!


    And Tao Yu''s persistence was equally rewarded.


    Since he had already clearly remembered the movements and was getting into the rhythm, after the third time with Smith''s close corrections, he felt a faint sense of enlightenment in his heart.


    Then the skill light sphere for the Myriad Flow Stance Skill lv1 appeared, marking the skill as learned!

 Chapter 40 - 35 Upgrade

    Chapter 40 -35 Upgrade


    "Sess!"


    Afterpleting the process for the third time, Tao Yu didn''t care about appearances, and plopped down onto the coal cinder ground, panting heavily to recover his strength.


    Smith, who originally wanted Tao Yu to rx a bit and not sit down immediately, also became a bit dazed upon hearing this.


    "Sess?"


    It was sessful just like that?!


    When Tao Yu had begun his first attempt, Smith knew this highly talented student was a quick learner. Moreover, he had predicted that the student could grasp the basics in a single day!


    But what was this situation with mastering it after three attempts?


    One of those attempts was even with the student watching while he demonstrated, with him making corrections only after the next two!


    Although it was just the basics, it also meant that Tao Yu could continue to invest Yuan Force into this ability to elerate its mastery!


    Thinking of this terrifying talent, Smith truly felt a bit jealous.


    But quickly, that tinge of envy in his heart was suppressed, and his face showed a mixture of shock and joy.


    "Junior brother is really too talented, isn''t he? Is this what a Grade A talent looks like? It''s truly unbelievable."


    Then he turned to the other equally shocked students and said,


    "Do you see? Why aren''t you working harder? Speak up now if you have any questions."


    At this moment, Tao Yu also raised his hand and spoke up proactively,


    "Senior brother, I want to buy some Qi-tonic Soup to recover a bit, and then take advantage of the momentum to elerate with Yuan Force." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Alright, you all wait here. Keep practicing on your own for now, and I will take questions when Ie back after seeing off Tao Yu."


    Smith promptly left the others behind to continue self-practice, as he took the initiative to lead Tao Yu to the direction of the mess hall.


    Left behind, Zhang Wei and the others, although grumbling inwardly, didn''t voice anyints, watching helplessly as Smith escorted Tao Yu towards arge wooden house that was probably the mess hall.


    The circumstances of Tao Yu''s three-time mastery, while a blow to them, had also instilled them with some confidence.


    They wouldn''t need three times; mastering within three days should be possible, right?


    After all, it was merely a basic skill broken down for the convenience of teaching!


    They could surely do it!


    ...


    On the other side, Smith also led Tao Yu to the mess hall.


    The Myriad Flow Dojo''s mess hall was arge single-story wooden warehouse, filled with rows of square tables. Being off mealtime, chairs were turned upside down and ced on the tables, resembling a scene from a rural banquet.


    Although mealtime had not yet arrived, the kitchen was already bustling. The sound of chopping vegetables was incessant, and a rich fragrance wafted over, making Tao Yu''s mouth water.


    It smelled delicious.


    "That is the smell of Qi-tonic Soup, a privilege for the students. Everyone who studies here with the means won''t miss out,"


    Smith exined kindly on the side.


    As a senior student already serving as a Teaching Assistant, he certainly had some influence. After a brief visit to the back kitchen, he brought out threerge bowls.


    "Today''s on me."


    "Thank you, senior brother."


    Tao Yu didn''t put on airs, acknowledging that thirty Yuan Force for a meal was a luxury in the outer city.


    Tao Yu looked at the brownish-gray Qi-tonic Soup that resembled pig offal porridge, and without any hesitation, he directly picked up a bowl, blew on the steam, then gulped it down.


    Although called Qi-tonic Soup, it was indeed more like a porridge, grainy with a thick taste of innards; savory, delicious, and smooth. Just the taste was quite good.


    The key was that after downing a bowl, Tao Yu could feel a distinct heat spreading from his stomach, being digested and absorbed at a rate far surpassing that of roasted meat.


    With the additional ability of [One Proof Forever Proof], he was particrly sensitive to such sensations.


    "Awesome!"


    Without hesitation, Tao Yu immediately finished the remaining two bowls, licking them clean.


    "Senior brother, I will continue to elerate practice near the mess hall. You can go back first."


    "Be careful not to overdo it, and perhaps prepare some ointment which is quite effective and offers some stimting benefits, also avable here,"


    Smith reminded him.


    "Understood."


    After watching Smith leave, the effects of the three bowls of Qi-tonic Soup gradually took hold, causing Tao Yu to feel his Qi-Blood churning.


    He then focused his attention on the new skill he had learned.


    With the transportation of Qi-Blood through the Breathing Technique, capturing movements with Dynamic Vision, and his current physical strength, mastering the skill in three attempts was quite satisfying for Tao Yu.


    This aplishment also benefited from the [One Proof Forever Proof] trait, which ignored the pain of bodily injuries, in exchange for a Deification-level skill that cost five hundred Yuan Force!


    [Myriad Flow Stance Skill]: A technique for elerated body training that can exercise major muscles throughout the body, enhance ligament and meridian sticity, and reduce the difficulty of certain movements.


    The [Myriad Flow Stance Skill] itself was fairly standard, not increasing human limits. Theoretically, it shouldn''t even be as good as the Basic Breathing Technique, yet the cost of its Deification reached more than triple that of the Basic Breathing Technique!


    It was even costlier than [Stealth¡¤Alien], currently the most expensive skill, second only to enhancements through talent.


    [Stealth¡¤Alien] could let oneself enter the shadows, and its effect was even stronger than [Stealth¡¤Python].


    However, the thought that the enhancement of [Ambush¡¤Alien] only required two hundred Yuan Force, but theoretically was more practical than both [Stealth] skills, left Tao Yu a bit perplexed as to what determined the specific consumption of skill enhancement.


    Was the enhancement of [Ambush] so affordable because it inherited the Shadow Force from the [Stealth] prerequisite, whereas [Ambush] itself couldn''t generate Shadow Force?


    Without dwelling on it further, Tao Yu infused five hundred units of Yuan Force, allowing this newly born skill to undergo its transformation.


    Crack crack~


    Without even beginning to practice, Tao Yu''s bones started making cracking noises, his muscles tensed, and his tendons bulged. It took a few seconds before the tension faded, and the effect of the three bowls of Qi-tonic Soup he had consumed felt like it had already been depleted by a third!


    The roiling Qi-Blood in his body also seemed to subside a bit.


    Squeezing his fist, Tao Yu clearly felt an increase in strength. His body was still the same, but did it seem as though the coordination between his muscles was being fully utilized?


    [Myriad Flow Stance Skill¡¤Modified] lv1: Possesses an excellent training effect, capable of mobilizing all the muscles and Qi-Blood in the body, twisting the strength into a single force, increasing a certain physical limit, and unlocking various high-difficulty movements.


    Strength twisted into one!


    No wonder he didn''t feel much physical enhancement, but there was a clear increase in strength!


    Tao Yu felt an eager urge to test his various attributes, but he quickly suppressed it.


    "Another increase in the physical limit,bined with the Breathing Technique and the amplification from Blood Orchid, will need some time to develop," he said to himself.


    Tao Yu took a slow breath and then, while mobilizing his Qi-Blood with the Breathing Technique, he practiced with the Myriad Flow Stance Skill, elerating each skill by two hundred units of Yuan Force every hour!


    Quite extravagant!


    But time is money!


    Crack, a sour feeling emerged throughout his body, Qi-Blood constantly roiling inside, his muscles twitching and swelling¡ªa savagely pleasant sensation. Yet, Tao Yu bore it through the characteristic of [One Proof Forever Proof] and stubbornly continued.


    As long as he could endure the pain, without worrying about ruining his body, he could be this unrestrained!


    With both skills elerated simultaneously, Tao Yu also noticed that this wasn''t as straightforward as 1+1=2. The Breathing Technique could stabilize Qi-Blood, and Stance Skill could just right transport Qi-Blood. Just one set alone was enough to exhaust the remaining effects of the Qi-tonic Soup!


    This rate of eleration meant needing roughly the energy provided by two bowls of Qi-tonic Soup in just fifteen minutes, which made Tao Yu inwardly astonished.


    It was also a good thing he had the Qi-tonic Soup; if he had been in the Abyss relying solely on roasted meat, even constant eating wouldn''t sustain the simultaneous elerated practice of two abilities!


    The consumption of Deification abilities was indeed great.


    Tao Yu was willing to invest four hundred units of Yuan Force every hour for eleration, and with Qi-tonic Soup costing ten units per bowl, he naturally couldn''t be frugal...


    ...


    As the sky gradually dimmed, Tao Yu finished another set and his tightly wound spirits began to scatter, even his energy starting to fade under the cumtive soreness that surged forth, causing his muscles to twitch uncontrobly.


    "That''s enough for today," he said.


    Dragging his weary body to the dining hall, Tao Yu received yet another two bowls of Qi-tonic Soup under the odd gaze of an aunt.


    Since he had mastered the skills and had Yuan Force eleration as an excuse, drinking a bit more Qi-tonic Soup wasn''t too unusual, after all, others didn''t know exactly how much he had elerated.


    With plenty of students here and those practicing core abilities in the dojo often consuming more than him, it was likely he wasn''t the only one.


    Still, even so, he had be somewhat conspicuous today, so it was a good time for Tao Yu to stop training.


    Afterwards, while walking to rx his body, he arrived at a corner of the dojo and stood in front of a stone weight.


    The stone weight was marked with its mass¡ª100 kilograms!


    With a single hand, Tao Yu casually lifted the stone weight, feeling a significant amount of leftover strength, and without even cing much strain on his post-training aching muscles.


    Suppressing the impulse to toss it up and catch it again, he quickly set the stone weight down.


    The human body''s limit was roughly about grasping just over 100 kilograms with one hand and over 200 kilograms with both hands, being able to hold it over the head and persist for a while. If just deadlifting, the human limit would probably be about 500 kilograms.


    Tao Yu knew that with the help of eating Blood Orchid, his normal body capacity without relying on skill bursts was slightly stronger than this level upon his recent return.


    But now, he clearly felt he could throw and then catch this 100-kilogram stone weight with one hand!


    He had be stronger, and it was a tangible increase in strength!


    This was the real utilization of the increased limits provided by the Breathing Technique, Blood Orchid, and the Stance Skill!


    Tao Yu also felt that this was not yet the limit of his potential and that further development was still possible.


    However, feeling his Yuan Force drop to just over ten thousand units, Tao Yu couldn''t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.


    Stronger...


    At the expense of money...


    But [Basic Breathing Technique - Modified] had already passed the halfway point of level 2, allowing for an even more abundant mobilization of Qi-Blood.


    The [Myriad Flow Stance Skill - Modified] had also reached level 2, likewise increasing a bit of Qi-Blood and significantly improving flexibility and various other aspects of the body due to the efficiency of the Deification skill, which was definitely much better than the conditions posed by its regr version.


    This hefty investment was made in hopes of expediting the learning process for boxing, and then to get the boxing techniques to the introductory level!


    Tao Yu had nned it out: Five Gate Boxing Techniques, two free slots, one at half price, he would purchase another, and then add one more ''skill loan'' toplete the set!


    He aimed to master all five before entering the Abyss again, getting them Deified once more before returning to the Abyss to earn money.


    Regardless of the difficulty of mastering the Five Gate Boxing Techniques or the learning cost, his primary goal was just to get them to an introductory level...

 Chapter 41 - 36: Tail

    Chapter 41 -36: Tail


    "Ready to learn the Fist Technique?"


    Tao Yu ran over to Smith at the end of the dojo''s teaching session, leaving thetterpletely bewildered.


    He had intended for Tao Yu to spend three days to get familiar with the technique at an elerated pace. How much Yuan Force did you use? Are you that wealthy?


    Yuan Force eleration is a great thing, but the quicker the eleration, the lower the cost-effectiveness...


    "I want to master all five Fist Techniques and then head to the Abyss to enhance my survival abilities as much as possible," Tao Yu said frankly, causing Smith to pause and then sigh.


    "I know you mastered Stance Skill after just three attempts. Your talent is truly impressive, but since we even have to simplify a Skill to create an introductory one for the Fist Techniques, you can appreciate theirplexity. With your talent, mastering one or two in a month shouldn''t be an issue, but all five might be pushing it."


    "I want to try."


    Tao Yu insisted.


    He knew Smith meant well, as his scar-faced junior had mentioned that at least five levels of Fist Technique had to be reached before one could attempt to merge them and stabilize the Qi-Blood.


    Even if he were to hastily master all five Fist Techniques, the cost-effectiveness might actually be less than focusing on a single Fist Technique for improvement.


    This kind of ability, even one that requires a special simplified Skill as a prerequisite, will inevitably consume more Yuan Force with eleration.


    But Tao Yu himself possessed the ability of Deification. Regardless of the details, he wanted to master the basics first and form the Skill...


    "Fine, I''ll let you try. You''ll change your mind eventually. It''ste now, we''ll start tomorrow."


    "Okay, thank you Brother Smith."


    Zhang Wei and the others, who were also exhausted, looked on with envy at that time.


    They didn''t have the money to afford Qi-tonic Soup. It was such a luxury, and they were already worn out.


    And there was Tao Yu, not only mastering Stance Skill but also using eleration inbination with Qi-tonic Soup, and now he''s moving directly to learning Fist Technique?


    The gap was just too big...


    It wouldn''t be surprising if someone from the Inner City surpassed the peak of Outsider in the beginning, considering the massive umtion they have¡ªmoney could buy it all.


    But these were all Outsiders. The disparity was indeed considerable...


    ...


    "The dojo is quite generous, giving out free spots and also clothes."


    Tao Yu looked at the gray practice clothes in his hands and sighed inwardly.


    The material was rough, and wearing it directly might even cause difort due to chafing, designed with durability in mind.


    Yet, even so, it was the best clothing Tao Yu had ever owned.


    Heaven knows how ufortable the fabric of his underwear had been for the past eighteen years, nearly causing calluses.


    When registering, they''d written down their height and weight, and by the time they went home, each person had been given a set¡ªan indicator of their efficiency.


    However, if you wanted a second set, you had to pay for it yourself, costing 10 units of Yuan Force.


    The consumption at this dojo was truly high for Outsiders, but actually, each item''s cost-effectiveness was quite good.


    The same was true for Qi-tonic Soup and medicinal ointments.


    Tao Yu had also bought two jars of ointment, which truly seemed to have a blood-activating effect and could be used during practice.


    The auxiliary Skill affected by Deification also gave Tao Yu a basic understanding of the ointment.


    "I have no idea what the ingredients are, but if I could learn the pharmaceutical skills to make money, it would be fantastic."


    Because of the auxiliary Skill''s Deification, Tao Yu had a rough idea about the Qi-tonic Soup and ointment.


    The Qi-tonic Soup was probably a kind of medicinal porridge, made from a blend of a creature''s internal organs, herbs, and staples, possibly from a Yuan Force creature bred by a corporate enve.


    The ointment might be simr to horse balm, probably also from a Yuan Force creature.


    It wouldn''t be surprising thatpany enves have developed to this stage with mature supporting systems and various industries.


    But as for a new enve, it was unclear how they would manage.


    "Uh, maybe they''ll breed Aliens?"


    Tao Yu spected, thinking that the rapid breeding characteristics of Aliens parasitizing ordinary creatures might be quite suitable for captivity.


    Although excluding the value of Skills, each creature was worth only twenty units of Yuan Force, but the sheer numbers could make up for it.


    ```


    However, it was foreseeable that even if they really cultivated Aliens, and the number of Aliens increased, thepany would definitely control the cirction of Skills, preferring to convert surplus directly into pure Yuan Force rather than undermine their own prices.


    "And then there''s the Blood Orchid, Li Le probably has channels to find people, I sold some to Manager Liu as well; after things settle down, he should consider using the valley as a cultivation field."


    Although the Blood Orchid was unlikely to be cultivated artificially and could only be harvested periodically with long intervals between years, the effects were undeniable, and even if the habitat of the Blood Orchid was deciphered, they likely wouldn''t give up on it¡­


    As Tao Yu was gleefully thinking, she also left the fortress and turned into a small alley.


    The so-called alley was actually two piecemeal buildings erected outside the fortress, trying to take as much shelter as possible under the fortress tower''s turrets, with sewage overflowing on the ground.


    Once Tao Yu entered the alley, she suddenly sped up and started running, weaving through the disorganized houses of the Outsider area, her speed suddenly surpassing that of Bolt, eliciting exmations from the asional passerby.


    "Yue~, do you want to die, kicking shit all over my face, yue~"


    "What are you doing?"


    "Trying to kill someone or what..."


    "..."


    Tao Yu''s abrupt dash immediately triggered a wave ofints in the already filthy and chaotic environment of the Outsider area.


    If Tao Yu hadn''t been moving so quickly, obviously not someone to mess with, there might have been fistfights. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The Outsider area had some basic rules, but unless it was something significant, the security team wouldn''t interfere; in many areas, order was even dictated by gangs.


    After Tao Yu took off running like a bat out of hell, two silhouettes that had been standing at the entrance of the fortress swiftly followed suit, their speed not quite matching Tao Yu''s, but not much slower either!


    Just that they had been thrown off from the beginning when Tao Yu sprinted ahead, starting a beat too slow and not being able to keep up. When they realized they had lost her after chasing for a bit, they spat out curses fiercely.


    "Damn, running so fast?"


    "It seems what he said about eating all those flowers wasn''t nonsense, it really does make sense."


    The two of them were dressed like typical Outsiders, but the speed they had previously shown was truly impressive.


    They red fiercely at the surrounding crowd that was looking at them with hostility, and to avoid getting shot in the back, they quickly left the area.


    Just as they departed, Tao Yu''s figure slowly emerged from the shadows of an alley behind them, watching their retreating figures with a profound look in her eyes.


    "So it wasn''t just me being paranoid, they showed up on the second day, so eager, huh."


    The very next morning, I came straight to the Hound Fortress and then sold stuff, learned Skills.


    These two men didn''te into the fortress, which likely means they were carrying weapons.


    Regardless of whom they were working for, it was definitely rted to the Blood Orchid. There''s a small chance it could be Manager Liu''s side, but there''s a greater chance it''s Li Le, or someone Li Le has contacted.


    However, their tailing was rendered useless in the face of my Dynamic Vision. Those nces out of the corner of their eyes at me, and their faint changes in facial expressions, were all too obvious to Tao Yu.


    "Not security personnel, which is better than the worst scenario."


    Tao Yu pondered with relief.


    If the opposition was really that powerful, to openly and directly crush their way here in broad daylight with the security team in their face, then Tao Yu would have had no choice but to go along obediently, y nice, and give them whatever they wanted, if she didn''t wish to be exiled to the mist.


    As long as I can keep myself alive, I''m willing to bear any humiliation and even be a dog!


    But employing this method of tailing also indirectly indicated that things weren''t that extreme.


    Perhaps they also took into ount Uncle Hu''s connection, or maybe it was just that Li Le''s reach was limited.


    Tao Yu even suspected they had no idea that she had already dealt out some information at the recycling station.


    Tsk~


    It was still a bit risky just relying on one recycling station, I should also give out some free information at the dojo; my nning wasn''tprehensive enough.


    "I''m still just a weakling with little power, and Uncle Hu''s backing isn''t strong enough either, I can only try to leverage as much as possible..."


    Tao Yu never considered herself to be very smart, but as the saying goes, you don''t have to eat pork to see it being chased¡ªa lot of the principles in this information-dominatedwork are actually quite straightforward.


    When individual strength wascking, it''s necessary to spread out the interests and risks as much as possible.


    If a recycling station wasn''t enough, then include the dojo as well.


    After all, free information was worth giving away to gain some favor...


    ncing up at the sky, which was perpetually overcast, it was now bing distinctly darker, a clear sign that nightfall was approaching fast. Tao Yu quickened her pace.


    I hope there won''t be any surprise attacks tonight.


    The little over ten thousand Yuan Force I have left is important, and it would be best not to waste it on recovery...


    ```

 Chapter 42 - 37 Trash Mountain

    Chapter 42 -37 Trash Mountain


    "I''m back."


    Tao Yu didn''t choose to use Stealth to track backwards; during the day there were too many people, and maintaining constant Shadow Evasion was too time-consuming and exhausting.


    Now Tao Yu''s main objective was to drag out time as much as possible, spreading the message further, which would naturally resolve the issue.


    With his innate talents and potentialid bare, he did not wish to engage in direct confrontations during his weaker moments.


    Influenced by the world of his previous life, Tao Yu still preferred harmony.


    Killing Joseph was an ident¡ªthe man had used something Tao Yu detested to tempt him.


    "Dinner''s on the table, Mom and Dad have already returned to the Abyss."


    His sister-inw, Li Li, wiped her hands on her apron.


    "Has Shie back? Nothing happened today, right?"


    Tao Yu asked casually with an indifferent expression.


    "He came back at noon, said he''d stay at a friend''s house tonight."


    Li Li sighed again; she spent the most time taking care of the family, and with Tao Shi staying out all night at such a young age, she always had her worries.


    "It''s fine, they''re grown-ups now, boys won''t suffer a disadvantage."


    Tao Yu, seeing his sister-inw''s expression, knew that for the moment no one hade to harass the house.


    As for his younger brother, Tao Yu wasn''t really worried; the guy had always been like this.


    Despite having consumed lots of Qi-tonic Soup at the dojo, the sight of a bowl of pickles stir-fried with cured meat and white rice on the table still made Tao Yu rub his belly.


    The energy he had spent using Stealth earlier needed to be replenished.


    "Mom and Dad said that while you''re home, you should try to eat more meat, and they''ll also look for some to bring back from the gathering area."


    Tao Yu did not reject this show of parental concern.


    Meat was expensive in the current world, but it was much easier to get in the Abyss gathering areas. The only issue was that it wasn''t convenient to carry, sometimes they would rely on colleagues returning from expeditions to bring some things and pass messages.


    After finishing his meal, the sky hadpletely darkened.


    Since Li Xiang had already mentioned noting back, Li Li had closed the door early and bolted it.


    Then she went to wash the dishes.


    Tao Yu returned to his room to conserve energy. He was not nning on sleeping tonight; he had to stay alert.


    At least until the news had fully spread, he intended to keep up this vignce.


    Lifting the cardboard that covered the window a little to create arger gap, Tao Yu gauged the size of the window with his hand, then retreated to the bed.


    "Feels like those nights spent alone in the Abyss again¡­"


    Tao Yu sighed inwardly. For someone who disliked fighting and killing, dealing with these matters was truly a headache.


    Hopefully, everything would go smoothly...


    ...


    As night fell, it was pitch dark outside, and sounds from the autonomous cannons could intermittently be heard.


    The Tao Yu who was lying on the bed with his eyes closed preserving energy, now opened his eyes.


    There truly was a disturbance outside the house!


    "Sigh..."


    Reluctantly getting up, Tao Yu vanished into the shadows in the next moment.


    He merged into the shadows and slipped out the window!


    Shadow Evasion didn''t allow Tao Yu to walk through walls, but as long as there was a sufficient crack, he could slip through it like jelly! n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The mottled shadows around him rapidly shifted, somewhat ignoring the volume of physical collisions, letting Tao Yu move without a sound or trace, much faster than his speed during the daytime flight.


    It took less than two seconds for him to circle around to the back of the house, reaching the side of the two figures who had just leapt over the farm fence.


    The rooftop autonomous cannon could only target the foggy abyssal creatures, not some intelligent defense system, which allowed these two men topletely ignore it.


    They looked familiar¡ªit was the two from the day, but they''d changed into a new set of gear.


    During the day, they both had dressed asmon Outsiders, dirty and disheveled.


    But this time they were in two sets of pitch-ck tactical gear.


    The tactical pockets were stuffed with various items, and each man held a small submachine gun simr to an MP5, equipped with a silencer, clearly indicating malicious intent.


    Add on the night vision goggles they wore on their heads, and the two men exuded a sense of professionalism, a stark contrast to the shabby appearance when they had been tailing him earlier.


    If not for Tao Yu''s exceptional eyesight, he might not have been able to recognize them on the spot.


    Seeing their gear, Tao Yu''s gaze gradually darkened from within the shadows.


    He had already stepped back, why were they forcing his hand...


    Without speaking, the two men exchanged nces after hopping over the farm fence, clearly all was pre-nned.


    Theymunicated with several tactical hand signals, with one person then moving forward rapidly in a crouch.


    It was apparent that they likely also possessed a Skill simr to Stealth, their tactical boots making no sound as they walked, and they moved swiftly.


    However, just as the one in the front reached the corner and pulled out a dagger preparing to pry open the door bolt, a subtle sound of cracking bones came from behind.


    A chill rose from his spine in an instant; he was all too familiar with that sound!


    It was the sound of a neck being twisted!


    Without any hesitation, he waved the dagger behind him while his other hand had already regripped the handle of the gun.


    But besides the falling body of hispanion, there was no other movement behind him!


    Sensing trouble, and without waiting to react further, a heavy blow to the back of his head caused his vision to blur, and he lost consciousness.


    Within a few short seconds, while the first body had just hit the ground, Tao Yu had already taken down two men.


    Quickly searching, Tao Yu found two tactical headsets and hesitated for a moment before breaking the microphones; he then temporarily ced them by his ear.


    But it seemed they were only used for privatemunication between the two; no sound was forting.


    Then, carrying one body in one hand and the unconscious one in the other, he directly climbed over the guardrail and headed towards the direction of the trash mountain.


    The nights in the Outer City were nearly pitch ck, with no starlight or moon. Only a few lights were faintly visible on the Inner City walls; on Tao Yu''s side, it was almost impossible to see one''s own fingers.


    But in Tao Yu''s eyes, every detail of this environment was still clearly visible.


    The streets of the Outer City at night were just as dirty, but empty of any human figures, save for asional coughsing from inside the houses, with not even the sound of dog barking.


    Only the sporadic distant gunshots served as a brief decoration in the silence of night.


    Tao Yu moved quickly, carrying two fully armed adults, slowing down not in the slightest.


    Simultaneously, he kept observing his surroundings, worried about the presence of backup gangs.


    He''d intentionally shown himself to gauge the extent of their force.


    Equipped with "Bullet Time" and having "Stealth" as a backup, and with ample Yuan Force reserved, Tao Yu had the capital to probe.


    Perhaps one could consider it good news, simr to the silent headset; even as Tao Yu reached the front of the trash mountain, no new attacks had urred.


    "Ha, to take on our family, this level of force is indeed more than sufficient," Tao Yu said with a self-deprecatingugh. Sometimes being underestimated wasn''t such a bad thing.


    Ahead was a pitch-ck trash mountain, piled up of various wastes and exuding an even more pungent odor than the streets above.


    Besides the garbage and stench, there were many red dots scurrying through the trash now and then, rummaging for something.


    Tao Yu''s vision easily discerned that these red dots were the eyes of huge rats.


    Each rat was the size of a small cat, and rather than fearing Tao Yu''s presence, many stared directly at him with no fear, their crimson eyes full of savageness.


    Because the flesh of these rats was toxic, not even cooking them would do, making them one of the Outer City''s few luxuries.


    Tao Yu had heard ghost stories of the trash mountain rats that ate humans since he was a child.


    Dropping the two men carelessly to the ground, Tao Yu bent down to start iming his loot.


    He removed the bulletproof vest and neatly packed all the scattered gear.


    The next moment, Tao Yu lifted one of the bodies and spun on the spot, hurling it a long distance onto the trash mountain.


    Squeak, squeak~


    Rats that had already been eyeing the area swarmed over the body in an instant, piling into a mass. The sounds of leather tearing, chewing, and bones being gnawed on continued to emanate, leaving Tao Yu feeling slightly nauseated.


    Looking down at the unconscious man, Tao Yu wasn''t sure if he had controlled his strength properly, not knowing if he was alive or dead.


    But he didn''t worry too much about it; in this regard, he indeed had no experience.


    Casually flipping the man over, he then exerted force with his foot.


    Crack, crack~


    One limb after another was broken, and the unconscious man awoke with a series of muffled groans.


    But before he could scream out in agony, a hand gripped his throat like iron pincers, nearly making the man who had just been painfully awakened ckout again.


    Li Xiang, just revived, felt pain all throughout his body, his head foggy, and the immense pressure on his neck made it hard to breathe.


    What was happening?


    Right...


    He and his cousin were about to catch that kid from earlier in the day and interrogate him.


    Then what?


    His memory started piecing together in fragments, recalling the scene before the attack; just as he was about to open the doortch with his dagger, he heard a noise behind him.


    Turning around...


    His cousin was dead!


    As the memories surged into his mind, Li Xiang was startled, his head clearing up a bit.


    The night vision goggles had already been removed, making everything in front of him dark; Li Xiang could only vaguely see some crimson red dots and an unbearable stench wafted into his nostrils, apanied by rustling sounds near his ears.


    This suddenly sank Li Xiang''s heart.


    Even without a clear view, he knew where he was.


    The trash mountain!


    Some of the dirty work he had done involved dealing with this ce!


    It''s over...

 Chapter 43 - 38 The Li Family

    Chapter 43 - 38 The Li Family


    Li Xiang felt a wave of despair in his heart, knowing that he couldn''t escape his fate.


    The only reason they hadn''t killed him outright was to extract some information.


    Up to now, he didn''t even know who had captured him. The night was too dark, and theck of oxygen made his vision blur. The person clutching his neck had been behind him the entire time, and he could only sense that their strength was immense.


    "Go ahead and ask, just give me a swift end."


    A faint voice emerged from his oppressed throat.


    He said that, but whether he would answer truthfully was something only heaven knew.


    "Why did you go there at night? What do you all know?"


    Tao Yu asked in a raspy and deep tone.


    Li Xiang''s heart skipped a beat at Tao Yu''s question. Huh?


    The other party didn''t know?


    As his thoughts gradually returned, Li Xiang had a new idea in mind.


    Yes, he and hispanion had been overpowered without a chance to fight back. This wasn''t something that brat and his family could do!


    It must be a third-party force!


    Thinking of the youngster visiting the fortress for a day, had he also brought in outside help?


    Li Xiang immediately found the best exnation in his mind. Such strength wouldn''t belong to a nobody in the Outsiders!


    This was hopeful!


    "I don''t know what that kid told you, but whatever secrets he knows, we know too. Our original intention was to take him away and keep him quiet, but unexpectedly, he already spilled the beans."


    The intermittent voice reached Tao Yu, who nodded slightly.


    "You know about that thing?"


    "Yes, sir. In fact, we are the better partners for cooperation. The South City Li family¡ªsir must have heard of us. What authority does that bumpkin have to promise anything? It would be better to cooperate with us."


    The voice seemed to be somewhat angry and embarrassed.


    Hearing this, Li Xiang felt even more secretly pleased inside.


    "Li family..."


    The deep voice seemed somewhat wary.


    "Hmph, you''re lying! You''re from the Inner City. If you really wanted to cooperate, why would you seek out the force of us Outsiders?!"


    The voice seemed to be somewhat angry and embarrassed.


    Hearing this, Li Xiang felt even more secretly pleased inside.


    Pure Outsider forces? That was fantastic! There was a chance!


    "Please, don''t be angry, sir. I''m telling the truth. Because there''s a chance this interest could allow us to return to the Inner City, the n Leader decided to undertake the development himself this time.


    "That''s why the two of us who made the move are from the direct line. The n Leader has called back all the important family members eligible to participate, to ensure the sess."


    "Really?"


    "Absolutely! If we had truly found a connection with the Inner City, we wouldn''t have bothered to capture this youngster. We''d have simply integrated him, given that B-gradebat talent is quite rare in the new Development Zone, and he wouldn''t likely refuse integration."


    Li Xiang, desperate to survive, was being remarkably sincere.


    On hearing this, Tao Yu thought it really was the situation¡ªdamn it!


    Why target himself? Was it not for fear of being unable to control the situation?


    With Inner City backing, why worry about such matters? Offering a sum of money for integration would have been perfect.


    Normally, would someone refuse it?


    And most crucially, the other side''s slip of the tongue also fully exposed their capabilities.


    B-grade talent...


    Even though only a day had passed, he had never kept it a secret at all, beingpletely open and aboveboard.


    Yet, they still relied on outdated information, which indeed showed their limited abilities.


    It had been a good half day since he sold the information to the Starshine Recycling Station and the other party still had no clue, so at least the credibility of this piece of news seemed pretty high. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "To show my sincerity, send some of your Yuan Force over."


    Tao Yu pulled out a maic card from his inner pocket, which was from selling stuff; it could be reused and at one time could store more than four thousand points of Yuan Force, much more convenient than those shattered Yuan Force metals.


    Under the restrictions of the world''s will, techniques simr to Illusion Techniques and mental control were unable to perform Yuan Force transfer operations, but ''voluntary'' transfer was possible.


    It was rare to catch a live one that could be pressured, so it would be a waste not to make use of him, especially since he had risked it all just for a piece of information.


    The barrel spat out from Joseph''s mouth before he died, along with his final self-destruction, still vivid in Tao Yu''s memory; so even though this time it was only dealing with an Outsider, he broke all their limbs and snapped their neck from behind, just to avoid any idents.


    But as Tao Yu spoke, Li Xiang fellpletely silent, his face showing a pitiful expression.


    "Please be quick," he pleaded.


    Now that Tao Yu was demanding Yuan Force points, Li Xiang, having done this before, felt all hope shatter with those words, giving up any chance of luck; there was no opportunity left!


    Why! Why!


    "If you don''t give it to me, I''ll throw you alive into a pit of rats, which won''t be quick or painless."


    Tao Yu stopped pretending and outright threatened.


    But all he received was an invisible silence.


    To give money to his own killer after death? That''s a bitter pill to swallow!


    After all, having wed his way up in the harsh environment of the Outer City, Li Xiang''s plea for mercy was an attempt to truthfully and deceptively give out some information, but now there really was no hope.


    Realizing this might be useless, Tao Yu exerted more force and snapped the other''s neck right away.


    He then also tossed the body toward the garbage mountain.


    Being alive and screaming would only cause trouble. After a scare tactic proved useless, it wasn''t worth the effort anymore...


    "Our family has always worked hard, earning a meager three hundred a month, been kind to others, willing to help, so why, why push us..."


    Tao Yu, hearing the stirring of the rat pack behind him once more, turned around and walked toward the direction of the Inner City''s wall.


    The Li family wants to monopolize and return to the Inner City?


    Which means... It''s only you!


    ...


    The Li family, a n that moved from the Inner City to the Outer City.


    Although they could no longer stay in the Inner City, once they came to the Outer City, they still belonged to a rather remarkable force.


    Their retreat was mainly due to the n''s backbone, the strongest member, along with a group of core members, dying in an expedition to a world fragment.


    For the Li family, leaving the Inner City was also an act of self-preservation, and overall, it was quite dignified.


    Therefore, they quickly steadied their footing in the Outer City and became a strong force.


    The contemporary n Leader of the Li family, Li Hui, was one of the four deputy captains of the Enforcement Authority, in charge of the South City area.


    Also, Li Hui was the only one amongst the four deputy captains without any traces of mechanical augmentation, somewhat simr to the Enforcement Authority captain, Ze Chuan.


    The fact that he could maintain his position without any mutations, cybeic imnts, and solely with flesh and blood, was proof enough that his physical body had drastically surpassed human limits, enough to match or even exceed those with mechanical enhancements in the Outer City.


    In the Enforcement Authority family quarter, a three-story wooden vi set with a small courtyard, together with twelve other buildings beside it,prised the Li family''s gathering ce in the Outer City.


    Compared to the scrap-heap style buildings of the Outer City, each of the Li family''s houses was quite standard, mostly built from uniform timber.


    Grouping over a dozen houses together gave this ce a different vibe from the rest of the Outer City.


    The ground was also covered inpacted gravel, much cleaner inparison.


    While the rest of the Outer City was usually quiet at night, that core three-story wooden house was still brightly lit, seemingly hosting a banquet that had yet to end.


    At a time when ordinary people were reluctant to use even oilmps, this western-style house was illuminated by electric lights, as if living in a different world...

 Chapter 44 - 39: The Life Experience of the Li Clan Leader

    Chapter 44 -39: The Life Experience of the Li n Leader


    The Li family''s night was still alive with a wine banquet downstairs, but in the study on the third floor, Li Le and his father Li Hui were casually discussing the day''s events.


    "Father, we''re short-staffed right now. A Grade Bbat talent is actually quite a decent prospect, with a clean family background, too. If we control him with ''happiness,'' and secure a debt note, we should be able to haveplete control over him, right?"


    Li Le thought about what the now-deceased Joseph had done, referring to how Joseph was killed when he was surrounded by those Yuan Force creatures. Otherwise, he indeed would have been secured.


    The new gathering ce was in need of people, and it was quite a strain to rely on just the few young people from the family to slowly take over.


    "If your talent reached Grade C, even just C-, then I would have arranged to take him in. But your Grade D Dynamic Vision, although theoretically almost the same as a normal Grade Bbat talent, still doesn''t guarantee a definite win,"


    Li Hui said gravely.


    When Li Le first met Wino, he also downyed his own talent, iming it was only Grade E Dynamic Vision, but in reality, it was Grade D!


    Specialbat talents like Dynamic Vision are indeed two levels higher than normalbat talents. Coupled with the family''s Knight Breathing Technique, Li Le feltpletely confident he could suppress the other.


    But his father wouldn''t allow it, wanting to avoid all trouble, making him feel somewhat underestimated, and he replied dissatisfied,


    "So what if he''s just Tao Hu''s nephew, even if it were his son? How could theypare to me with the same level of talent?"


    At least in the Outer City, Li Le had a psychological advantage.


    If Joseph wanted to take someone in as ackey, why couldn''t he?


    "Heh, our family''s Dynamic Vision is indeed a respectable talent. It was the foundation for us establishing a foothold in the Inner City. In a head-on fight, you could easily beat him, particrly with the support the family provides you, which far exceeds his,"


    Li Hui didn''t counter Li Le''s words but casually got up and came over to pat his shoulder.


    "However, Dynamic Vision is a Skill suited for shooting and even ambushing. What good is your strength if you get shot in the head with a single bullet? You''d still end up dead."


    Li Le wanted to rebut, but for a moment he didn''t know how to respond.


    "If we were still an Inner City force, it wouldn''t matter, but right now there''s really no need to take risks. We can proceed slowly."


    As he said this, Li Hui turned with his hands sped behind him, revealing a wise smile,


    "The growth cycles of nts are set. We have time to wait. If seven family members can choose the Development Zone within half a year, then based on the eight of you, we can steadily establish ourselves and gradually recruit some neers."


    Here, Li Hui paused again,


    "Once we''ve reaped a few waves of insubordination, we can also use the fame we''ve built to offer a tribute directly to the two bigwigs in the Floating City, in exchange for a promotion."


    "Alright, then is it suitable for the two cousins to head over immediately during the night? It''s not actually that peaceful at night."


    Li Le slowly epted his father''s words. They indeed made sense, but arranging for the two cousins to go overnight seemed a bit overly cautious.


    "Just to be safe. It would be troublesome if that guy starts talking nonsense. For someone with a bit of capability like him, either you don''t touch them at all, or you have topletely suppress them at once."


    "Otherwise, if he calls his friends, and Tao Hu calls his friends, and it esctes further and further, the troubles that follow will be endless."


    Hearing this, Li Le felt a stir in his heart and worriedly said,


    "What if he''s already told Tao Hu? We''re not sure what happened in the half-day yesterday, though we''ve been in the fortress all day today."


    "So what if he''s told him? Does Tao Hu know the location?"


    Li Hui scoffed, speaking ominously,


    "You said it yourself before, he''s just Tao Hu''s nephew, and only a cousin at that. The rtionship has been maintained solely by his talent. Tao Hu might risk it for a living talent, but ¡­"


    "Once a person is dead, that''s all gone."


    Afterward, Li Hui gave Li Le a meaningful smile,


    "Learn a bit more. In the future, you''ll have to stand on your own in the new gathering ce, leading the new generation of our Li family¡­"


    A stter¡ª


    Li Hui''s smiling head shot up into the sky, blood spurting from the neck, leaving Li Lepletely dumbstruck.


    Through the gap of blood spraying between the soaring head and neck, he also saw the figure of Tao Yu with a knife passing through.


    Like a freshly emerged ink painting, his body was still covered with swirls of ck mist.


    "Yo, Brother Li, we meet again."


    With blood droplets on his face, Tao Yu grinned andughed.


    Tao Yu?!


    How is that possible?


    It can''t be!!


    Why is he here?!


    My father''s head?


    It''s fake!


    All of it is fake!


    This was thest thought in Li Le''s mind.


    As he opened his mouth, Tao Yu, recovering from the Skill ovey, raised another handgun.


    Bang¡ª


    The bullet passed through Li Le''s mouth, blowing his skull open, sshing blood everywhere!


    The sudden gunshot also caused a pause in the banquet outside, the music stopped, and the sound of running echoed up the stairs.


    The wooden stairs and floors vibrated slightly, and a mix of confusing noises could be heard,


    "Was that gunfire?"


    "What''s happened?"


    "Let''s go see¡­"


    "The study of Uncle? What''s wrong?"


    "..."


    All the key personnel of the Li family were present, and even though they had withdrawn from the Inner City, the Li family was still a significant force,manding respect and influence in the southern outskirts of the city.


    The true nature of the banquet was to gather all these important figures and set the tone for what was toe!


    Logistics, resources, and ongoing support were all things that needed to be coordinated.


    Li Le alone couldn''t manage it all, despite his considerable talent.


    The main forces who couldn''t enter the new Development Zone were mainly responsible for coordinating resources and exchanging useful Yuan Force items.


    "Uncle, Li Le, what''s happening? We heard gunshots," someone called out.


    "n Leader."


    "Has something happened?"


    Bang bang~


    Knocking sounds arose.


    Methodically, Tao Yu searched the two men and found several Yuan Force items before disappearing back into the shadows.


    Bang~


    The sound of something smashing quickly followed, and the door was broken down in just a few hits by some of the Li family''s elite fighters. They then saw the two men lying in a pool of blood.


    In an instant, theplexions of those rushing in drastically changed.


    What''s going on?


    What happened?!


    "Seal off the scene immediately, contact the security team!" a grey-haired elder ordered, his face grave.


    Someone spotted the rotary phone in the study, a direct line to the security team, a true symbol of status.


    But when someone hurried over to the phone and picked it up, they mmed it back down in frustration upon discovering that the line had been cut.


    "Damn it! Two of youe with me, let''s go there directly!"


    At that moment, the lights in the house suddenly went out, as if the whole building''s circuit breaker had been tripped.


    "What''s happening?"


    "The killer hasn''t left!"


    "Everyone be careful!"


    "Back to back."


    "Light themps!"


    "The fire, light a fire!"


    Having electricity wired from the city walls to light up the entire house was definitely a sign of status.


    When their ustomed lighting suddenly cut off, chaos ensued.


    Soon enough, the first scream arose from downstairs, followed by the frantic sounds of lighting fires and questioning voices.


    Gunshots followed, creating a cacophony of noise.


    "The front door is locked! Break it down! Ah~" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    A flicker of firelight and the person attempting to bust the door was shot in the back of the head.


    "Go out the windows!"


    Bang bang~


    As someone smashed the window, two bullets followed, and upon crashing through, they fell to the ground.


    Whoever ran first would die first!


    "Help!"


    "Damn it! Fight back!"


    "Where''s the person?"


    "..."


    Screams, cries for help, and roars came one after another.


    On a starless night shrouded by grey fog, with insufficient lighting, only the sporadic glow of temporary oilmps and mes illuminated the dark three-story Western-style house, apanied by the shes of gunshots and screams.


    The Li family!


    In possession of the "Knight Breathing Technique," an advanced breathing technique, and the deep roots of an Inner City family, they positioned themselves as one of the four deputy captains of the security team without relying on mechanical enhancements or mutations.


    But now, they were facing a one-sided massacre in the darkness.


    There were more than a couple of elite Li family members whose overall physical capabilitiespletely surpassed Tao Yu''s.


    But in this environment, that meant nothing.


    A single bullet to the brow or a knife across the throat was all it took to end their lives.


    Continuously utilizing Yuan Force to replenish his stamina and focus, the constantly fatiguing Tao Yu was like a God of Death in the darkness, each appearance guaranteeing the demise of a Li family member.


    The screaming waned until silence prevailed.


    The entire Li house fell into dead silence.


    The once majestic isted Western-style building remained imposing, only now with broken windows and several bodies hanging from them.


    Along with the silence of the dozen or so nearby buildings, it seemed as if no life remained at all¡­

 Chapter 45 - 40: The Owner of the Mansion

    Chapter 45 - 40: The Owner of the Mansion


    "Cough cough~ there are indeed skilled masters out there."


    In the pitch-ck night, he stood next to a building, steadying his body with a hand against the wall that felt like asbestos board.


    Tao Yu clutched his broken ribs, and aside from the bulletproof vest, his shoulder bore a fierce gunshot wound. With the infusion of Yuan Force, his ribs quickly healed, and the wound expelled the bullet.


    Constantly replenishing his stamina in the forefront had consumed over three thousand Yuan Force, allowing him to maintain a high level of endurance.


    Shadows could enter at any time, and an outburst could happen at any moment.


    He had used another thousand Yuan Force to heal his injuries, which was a huge loss!


    In truth, eating could have also aided in recovery, but there wasn''t time for that now; Tao Yu had no choice but to bear the cost.


    Looking at therge bundle wrapped in bed sheets before him, filled with misceneous items, Tao Yu had no idea how much he''d be able to recoup.


    He had no way to thoroughly search them.


    Although he had cleared his way from the perimeter to the inside, there were probably no survivors left in the Li family; even the eggs were scattered. In the end, he had even started a fire with kerosene.


    But he couldn''t stay at the scene forever!


    All he could do was hastily take these seemingly valuable items, mainly those rted to Yuan Force.


    "Are these considered dirty goods? Aren''t they too conspicuous?"


    Tao Yu picked up a small Yuan Force knife, sensing its sharp and bleeding properties, but ultimately decided to absorb it directly as pure Yuan Force.


    They seemed to be auxiliary items. Although indeed worth more than pure Yuan Force absorption, Tao Yu clearly did not have the time to deal with them and simply absorbed them all at once.


    Then, he absorbed a total of about eight thousand Yuan Force...


    "What a pity. If I sold them all, they would be worth at least ten thousand or even more. I wonder if these kinds of families have an emergency treasure stash somewhere..."


    Tao Yu sighed a little; from that whole bedsheet of items, he only kept two.


    One was a seemingly ordinary handgun with the ''bullets path precision'' Yuan Force property, a verymon yet practical Yuan Force item. Absorbing the Yuan Force in it would yield only four hundred, but it could likely sell for about two thousand.


    Since it was a high-demand item, Tao Yu decided to keep it.


    The other was a long dagger, which could also be used as a short sword, possessing only two hundred in Yuan Force reserve but characterized by ''armor pration,'' ''wear resistance,'' and ''sharpness''¡ªthree quite remarkable Yuan Force properties, making it a small gem.


    The rest had their Yuan Force fully absorbed, turning them into ordinary items.


    Indeed, these could still sell for some money, yet after some hesitation, Tao Yu opted to bury them somewhere instead.


    He was in need of Yuan Force, but it wasn''t worth taking the risk...


    ...


    "Actually, I didn''t want to take a risk at night either. With the environment before, a stray bullet might have hit my head, and even instant use of Yuan Force to heal might not have worked. I wasn''t keen to try."


    Tao Yu eventually returned to bed with a sigh.


    Initially, he wanted to keep disseminating the message and spreading the risk, but the Li family had pushed things too far...


    "No, I must continue to offer the message to the dojo tomorrow, else if the manager learns about the Li family being wiped out, and entertains the thought of hoarding the information, what if he doesn''t report it?"


    Tao Yu reviewed his situation and identified new problems.


    This world was too dark, and the thought of theming overnight to silence him was chilling...


    ...


    The next morning, Tao Yu ate breakfast like nothing had happened.


    On his way to the Hound Fortress for Wanliu Dojo to practice Fist Technique, the scene was nearly the same as the day before.


    A group of Outsiders lined up, waiting to enter the fortress.


    Given thatmunication among themon people in South City was all about shouting, the tragedy that urred in the Public Security residential area wouldn''t spread the news so quickly.


    However, when it was Tao Yu''s turn in line to enter, he saw three people dressed in Public Security uniforms hurriedly running towards them.


    The trio rushed straight to the gate of the fortress. The urgency of their movements drew many eyes, leaving onlookers curious about what had happened.


    "Attach these notices to the walls of your fortress and arrange for people to read them aloud for the next three days."


    The three members of Public Security walked up to the entrance and tossed a stack of freshly inked notices over, seemingly just printed moments before.


    The guards, who normally acted high and mighty towards other Outsiders, instantly stered smiles on their faces and nodded in agreement upon seeing these Public Security members.


    A guard captain even handed over a few homemade rolled cigarettes.


    "Gentlemen, what happened this time?"


    Another attendant quickly went to fetch water.


    Rushing over in a great hurry and actually feeling a bit thirsty, a security team member then tugged at his cor, stood still, and lit a cigarette, speaking with a sickly expression,


    "Something big has happened. The Li family has been exterminated."


    "Exterminated?"


    "The Li family?"


    People entering the fort at the side also pricked up their ears to listen.


    "Which Li family?"


    The captain of the fort''s guards was a bit confused.


    "The Li family from South City."


    All three members of the security team also looked somewhat frightened. The crime scene was in the security team''s residential area, so close to the Inner City walls¡ªcould it be they were wiped out?


    What kind of grudge was this? How powerful must one be?


    Hiss~


    Everyone nearby inhaled sharply upon hearing this.


    It really was a big deal...


    ...


    "Tao Yu, what''s the matter? You look so troubled."


    "Hey, don''t mention it. I just heard that the Li family from South City was wiped out when I entered the fort."


    "What? The Li family from South City?"


    When Smith saw Tao Yue over in his dojo training suit, a smile also appeared on his face.


    "Hey, don''t mention it. I just heard that the Li family from South City was wiped out when I entered the fort."


    "What? The Li family from South City?"


    Smith had obviously heard of the fame of the Li family from South City.


    "I heard their ''Knight Breathing Technique'' was unmatched. They, they''ve been exterminated just like that?"


    Smith was also very shocked. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Outside the city, things were always somewhat chaotic. Just on the day of awakening alone, who knows how many people would die, and bodies in the sewers were amon urrence.


    But it was still rare for a major household to be wiped out.


    "Yeah, I was in the same ss as one of their young men. Brother, can I see the dojo master? I have some things I want to discuss."


    Tao Yu put on a worried look.


    Although Smith had stumbled upon big news, after all, it was just idle gossip. Hearing what Tao Yu had to say, he was actually pleased,


    "Speaking of which, the dojo master wanted to see you after hearing about your situation. Come with me; you might have a chance to receive personal guidance from the master."


    Compared to the unrted extermination of the Li family, the dojo master and this junior brother mattered more. Smith led Tao Yu directly to a separate, rtively smaller wooden hut.


    Though this wooden hut was not veryrge, it was quite exquisite and much more elegant than the other buildings of the dojo.


    A nondescript middle-aged man was sitting cross-legged outside the hut on a cushion, with a cup of freshly brewed hot tea beside him.


    When he saw Smith bringing Tao Yu over, the man, also dressed in a dojo suit and appearing very ordinary, nodded and smiled at Tao Yu,


    "You must be the talented student Smith mentioned, truly an impressive figure."


    Liu Yi, the master of Wanliu Dojo, really looked very unremarkable, without any exaggerated muscles visible on his body.


    But simply sitting there casually, he gave Tao Yu a sense of natural integration.


    And even though he appeared very gentle when smiling, with casual behavior,


    Tao Yu still felt an indescribable sense of tension, akin to the unconscious anxiety ordinary people feel in the presence of a wild animal.


    The master was indeed very strong!


    This feeling was even stronger than Li Hui from yesterday.


    Li Hui gave off such a strong oppressive aura that it made Tao Yu stack all his skills in one go. After the kill, had he not replenished a bit of Yuan Force, he would have almost not recovered...

 Chapter 46 - 41: The Five Forms of Wanliu

    Chapter 46 - 41: The Five Forms of Wanliu


    Liu Yi didn''t know why, but a sudden slight chill ran down his spine, yet his attention quickly returned to the student before him.


    Well-proportioned with handsome features, he had quite the marketable appearance for someone from the Outer City.


    In fact, Tao Yu used to have a more delicate appearance and was rather skinny, but as he fleshed out from growing, his image had noticeably improved.


    In the Outer City, where most people''s skin was rough due to the harshness of life, Tao Yu''s recent physical transformations made him appear fair and tender.


    "To grasp the Stance Skill in just three tries is not something we see often in our dojo, I have also taught young people with Grade A bodily talents, and they too could not reach this level."


    Liu Yi smiled as he praised Tao Yu''s talent.


    "Head of the dojo praises me too highly, my quick mastery is probably due to my Dynamic Vision''s ability to capture movements, and my body has a good foundation from taking a substantial amount of Yuan Force herbs."


    "Smith mentioned this to me before, but I am not privy to what herbs these were, would you mind sharing some details? It can bepensated."


    Liu Yi wanted to see Tao Yu for his talents, but he was also interested in this aspect; it could be said that his intention cut both ways.


    This prompted Tao Yu to quickly speak up.


    "Actually, I took the initiative toe to you for this very reason, and to receivepensation for it would obviously be wonderful."


    "Your talent ismendable, and since you already qualify for our free quota, if you''re willing to share some details, I can waive all your future tuition fees."


    Liu Yi grandly waved his hand, offering his promise.


    In reality, for Liu Yi and the dojo, teaching others was their business, akin to a ''Skill Loan''; it wouldn''t be a loss either way.


    And for Tao Yu, it was even better!


    Because he was definitely going to learn all five Fist Techniques, even with a half-price discount, it would still cost tens of thousands.


    After all, even without this promise, Tao Yu would have taken the initiative to discuss it.


    He first thanked Liu Yi, preempting the conversation, then Tao Yu followed up with a sigh,


    "Hearing about the Li family''s annihtion today scared me to death; I was already thinking of discussing this with you."


    It was practically a free ride.


    "Thank you, head of the dojo!"


    He first thanked Liu Yi, preempting the conversation, then Tao Yu followed up with a sigh,


    "Hearing about the Li family''s annihtion today scared me to death; I was already thinking of discussing this with you."


    "Wait a second, what does this have to do with the Li family''s annihtion?"


    Liu Yi, clearly aware of this incident, appeared momentarily stiff.


    "Let me exin, here''s how things went..."


    Tao Yu didn''t give the other party the chance to specte wildly and rattled off the attributes of the Blood Orchid, its growth environment, and even the estimated distances from the boundaries of the grasnds.


    After exining all of this, he continued,


    "...well, that Li Le from the Li family is from the same period as me, he also knows about the Blood Orchid."


    The subsequent look on Tao Yu''s face was a mix of fear and embarrassment, causing Liu Yi to grow solemn too.


    Being in charge of Wanliu Dojo meant Liu Yi was no pushover, and he immediately grasped Tao Yu''s intent to spread the risk.


    He had been very cautious and concerned about the ''annihtion of the Li family.''


    Although the Li family was not as strong as Wanliu Dojo, they were a fairly dominant n in the Outer City; to be extinguished so suddenly by a brutal and bloodthirsty force was not something the dojo could contend with. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Upon hearing about Tao Yu''s transaction of selling herbs and providing information at the Starshine Recycling Station, Liu Yi''s expression rxed significantly,


    "You''re quite the slick one, but smart. If you hadn''t done this in the past two days, you might have very well disappeared from the world tonight."


    Liu Yi had high hopes for Tao Yu, and since he initially agreed to a fee waiver, he decided to stick with it, considering it an investment.


    "Oh? Do you have any conjectures, head of the dojo? Please enlighten me."


    Taking the opportunity, Tao Yu inquired further.


    "Actually, the situation is quite simple. The Li family must have been preparing to coborate with a certain force, but that force wanted to monopolize the benefits, so they made their move overnight. They probably didn''t even know of your existence; otherwise, you wouldn''t have survivedst night."


    "But since you''ve already sold the Starshine Recycling Station, this matter will probably just blow over, and the Li family died in vain."


    Liu Yi didn''t seem to care much and was instead lost in thought.


    Such incidents are not umon, not just in the Outer City, but also in the Inner City.


    In these times, might makes right.


    If you hold onto profits you shouldn''t have, you''d better be prepared.


    Although there is a security team in charge, there''s not much they can do once the clues run dry.


    The various forces within the Inner City are intricate andplex; who knows which one was behind this?


    Rashly upsetting the bnce has even worse consequences.


    The security team will not risk their lives for the now-deceased Li family¡ªtightening security now is just a show to calm the public."


    "So that''s how it is. But am I safe now? Can I stay at the dojo for a couple of days?"


    Tao Yu seized the opportunity to ask; the dojo master could make decisions on the spot, a simple yes or no would do.


    Staying here would also make use of the time at night.


    "Haha, sure, but you''ll have to ask Smith yourself if he agrees to let you sleep on the floor."


    "Of course, no problem. I''d be afraid too if I were you."


    Smith agreed briskly.


    With the right talent, many things are easy to negotiate!


    ...


    "So, which Fist Technique do you want to start learning today?"


    Having met the dojo master, Tao Yu followed Smith back to the corner of the courtyard where they practiced yesterday. Zhang Wei and the others had also arrived, but Smith didn''t ask their opinion and went straight to satisfying Tao Yu''s request with his question.


    "Big Brother, can you talk about it? I think everyone would like to hear."


    Tao Yu took the initiative to inquire. He knew that the Wanliu Dojo offered five signature Fist Techniques: Tiger, Crane, Bear, Python, Ape; each had its own characteristics, but he wasn''t clear about the specific features.


    And Tao Yu''s inquiry also dispelled some of the small dissatisfaction that Zhang Wei and the others had harbored, and they all perked up their ears.


    "Alright, let''s start with the Fist Techniques. You already know their names, so I''ll begin with the Crane Form, which I am most proficient in and have reached lv4 in..."


    As Smith said this, he also casually adopted a stance. Standing on one foot like a golden rooster, his posture was straight as a pen.


    Just by standing there, he exuded a sense of lightness and agility.


    "Crane Form is the lightest and most agile among our Myriad Streams Five Forms. It focuses on touch-and-go and anticipating the opponent..."


    While speaking, Smith began to demonstrate stances, waving his arms as if searching for an invisible opponent.


    Apanying his movements, Tao Yu also formed a mental image. Crane Form mainly resembled Jeet Kune Do and the beggar''s version of Dugu Nine Swords in style, with a few basic moves that are rtively simple, mainly emphasizing quick initiation.


    However, it requires a high level of adaptability and spontaneity, focusing on disrupting the rhythm of an opponent''s attack before it is fullyunched.


    The fighting style has two distinct approaches, one for humans and one for beasts, and practicing Crane Form on top of the foundation of Wanliu Stance Skill could further strengthen the leg sinews and fingers.


    Afterward, Smith went on to demonstrate the Tiger, Bear, Python, and Ape Forms in session.


    Indeed, it was evident that although he was proficient in the other four Forms, theycked the delicate grace of the Crane Form, and it could only be said that he was familiar with the techniques.


    Each Fist Technique had its own focus and uniqueness, but what was key was the seemingly unrted Five Forms actually resurfaced on the foundation of Wanliu Stance Skill, providing aprehensive coverage for the whole body once again.


    Each Form appeared as a separate piece of the puzzle, able to progress and enhance specific parts;bined, they amounted to a full enhancement of the whole set...

 Chapter 47 - 42 Half a Month

    Chapter 47 -42 Half a Month


    "Indeed, it''s very difficult..."


    After studying for a day and nning to go home to inform his family that he would be staying at the dojo for the next few days, Tao Yu''s face involuntarily showed a hint of emotion.


    He had entered the beginner stage of Wanliu Stance Skill three times!


    And now, even with the foundation of Deification''s augmented Wanliu Stance Skill, he still hadn''t managed to master even one form in a single day, despite Smith constantly correcting and personally instructing him by his side!


    As expected, the difficulty of learning the five fist techniques had greatly increased. No wonder they simplified it into the stance skill for practice first, to facilitate the eleration with Yuan Force.


    "But I have already vaguely grasped the essence. At most two days, I should be able to master it in at most two days."


    His proficiency could be seen visibly improving, and there were no bottlenecks or iprehensible areas.


    With the foundation in stance skills and superior physical quality, learning all five fist techniques shouldn''t be a problem.


    There was also the Swallowing Fluid Technique for promoting digestion.


    These were Tao Yu''s goals for the month.


    Although the interval between visits to the Abyss could be as short as five days after awakening his talent, Tao Yu still nned to learn as much as possible and spend almost all of his Yuan Force before entering the Abyss again.


    Sharpening the axe will not hinder the chopping of firewood!


    Compared to the Abyss, the environment in the present world was still a bit morefortable, and he could learn some skills as well.


    "Huh, Uncle Hu, what brings you here?"


    As Tao Yu arrived at his home''s entrance, he saw Uncle Hu chatting and smoking with two members of the security team at the door.


    His rarely seen outdoors third brother, Tao Tong, was also there, rolling out in his wheelchair.


    His third brother possessed Dynamic Vision, had once joined the security team, and was Uncle Hu''s connection. Now he was chatting with a rare smile on his face.


    "Yo, our great genius is back."


    Uncle Hu, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, saw Tao Yu and grinned, beckoning with his hand.


    "Uncle Hu?"


    Tao Yu trotted over. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Heard you went to the fortress to learn some skills? How''s it going, everything smooth?"


    Uncle Hu sized up Tao Yu and casually asked.


    "Very well, the dojo master and senior brothers are very enthusiastic."


    "Of course, a Grade A talent is weed warmly everywhere."


    After a brief exchange, Tao Hu then exined the reason for his visit.


    "You''ve heard about the Lee family''s incident, right? Actually, I''m here because of that."


    Although the interval between visits to the Abyss could be as short as five days after awakening his talent, Tao Yu still nned to learn as much as possible and spend almost all of his Yuan Force before entering the Abyss again.


    "Huh, Uncle Hu, what brings you here?"


    Sharpening the axe will not hinder the chopping of firewood!


    As Tao Yu arrived at his home''s entrance, he saw Uncle Hu chatting and smoking with two members of the security team at the door.


    Compared to the Abyss, the environment in the present world was still a bit morefortable, and he could learn some skills as well.


    His rarely seen outdoors third brother, Tao Tong, was also there, rolling out in his wheelchair.


    "I''ve heard, scared me to death, please go on."


    Tao Yu listened attentively; clearly, their visit wasn''t to suspect him as the culprit but rather concerning the Blood Orchid.


    "We''ve already got a lead. Yesterday, you passed on the information about the Blood Orchid as a side note, which was quite well done; I''ve been somewhat negligent before."


    Tao Hu praised Tao Yu first, then talked about the current situation


    "We can now roughly confirm that the Lee family was sold out by their allied partner. Actually, ording to the rtions within the Lee family, we can narrow down a few suspects, but they''re very cautious, not one has shown any slip-up, and it should all be over once you sold the information."


    Tao Hu spoke very inly, just as Dojo Master Liu Yi had predicted.


    The other party was not targeting the security team but purely a matter of the Lee family''s distribution of interests.


    If the Lee family had approached the security team for overall cooperation and then were eliminated, there would definitely bemon indignation, and they might even escte the situation to get thepany''s security department involved.


    But now, they couldn''t be bothered with this problem of unevenly divided spoils.


    "...Originally, you would have been in danger too, but fortunately, you were clever. The problem should be solved by now."


    "Heh, I also sent some to the dojo master, exchanged for a few free skills. I''m staying at the dojo these days."


    "Ha-ha, you''re smart, I guess I worried too much."


    Tao Huughed and patted Tao Yu''s shoulder, feeling that the boy had grown taller and it was a bit awkward to pat him now.


    Then he took out a wristwatch from his bosom and handed it to Tao Yu


    "Here, this is a gift from Miss Sun, congratting you for acquiring a Grade A talent."


    Tao Yu was taken aback and then quickly epted the wristwatch.


    Unlike that pixel-style receiver from before, this smartwatch is clearly of the sleek, intelligent type, with many functions.


    "The two bigwigs from Floating City are already aware of your Grade A talent, and they also know about your partnership, and have sent a message..."


    Tao Hu cleared his throat, seemingly quoting directly


    "''We have a rough idea of what you''re thinking, and frankly, there''s no need for excessive worry. If you''re willing toe over, we can guarantee your safety. If you''re not at ease, you cane over after some time, just focus on strengthening your abilities first, and don''t waste your talent.''"


    It seems that among the people who have returned in the past three days, the talents are generally quite average, with Tao Yu''s Grade A Dynamic Vision standing out as particrly noteworthy.


    After finishing, Tao Hu also handed a card to Tao Yu


    "Because of your talent, they''ve given you three thousand Yuan Force as start-up capital. The guy previously in charge of your area wanted to skim some off the top, but I beat him up for it."


    Holding the Yuan Force card in his hand, Tao Yu was somewhat moved.


    Compared to the style of the Li family and Joseph, the two from Floating City do seem much more magnanimous.


    While they are high above, they do indeed win hearts with real silver and gold.


    They don''t rely on their strength and status to oppress others.


    Their approach is to reward the brave handsomely.


    "Uncle Hu is more confident now, huh? What''s up? Got a chance to move up this time?"


    Tao Yu teased Tao Hu in return.


    And Tao Hu actually grinned andughed


    "Not confirmed yet, not confirmed, just acting as a proxy for the time being."


    This actually surprised Tao Yu. He really hadn''t seen iting¡ªit appears that Uncle Hu and that appreciative bigwig have been in touch all along!


    In terms of strength, with his mechanical arm, Uncle Hu could already be the deputy captain of the security team for South City, but that position would definitely require background and connections as well.


    After all, as Tao Yu estimated, the deputy captain of the security team, if not in armor, could be gunned down by a crowd of ordinary people in an open area and perish; it''s not just about having sheer strength.


    But this was also good news; keep the benefits within the family...


    ...


    The tragedy of the Li family had been the talk of the town for half a month, but since Tao Hu had already expressed the security team''s stance to Tao Yu, they naturally wouldn''t cause anymotion, and the few powers under suspicion wouldn''t reveal any ''ws,'' just catching some small-time thieves and contraband dealers as usual.


    Afterwards, the attention slowly shifted elsewhere.


    Outsiders still had to focus mostly on filling their stomachs and surviving; those with spare money were often consumed by ''pleasure'' and didn''t have the energy to gossip.


    As for the dead, well, there were plenty dying each day around the transportation za, sustained only by the Outsiders'' high birth rates...


    ...


    During the daytime training, the Wanliu Dojo still echoed with the orderly shouts of practice.


    Of those who were originally receiving special training with Smith, only Tao Yu and Zhang Wei remained, with the others joining the main group for drills.


    Zhang Wei had relied solely on his Endurance D+ talent, mastering the Stance Skill, and with a stubborn resolve, began learning the Fist Technique, choosing the Bear Form which was known for defense and robustness.


    As for Tao Yu, he had entered the preliminary stage in all five boxing techniques and now continued toe to the dojo not just for practice, but also to bolster his body with Qi-tonic Soup.


    His Yuan Force was almost entirely spent by now.


    Due to the enhancement in strength, the efficiency of the Yuan Force decreased, and with the diminishing returns that appeared as his physical fitness approached its limits, Tao Yu felt that his training efficiency was visibly declining each day.


    "Ah, I need to find a way to make money again, and also ways to keep pushing my limits..."


    Tao Yu finished swinging his arms in the manner of an ape, creating a crisp sound in the air.


    "Five-Form Ape Technique, Improved" had reached level 2, and although the Yuan Force consumption for Five-Form Boxing was much greater than ordinary skills, Tao Yu had still managed to force it to level 2.


    Then, the new change Tao Yu had been hoping for urred.


    The five skill orbsbined and revolved around each other, creating a new skill orb in the center!


    Normally, one would need the ordinary Five-Form Boxing to reach level 4 to have a chance to integrate the skills, but due to Tao Yu''s Deification, reaching level 2 for all was already enough.


    "Five Forms as One" level 1: Integrates tiger, crane, bear, python, and ape boxing techniques, enhancing Qi-Blood throughout the body and somewhat increasing physical limits.


    If the Stance Skill is a precursor to Five-Form Boxing, then Five-Form Boxing is in turn a requirement for Five Forms as One!


    This was still just the standard version, and seeing the 1,200 Yuan Force needed for the Deification, though he had only 2,000 Yuan Force left in his body, Tao Yu did not hesitate.


    Deify!

 Chapter 48 - 43: Improvement

    Chapter 48 -43: Improvement


    Gah~


    A tingling sensation originating from the deep marrow, making Tao Yu feel as if ants were crawling all over his body, unreachable by the scratch of his nails.


    It took a while before he recovered from this reaction, and then he felt apletely different sensation.


    Unified strength!


    After the Deification of Stance Skill, he had already unified all body forces into one, but now Tao Yu clearly felt a force brewed by Qi-Blood fluctuate with its ebbs and flows.


    Whenever there was a need, he could integrate it by harnessing Qi-Blood!


    Although it couldn''t pierce through the body, but...


    With a casual flick of Tao Yu''s finger, although he felt a sharp pain, tiny fissures had already appeared on the stone lock in front of him.


    The cracks were not very obvious, but to effortlessly make them with a flesh-and-blood body was indeed a terrifying effect!


    An ordinary person would have their throat bone shattered by such a flick!


    "Clear strength and dark strength? Not quite, but they seem somewhat simr..."


    Tao Yu pondered at the bottom of his heart, all the whileprehending the information from his newly Deified skill.


    [Five Forms as One - Modified] lv1: Integration of strength, can significantly enhance the physical limits.


    Strength, to a certain degree, could achieve some feats that originally seemed incredible, such as controlling and strengthening internal organs, detoxifying and purifying blood.


    However, it was different from the internal strength Tao Yu knew; this was atent power spread throughout the entire body¡ªthe stronger the body and Qi-Blood, the stronger the force!


    It was activated and harnessed through Qi-Blood when used, and it could also train the body and even the internal organs.


    If one didn''t count the Shadow Force thatbined [Stealth] and [Ambush], this was the first technique Tao Yu had mastered that could be barely called supernatural!


    After all, the Shadow Force was too extreme and couldn''t be used to strengthen oneself.


    Whereas [Five Forms as One] could significantly enhance the physical limits!


    It was also more bnced and controble.


    The previous stackable enhancement had begun to show diminishing returns, with effects getting weaker; this was undoubtedly a timely assistance.


    "Haha, the hardest step is from zero to one, this feeling is truly delightful."


    Tao Yu was very exhrated in his heart.


    This might also be one of the ways a normal flesh-and-blood body could rival mechanical and mutated bodies.


    Although the mode might be different, the pressure that Li Hui initially gave him, and the head of Wanliu Dojo, Liu Yi, they probably used this kind of power.


    "Normally, integrating Myriad Streams Five Forms, should be about seizing control over Qi-Blood, and maybebining it with that secret Breathing Technique to catalyze it into force?"


    Tao Yu had some guesses in his heart.


    Because of the special nature of his own Deification, there were some questions that would not be good for him to ask directly.


    Otherwise, being misunderstood for stealing others'' secrets could lead to a bloodbath.


    The head of the Dojo was actually quite generous, offering skills for free; Tao Yu felt a bit remorseful.


    Besides, apart from [Five Forms as One - Modified], which brought him the greatest benefit, each singr Fist Technique also brought its own decent additional abilities.


    The cost of Deifying a single Fist Technique was actually lower than that of the Stance Skill, ranging from two to three hundred, and they were not as enhancing to the body as the Stance Skill, but they each had their own specializations forbat.


    For example, the most effective [Crane Form of Myriad Streams - Modified], besides its intrinsic training method andbat style increasing training efficiency andbat skills.


    It mainly also came with ''Spirit Perception,'' which is simr to the capture of clear murderous intent and malice, although the world''s will information warned that it could be concealed through certain methods, but it was still quite impressive.


    Tiger Form primarily provided explosive power, adding to the Assassin''s arsenal.


    Bear Form enhanced resistance to hits and endurance.


    Python Form was flexibility and strength in the tendons, greatly enhancing locking and strangling capabilities.


    Ape Form was about bnce andprehensive abilities, and ultimately Five Forms as One relied mainly on the Ape Form to coordinate.


    Beyond that, the [Swallow Essence Technique - Modified] that Tao Yu had been yearning for had also been learned and Deified.


    [Swallow Essence Technique - Modified] greatly increased digestion and absorption capacity, moderately increased energy storage capacity, and offered a degree of poison resistance.


    Although this skill seemed ordinary and Deification only consumed a hundred Yuan Force, Tao Yu felt that its effects were no less than [Five Forms as One], holding strategic value.


    [One Proof Forever Proof] allowed him to recover from injuries through Yuan Force and eating!


    The vast consumption of Yuan Force for recovery, Tao Yu had already experienced.


    Now with stronger power, the cost of recovery was even greater!


    In contrast, just a few bowls of Qi-tonic Soup and some time could equal a few hundred Yuan Force replenishments.


    [Swallow Essence Technique - Modified] greatly enhanced this digestive and absorption ability, making it the perfect match for [One Proof Forever Proof].


    When necessary, even if it was sewage, he could drink it directly like those animals.


    Uh, of course, as a normal person, Tao Yu would not actually try these things on a regr day...


    "Spending money like water."


    Looking at his remaining Yuan Force, now less than eight hundred units, Tao Yu deeply missed the feeling of having tens of thousands at the beginning.


    Initially, the extravagant multiple eleration Stance Skill was to have more time to grasp the basics of Fist Technique. Later, Tao Yu adjusted it to a higher cost-performance ratio ording to his total amount of Yuan Force.


    Even so, since he had been practicing Breathing Technique and Stance Skill in tandem, his Yuan Force had been pouring out unstoppably over these days. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Fortunately, in terms of results, he was quite satisfied. He had mostly achieved his goals, though he felt some regret that he was still some distance from reaching the physical limits he could currently attain.


    "The drop in Yuan Force efficiency after increasing strength, even though ''Five Forms as One - Modified'' has increased the limit, the marginal effect has diminished. I''m afraid that even with three to four times the Yuan Force, the efficiency would not match my previous Yuan Force improvement."


    Tao Yu sighed inwardly. Initially, Blood Orchid, Basic Breathing Method, and Stance Skill had all enhanced his physical potential and limits, making training incredibly swift.


    But as his physical quality improved, just like professional athletes who find it harder to further enhance their abilities, he too experienced an increasingly pronounced diminishing returns effect.


    "Although I have ''One Proof Forever Proof,'' even when I reach the theoretical physical limit, I should be able to continue breaking through and upgrading, but the speed will certainly be touchingly slow."


    Although the Five Forms as One provided some relief, he still had to consider subsequent issues.


    The remaining potential could only be honed through persistent effort. If he wanted another period of explosive growth, he would have to find additional ways to raise his limits!


    "If I get a chance to save money, maybe I can consider a second Deification of my skills."


    Tao Yu mayck knowledge of the outside city, but based on his abilities, he could judge that specializing in anything and everything could cause conflicts, and that skill enhancements should beplementary like Myriad Streams Five Forms, at the very least non-interfering, or with minimal eptable conflict.


    Exactly how, he stillcked the knowledge at this point.


    But at least stacking another Deification on top of his current one would not be a big problem!


    After reflecting for a moment, he leaned towards "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified."


    This Skill was the cheapest way to improve physical limits, requiring only about thirty thousand Yuan Force for a second enhancement. The most effective ''Five Forms as One - Modified'' needed over two hundred thousand, more expensive than the innate "Bullet Time."


    But maintaining his day-to-day training while saving up thirty thousand Yuan Force was not a small sum; his parents would have to save for ten years without eating or drinking to afford it, roughly equivalent to the looting of four Li families...


    Quickly dismissing some thoughts in his head, Tao Yu also pped his cheeks.


    His ideas were a bit dangerous.


    "The Yuan Force items and skills in the new gathering area haven''t flooded the market yet, which is a decent source of ie. It''s just that there''s still a risk of being besieged now..."


    The money in his pocket pushed Tao Yu to find Smith.


    "Senior brother, I''m almost ready to go to the Abyss. I won''t being here for a while."


    Tao Yu found Smith and greeted him.


    This was quite normal. In fact, Smith himself had taken five days off to go to the Abyss over the past half a month, but his base was in the real world, and his trips to the Abyss were purely to avoid going crazy.


    "Alright, I think it''s time you went too, haha. I don''t know how much money you''ve spent, but full-time training is really draining."


    Smith wasn''t surprised. He had a job and ie at the dojo, which could support his use of Yuan Force eleration in reverse.


    This junior brother, even if he found someone willing to invest, was still depleting his reserves.


    "Your Crane stance is at lv3; you could apply to be a Teaching Assistant. The dojo''s benefits are pretty good."


    Smith suggested, feeling this junior had talent and could try a part-time training approach.


    Tao Yu''s Crane stance was actually only at lv2, but thanks to Deification, he could easily pass off as lv3. Because of ''Five Forms as One,'' his skill matched lv4, which allowed him to learn "Swallow Essence Technique - Modified."


    "I''ll consider it, but without working hard in the new Development Zone, I won''t have a stable ce even for five days, so I can''t do it."


    Actually, Tao Yu had nearly emptied the Wanliu Dojo, and his consumption was not something that could be covered by being a Teaching Assistant there; only if the head of the dojo gave up his position would it be sufficient.


    However, Tao Yu naturally wouldn''t casually turn down a gesture of goodwill, and he had a fairly harmonious rtionship with Smith.


    "Tao, are you preparing to go to the Abyss, too? Together?"


    Zhang Wei perked up his ears at this point; the two had teamed up before, and indeed, it was much more convenient for two people in the Abyss than for one alone.


    "Our locations are too far apart. Let''s leave it to fate. I''ve got to go prepare some things."


    Tao Yu waved to the two, declining Zhang Wei''s team invitation.


    "Alright, safe travels. You can buy a few Qi Replenishing Pills from the dojo to take with you."


    Smith started his sales pitch again, though the items he rmended were indeed very effective.


    "Sure."


    Tao Yu indeed nned to bring a few Qi Replenishing Pills. These pills had effects simr to Qi-tonic Soup, but were more convenient to carry and preserve. They were also a lot more expensive, costing fifty Yuan Force units.


    They weren''t really meant for daily training, but for emergency recovery of strength in the wild.


    The absorption rate was much faster than eating meat, and the effect was further enhanced with "Swallow Essence Technique - Modified."


    With so many inherently energy-intensive Deification skills, if money wasn''t an issue, he would fill his backpack without a second thought.


    Compared to directly using Yuan Force for recovery, it was far more cost-effective...

 Chapter 49 - 44 New Fragment Information

    Chapter 49 - 44 New Fragment Information


    ```


    Task Hall, there is one in each fort of the outer city, primarily for posting various missions. The Task Hall upies arge area but is rtively rudimentary.


    Inside, it seems chaotic, with various sweaty odors filling the nostrils.


    Many people continuously look at the mission boards for announcements, find what suits them, tear them off, and then go to the counter to register, a somewhat primitive process.


    Conflicts over high-reward missions are amon urrence.


    But those who cause trouble will be deducted points or expelled.


    All sorts of mission categories are avable, and there are also many missions in the current world, such as the case clues for the Li family annihtion case seen here, along with tasks like rat extermination.


    Besides these printed mission notices, there is a single electronic LED screen in the entire Task Hall, continuously disying some of the more important missions.


    As a ''partner,'' Tao Yu skips the step ofpeting for missions and has a dedicated contact to assist him.


    A pretty little beauty, considered attractive by the standards of the outer city, respectfully led Tao Yu to a smallpartment with a notebook in hand.


    The beautiful waitress was in a brown linen short-sleeved shirt, revealing her smooth arms with a healthyplexion. asionally, as she moved her hands, a glimpse of a side mark could be seen.


    "Partner Sir, there are many tasks in the new Development Zone, many of which are open-ended tasks. You don''t need to ept them; if there is a harvest, you cane straight back and submit it. You have a W4-type mission bracelet; I can import the task data to your bracelet for easy ess at any time," she said.


    The young beauty leaned close to Tao Yu, her gaze asionally sweeping over the smartwatch on his wrist that had been gifted to him. With Tao Yu''s high attractiveness, her breath almost reached his face, leaving her cheeks red and flustered.


    "That would be great, thank you," Tao Yu responded.


    Tao Yu did not mind the asional subtle contact with her, but he certainly wouldn''t waste his time on such frivolities.


    She wasn''t a rich woman who could affect the speed of his sword drawing.


    While inserting something akin to a USB sh drive into the watch to import the task library for easy ess in the Abyss, Tao Yu nced through the notebook in front of him, spotting several new Development Zone tasks highlighted in bold.


    "New Development Zone Abyssal Fragment Exploration Task: Explore as many Abyssal Fragments as possible. Rewards will depend on the findings. Partial rewards are also avable for those who repeatedly submit information first. Information may include cartography, biological ases, special events..."


    "ckwater Toxin Decryption Reward: The fragment codenamed ''Alien 01'' is filled with a kind of ckwater Toxin, which possesses biological properties and is extremely tricky to deal with. After contamination, it can transform ordinary animals into first-generation Aliens. Pioneers without superb physique, toxin resistance, or simr talents should enter with caution..."


    "Codenamed ''Zombie World 01'' Fragment Development: Heading north from the fragment codenamed ''Alien 01'' will lead you to the fragment codenamed ''Zombie World 01.'' This fragment borders both Rainforest 01 and Alien 01 and is home to a species called Zombies, suspected to be transformed humans. Zombies are rtively weak, but their numbers are vast. Radio signals have been detected, possibly mutually intelligible with thenguage of the Alien world. The fragment barrier is reasonably strong, preventing Aliens from entering..."


    "Alien Breeder: Responsible for understanding the habits of Aliens, identifying the best host organisms, recording the host organisms'' reproduction capabilities and Yuan Force output ratio, summarizing the details on cultivation environment, temperature, feed, etc. This task can bepleted by a team. It is rmended to source creatures from the neighboring rainforest and apply for Empress eggs..."


    "Cleaning Aliens: Aliens have an extremely strong ability to reproduce. To ensure the safety of neers, organizations have put together field Alien cleaning squads. Each piece of Alien Yuan Force item, in addition to its inherent value, will reward an extra 100 Yuan Force units. It is advised to team up for this task. Those with alien body imntation should avoid participating as they are likely to be targeted for capture and incubation by Aliens..."


    "..."


    On seeing a task about breeding Aliens and another about cleaning out Aliens, Tao Yu immediately thought of the Cobra Effect.


    However, afterparing the task rewards, he quickly realized there might not be too much cause for concern.


    "If you have the ability to breed Aliens, it seems you could simplyplete the first task directly. Sneaking around to use them for hunting and then submitting them seems to be a loss. After all, the organization does not require any proof for cleaning tasks; you could be killed off like a monkey with nowhere to argue..."


    And Tao Yu did not believe that Aliens were so easy to clear out...


    It cannot be denied, though, that with the support of the Floating City, the exploration progression is quite fast.


    Tao Yu has been constantly learning and improving his skills, but for those two individuals from Floating City, they probably mastered most of the actively learned skills before turning eighteen.


    They might rest for five days before plunging back in, which is why they keep discovering new things.


    Some information is free for partners to ess, so Tao Yu locked onto the world fragment codenamed ''Zombie World 01.''


    Mainly because, at the moment, he was already moving northward along the junction of the rainforest and the ins, which is probably the closest to this location.


    ording to the information, the two from Floating City probably had no interest in the harvest from Zombie World, having headed off to pioneer other ces after setting the task.


    However, protected by a world barrier, the Zombie World could be a good choice for an initial base location. Hence, a separate exploration task was set up for it.


    And...


    If it was the Resident Evil type of Zombie World with the T-virus, whether movie or game version, there would be substantial potential for exploration, and it''s quite suitable for Tao Yu''s current abilities to manage.


    At least the risk is rtively smallerpared to being besieged by Aliens.


    ```


    However, the Zombie World is just too vast, with little detailed information, making it truly impossible for Tao Yu to judge.


    Just from their slow movement, he was able to rule out several enhanced zombie worlds and theter stages of a biological crisis.


    "On average, each zombie drops from 0.01 to 0.05 units of Yuan Force, with no skill information, no wonder it''s overlooked..."


    Tao Yu himself felt somewhat helpless toment on this, judging from the task at hand, it seemed like the tycoons of the Floating City were really prepared to domesticate Aliens, even already scouting for suitable creatures to cultivate.


    Because one unit of Yuan Force is purely a unit set by thepany for ease of management, the urrence of amounts like 0.01 or 0.05 isn''t strange since many fragments of the Abyss are not under thepany''s jurisdiction.


    As for the meager drops from the zombies, Tao Yu also felt a bit speechless; it was just too poor!


    Because one unit of Yuan Force is purely a unit set by thepany for ease of management, the urrence of amounts like 0.01 or 0.05 isn''t strange since many fragments of the Abyss are not under thepany''s jurisdiction.


    Moreover, the absorption of Yuan Force after each kill requires finding the concentration of Yuan Force that gathers after the death of a Yuan Force creature, it doesn''t just pop up like scoring points upon death.


    Each zombie only has so little to offer, to say nothing of the energy expended in killing them, even cleaning up the corpses afterwards is troublesome work.


    Killing two hundred to a thousand zombies a day and handling their bodies only yields about ten points of Yuan Force, roughly equivalent to the daily ie of his parents.


    For a regr Pioneer, it indeed seems like an unrewarding task that''s both time-consuming andbor-intensive.


    "However, it might be that they''re looking to scout and select a gathering ce, as the exploration rewards are quite abundant. Discovering other adjacent, unknown fragments of the Abyss could reward five thousand.


    "The rewards for mapping are also decent, finding other Yuan Force creatures beyond zombies has its rewards, and then there''s the source of that broadcast..."


    Tao Yu took a closer look at the tasks for the Zombie World, noting these were all additional rewards, with all the gains along the way being his to keep.


    But thinking about the scarce output of zombies, he figured that for an ordinary Pioneer, it would probably just mean scavenging some resources to sell back.


    The only advantage of this world might be the absence of strong Yuan Force creatures like Pythons or Aliens that ordinary Pioneers can''t even escape from.


    And it''s also protected by a world barrier that prevents Yuan Force creatures from entering!


    The safety should be the highest, at least for now. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "My greatest strength still lies in my potential. Now, the threat of Aliens is still immense to me, and I don''t know the current number of Aliens and the extent of their proliferation. Although the rewards for hunting Aliens are high, safetyes first..."


    Tao Yu pondered internally that even if he were to hunt Aliens to earn money, he could still use the Zombie World as a base and run both sides.


    The most crucial point is that even with his current strength, if truly surrounded by Aliens, he would likely stille out at a loss. He could first try to increase his strength in the Zombie World before hunting Aliens.


    He didn''t want to relive the feeling of always having to sleep with one eye open in the rainforest, constantly on edge and mentally exhausted.


    "The difficulty of these initial fragments is not small. The welfare for tasks in the new Development Zones is actually quite good. Once I manage to achieve the second Deification of my main skills and talents, I should be ready for official exploration. I still need to make money..."


    Having potential means he has to endure loneliness and make money to umte for himself, as his strength is the most tangible thing.


    Looking back at the tasks for the Zombie World, Tao Yu became more and more satisfied; in fact, his current strength was already not weak.


    It would take five days for a round trip, and as long as he was careful to learn the habits of the zombies and explore gradually, it wouldn''t be a big problem for an ordinary Pioneer toplete a map survey once a month.


    If he managed to get a vehicle or something, the possibility of reaching other adjacent fragments was not small.


    But the size of a world fragment is entirely up to luck; if it turns out to be veryrge, then it would indeed be quite a loss. However, based on the current rewards for tasks, if it really was that way, it could be counted as important intelligence and receive additional rewards.


    "I''ll register this task, thank you."


    His USB drive had already transferred the data on the open tasks, and Tao Yu left without any attachment.


    He operated his W4 task bracelet for a moment; this smartwatch-like device had quite aplete set of features, including assistance with map surveying and convenience in submitting tasks.


    It supported sr charging and automatic radio searching and even had a reserve of over a hundred units of Yuan Force, having likely enhanced some functions.


    While there might be a small chance of it being located or tracked, Tao Yu currently had nothing of value for the big shots of the Floating City to covet, so the likelihood was really not significant.


    Or rather, his value was not yet worth them risking their reputation.


    "This is what it means to be a wealthy woman..."


    Tao Yu sighed with some regret. His talents had exploded a bit too much, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, he could only painfully forego the shortcuts...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 50 - 45: Radio Station

    Chapter 50- 45: Radio Station


    ```


    Mosaic-like images kept appearing above the ins, eventually forming the fully armed silhouette of a person. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Tactical helmet,bat suit with a bulletproof vest, arge backpack strapped to the back, and a sleek ck assault rifle held in hand, one could say he was armed to the teeth.


    "Having new equipment really makes a difference."


    With his dynamic vision, Tao Yu executed several tactical moves in quick session to sweep the surroundings, and after confirming it was safe, he also allowed himself to rx a bit.


    This was exactly where he had left from, and this new set of gear he had on was actually part of the spoils from the Li family.


    Afterying low for half a month without drawing attention, Tao Yu also checked on the buried supplies at night, eventually selecting somemon items that were popr among the masses for his own use.


    All these items could be obtained in the outer city.


    Having a legitimate ie from selling skills and Blood Orchids, using this kind of equipment didn''t draw unwanted attention in this area.


    Besides, he wasn''t selling anything, just using them for himself, and since he transported from his own room, he naturally reduced the risks to the minimum.


    An assault rifle, a submachine gun that could be held with one hand, and two pistols, one of which possessed the Yuan Force item "Ballistic Precision."


    A long dagger with a Yuan Force skill effect, and two curved knives for easy recement.


    Combined with a tactical helmet, tactical suit, bulletproof vest, tactical boots, and other protective gear, his own margin for error was greatly increased.


    Just like Wino with his full-body metal armor, Tao Yu''s set of equipment at least gave him more chances against ck guns and sneak attacks.


    Li Hui was much stronger than Tao Yu, but was instantly killed by a sneak attack from him; Tao Yu certainly didn''t wish to experience the same fate.


    In Zombie World, relying solely on bullets would be useless, and even attract unwanted threats, poor and troublesome. It''s still better to rely on closebat normally.


    "However, I still need to find that fragment first, the intelligence says to keep heading north. That world is lower by ten meterspared to the Alien world, but the barrier of the fragment is stronger than the Rainforest''s, able to prevent alien creatures like the Aliens from entering..."


    Tao Yu easily flipped back to the Rainforest side, climbed a tree at the edge, and looked northward. Even with his astonishing vision, he still only saw ins without a shadow of any building.


    "If the curvature of the Alien world is simr to Earth''s, that''s at least twenty or thirty kilometers away, hope it''s not too exaggerated..."


    Tao Yu returned to the base of the tree, somewhatmenting the ridiculous distance.


    He had even considered getting a motorcycle, but was too impoverished afterpleting the Deification of ''Five Forms as One.''


    After descending and looking at the height of the tree, and feeling the weight of his backpack, Tao Yu had a distinct feeling of being stronger.


    Climbing was too easy now, where there was no grip, he could insert his fingers directly into the bark. Compared to his first climb where he would be out of breath even without the backpack, it was indeed iparable.


    Heading north all the way, Tao Yu walked for three days.


    Sticking close to the Rainforest, he wasn''t disturbed by any Aliens on the way, and with abundant food in the Rainforest, he didn''t need to touch the emergency food in his backpack.


    This time, with the convenience of being able to return every five days, he also brought a military green tent which added a bit offort to the wilderness; it was much better than the previous exposure to the elements...


    "...The fragment we are currently in is extremely cold, a civilizationpletely frozen in ice, even tsunamis are frozen. The barrier of the fragment isn''t strong, but the Aliens don''te here. Fortunately, it doesn''t affect the climate of the neighboring fragments. It''s tentatively deemed valueless, we will contact andy out new exploration missions, with rewards at half of what''s offered in Zombie 01 world..."


    As Tao Yu sunbathed to charge his watch, he also listened to the new broadcast from the rich young masters and mistresses from the Floating City.


    One can only say that true skill gives rise to boldness; they are either on an exploration or on their way to one.


    However, after they get a general understanding, they usually organize missions for the details. Tao Yu had learned that there was now a ranking for cannon fodder points in the new Development Zone, but they hadn''t started using it yet.


    The two individuals from the Floating City also knew that currently there weren''t enough people; forcing cannon fodder missions would just reduce the number of people choosing the new Development Zer on, resulting in a vicious cycle.


    Lowering the frequency of cannon fodder missions, raising the usage standards, would instead create a healthypetitive rtionship with the old gathering spots. Plus, with the investment of money and resources, they might really make it prosperous.


    As for the current investment, with the emergence of outputs like scble Alien breeding, the investments might actually be recoupedter on.


    "It has been confirmed that the east-west span of the Alien world is at least tens of thousands of kilometers. It''s not ruled out that there might be longer or shorter stretches in some areas. They must have some decent transportation to cover such distances."


    ```


    Tao Yu pondered in his heart, the boundaries of the fragments weren''t immutable, nor were they purely linear; their estimates were just approximations.


    The alien world wasn''t much of a challenge for the brother and sister duo, so they could keep using this world as a base to continuously explore other areas.


    "The Suns seem to be one of the members of thepany''s board of directors, just not sure how much influence they actually have..."


    For just two young people to be able to pull out such arge stall, Tao Yu felt somewhat astonished by the power dynamics in the Floating City.


    "It may be like some start-uppanies of the past, as things get more colorful here, more and more powers might invest and buy shares..."


    After listening to today''s broadcast, Tao Yu turned off his watch to charge it.


    Although there was ess to sr energy, the device couldn''t stay on throughout the journey in the Abyss.


    Most importantly, there was no electricity at home, so he could only charge it using sr power or Yuan Force.


    After listening to today''s broadcast, Tao Yu climbed a tree again, and this time he finally saw a newndscape from the monotonous grasnd, barely glimpsing the outlines of building rooftops on the horizon.


    "Good lord, finally made it."


    There was probably a distance of twenty to thirty kilometers left, but since he could only see the tops of some buildings, it meant that even after reaching the boundary of the fragments, there would likely be an equally long or longer distance to traverse before reaching the city.


    Tao Yu also prepared to put in more effort.


    Carrying over fifty kilograms of weight, he had trekked for three days and finally reached the world fragment mentioned in the intelligence.


    When Tao Yu arrived at the edge of the world fragment and stood on the ten-meter-high drop of the grasnd looking at the scene ahead, a touch of emotion appeared on his face.


    The main view in front of him was a Gobi, reminiscent of a beautiful western painting style, deste Gobi, withered cacti, and a road leading to this side abruptly cut off.


    In the distance, there was an outline of a city with skyscrapers, but it exuded a sense of dead silence.


    Behind the city, there was a mountain range that looked like a backdrop, with undting peaks.


    On the deste Gobi and the road, there were some wandering figures, and on the road, there were also some collided, scrap vehicles.


    Especially in the direction of the city''s entrance and exit, there was an even longer line of abandoned vehicle fleets, stuck due to a collision upfront.


    Some cars were even mired in the Gobi.


    Apanied by the blustery wind and sand, a sense of destion hit him in the face.


    "There really is a fragment barrier."


    Tao Yu reached out to touch in front of him, feeling a slight resistance, but quickly he seamlessly merged into it.


    This was an ability granted by the world''s will, not something these fragment barriers could stop.


    But the neighboring alien and Python probably couldn''t pass through.


    With a ten-meter drop and over fifty kilograms of load, Tao Yu didn''t choose to jump down but instead deftly stepped on uneven gaps, relying solely on his feet, descending nimbly like a goat scaling a mountain in reverse.


    "Wonder if there''s any newspaper, oh right, the radio."


    Tao Yu remembered the information from the intelligence and turned on his watch again. He had the radio frequency information, and since the watch had an automatic search function, he quickly heard a voice through a hiss of background noise from the Abyss,


    "...The virus has been rampant for seven months, and I''m not sure how much longer I can hold out. We''re running out of food here; we''ve found all the easy-to-obtain food. Next, we''ll probably have to venture into areas more densely popted with zombies, and as time goes on, we also need to consider food spoge. Some say strange hignds and a rainforest have appeared to the south, but no one dares to go..."


    With standard Great Beauty ent English, thanks to Tao Yu''s past experience as a corporate drone, he could generally understand, an advantage over the other Pioneers who needed to meet in person tomunicate using Yuan Force.


    He still couldn''t determine what world it was, though...

 Chapter 51 - 46 Riding

    Chapter 51 -46 Riding


    The dust of the Gobi sprinkled down upon the highway, and roads that had not seen a vehicle pass for a long time had grown somewhat grey and murky. Tao Yu could leave footprints just by stepping on them.


    Following the highway towards the direction of the city, one could see several gaunt zombies in the middle of the road.


    The handful of zombies wandered the highway at a considerably slow pace.


    "Still able to move after seven months without food, what kind of version is this?"


    After strapping the assault rifle on his back, holding the MP5-style gun at his waist with his left hand, Tao Yu''s right hand was already gripping the crook-ded knife.


    As he drew closer, one of the withered zombies seemed to have noticed Tao Yu, sniffing the air and heading in his direction.


    "Smell?"


    Tao Yu raised an eyebrow and casually pped the abandoned sedan next to him with the crook-ded knife, producing a ng.


    The next moment, several nearby zombies surged towards the sound. Their speed was faster than an ordinary human walk but slower than a jog.


    Whoosh~


    With a swift motion of the hand, the de fell, and the first zombie to approach was decapitated without the slightest hitch. Meanwhile, Tao Yu moved through the zombies with leisurely Crane steps, smoothly taking care of them all.


    Five-Form Boxing was not just about practice; the movements and techniques of some of the forms, when broken down, were also very practical.


    It wasn''t about sticking to bare hands. With Basic de - Modified lv2 at hand, once the techniques for exerting force were in ce, mastery and integration came naturally.


    A flick of the wrist was enough to unleash full power with ease.


    The sma was in a semi-coagted state, so there wasn''t much bleeding.


    Tao Yu looked down at his crook-ded knife. Although he had beheaded a zombie, it had only left a tiny, inconspicuous nick, as if the bones were more fragile than normal.


    He wasn''t sure if it was due to weathering or virus erosion.


    Approaching the corpse of a zombie, Tao Yu crouched down and waited for the Yuan Force to condense.


    "Teeth again, and it''s a mr..."


    He tapped the ground with the tip of his knife in resignation, as if he was performing a wisdom tooth extraction.


    With a p on the t of the de and a slight shake to channel his internal force, the zombie''s decayed tooth was knocked out, followed by the removal of the Yuan Force tooth. He processed the other zombies in the same manner and absorbed their essence.


    Great, less than one unit of Yuan Force, and all it contained was some minute, chaotic information with no hint of a Skill.


    "Confirmed, it''s not worth wasting time extracting teeth."


    Tao Yu sniffed. Perhaps due to the quick drying, aside from the foul stench that burst out when killing them, the overall smell was somewhat better than he had expected.


    Having endured the harsh environment of the Outsider City, he could easily adapt.


    Having initially faced Pythons and Aliens, zombies posed no threat now that his strength had increased.


    "However, this is because there are fewer of them outside the city, inside, it must be quite a mess."


    The most troublesome thing about zombies was always their numbers!


    ng ng~


    The sound of impact rang out. Tao Yu saw a zombie, strapped in with a seatbelt inside an abandoned pickup truck. It seemed to be struggling to get out due to the noise outside and appeared gaunt, obviously unable to free itself.


    Uninterested in bothering with it, Tao Yu continued walking on. He had spotted an overturned motorbike further ahead from his vantage point on the prairie.


    Given the road conditions, something on two wheels was more convenient.


    Reaching the downed heavy-duty motorcycle, Tao Yu picked it up. The brand was unfamiliar, with a scarce logo but with ''Kawasaki'' written in English letters below. After a sessful start following an attempt, the engine roared to life.


    Checking the fuel gauge, there was more than half a tank left, which should suffice.


    Tao Yu didn''t ride motorcycles, but he had ridden motorbikes before. Relying on his current physical condition, bing proficient was simple.


    After briefly getting ustomed, he twisted the throttle and instantly sped off.


    The roar of the motorcycle drew the attention of the nearby zombies, but by the time they reacted, Tao Yu was already serpentining through the deserted vehicles, racing towards the city.


    "The noise is a bit loud, I still need an electric one, but the feeling of power is truly exhrating..."


    Tao Yu understood why there were ghost riders¡ªit was indeed thrilling as the speed ramped up.


    His body now surpassed human limits, yet even running at full throttle, he was easily left behind by the bike, a simple twist of the throttle away.


    Unexpectedly, as he snaked through traffic on the bike, approaching the city district, a Skill orb slowly emerged.


    Riding lv1: The ability to drive a motorcycle.


    What struck Tao Yu as odd was that this freely given Auxiliary Ability also required a hundred points of Yuan Force to enhance.


    Even though only three hundred Yuan Force points remained after purchasing Qi Replenishing Pills, Tao Yu still went ahead andpleted the enhancement.


    Riding - Modified lv1: Improves your adaptability to mounts; when you hold the reins of any mount, you''ll intuitively know how to control it, able to sync intentions with any tamed beastly mounts.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu also felt a different sensation from the motorcycle beneath him, as if controlling it became as easy as moving his own hands and feet, like an extension of his body.


    As long as it didn''t defy thews of physics, it seemed he could control the bike to do anything!


    Man, this was no ordinary Riding Skill.


    Those hundred points were well spent.


    As Tao Yu''s will changed, the name of the Skill also changed, directly bing Riding.


    "Oh snap~"


    After whooping with excitement, Tao Yu lifted the front wheel, bncing solely on the rear wheel, enjoying the fun of being a reckless rider.


    Then, relying on his excellent physical fitness, he forcibly pulled and maneuvered the motorcycle to ride over a car.


    It was incredibly smooth. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The abandoned cars on the road seemed like mere ''mounds'' that Tao Yu asionally yed with as he passed.


    This mount, he definitely needed to get one¡­


    Tao Yu even thought about riding back to the grasnds to catch an Alien and see if it could serve as a mount.


    But then he thought, although he was physically strong and had surpassed human limits, and the Alien looked rtively slender.


    The strength of such Yuan Force creatures was naturally far superior to that of humans, subduing one through violence seemed impossible, let alone alive.


    Moreover, Aliens usually moved in groups, and he didn''t have enough Yuan Force left to recover, so he decided not to take the risk for the time being and to save more money before considering...


    "It would be best to find a horse or something, see if I can develop some Taming Technique to go with Riding."


    Although Tao Yu was engrossed in his new toy, he wouldn''t recklessly charge into the city.


    If he got surrounded by a horde of zombies, even the current Tao Yu would only consider escaping into the shadows, and if the horde was toorge, he might not have the stamina to make it out.


    "These crappy, disgusting zombies, better to avoid them if I can instead of wasting time on them."


    Having had his fill of fun, Tao Yu slowed down the motorcycle, and the roaring noise reduced significantly.


    Even so, as he yfully drove the motorcycle onto the roof of a pickup truck, he saw a zombie horde slowly moving in his direction from the city, clearly awakened by the previous noise.


    A vast, dark mass, the number was shockinglyrge.


    "It''s just too much trouble picking up teeth, otherwise using fire seems like a good idea."


    Tao Yu coldly observed the zombie horde while his keen vision also noticed someone peeking through the curtains at the end of the street. It was probably a human, aside from the possibility of an intelligent zombie being born.


    It was just unclear if it was a Pioneer or one of the original inhabitants of the world fragment.


    "Still, it would be better to have a newspaper or find an original inhabitant to ask."


    If he could get sufficient information from the locals about the initial outbreak, he might be able to confirm whether it was a biochemical crisis or not.


    If it wasn''t biochemically rted, a typical zombie world would indeed be quite barren...


    Tao Yu casually parked the motorcycle on top of the pickup and yanked out the keys before jumping off the highway and sneaking into the city at a diagonal approach.


    "With nondmarks, it''s probably not a famous city, and seven months have passed, so it''s unlikely to have been bombed."


    In a zombie world, the greatest risk might actuallye from ''disinfection.''


    But this world seemed safe for now.


    Watching the zombie horde slowly move along the highway towards the noise source, Tao Yu, who walked past them without bother, didn''t even bother to knock down a few stray zombies with his de. Any wear and tear was still damage, and it was easier to walk around.


    "If an ordinary person were dropped here on Awakening Day, the risk wouldn''t be small, considering the random range of the drop zones, some might indeed be unlucky."


    There were Pythons in the Rainforest, and now Aliens, although they were rtively sparse, being dropped inside the city among zombies would be quite unfriendly for newbies who had to stay for fifteen days.


    On the other hand, if it was a second entry choosing this ce, it would be rtively safer, second only to the new world where one only needed to stay warm.


    Tao Yu sidestepped a zombie, incidentally tripping it, causing the skinny creature to facent, while numerous thoughts shed through his mind.


    There must have been plenty of Pioneers entering this area, and due to the way intelligence was described in reports, some may have even entered this city.


    He had learned Skills for half a month beforeing back, and some of the more daring ones, or those who woke up here on Awakening Day, might have already started delving deeper.


    But considering the general abilities of Outsiders, entering a city full of zombies was at best enough for self-preservation, mapping, and scavenging resources, and stirring up any significant reaction was difficult.


    Let alone ordinary Outsiders, Tao Yu himself also found it difficult to make any real waves, there were just too many zombies.


    His strong bursts were great for beheading, but his endurance was indeedcking.


    As for the Inner City people, who knows how many would be interested in the mission rewards here...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 52 - 47: Some Deviations from the Plan.

    Chapter 52 - 47: Some Deviations from the n.


    "The sense of smell is mainly responsible for capturing targets at close range, while hearing is relied upon for detecting distant ones. Eyesight is probably akin to severe nearsightedness, assisting the sense of smell in the hunting process,"


    Tao Yu bypassed several zombies and arrived beside a wine-red building on the outskirts of the city.


    This building was about six or seven stories tall, with metal fire escape stairs and railings on the side, and garbage bins reeking of rot below.


    Tao Yu looked up to see a zombie stuck in the metal railing of the third-floor walkway, though it was the only one visible up there for the moment.


    With a forceful push from her feet, she jumped up, reached out her hand to hook on, and easily flipped herself onto the fire escape railing.


    The metallic creaking sound caught the attention of the zombie on the third floor, but before it could react, Tao Yu kicked it down from the stairs.


    She then swiftly made her way up to the roof of the building.


    There was a corpse on the rooftop, and upon closer inspection, one could see the gaping gunshot wound on the head, though it was nearly mummified by the wind, attracting not even flies.


    "It must be from a long time ago. I should check out the ce where the curtain is fluttering first. It would be best to find a native to talk to."


    If it wasn''t a fragmented indigenous person, either intelligent zombies or Pioneers would be eptable as well.


    It would also be possible to exchange some information with the Pioneers.


    After estimating the gaps and distances between these buildings, Tao Yu made a quick dash.


    Her formidable physical abilities, coupled with the dismantling actions of Five-Form Boxing, turned her into a highlypressed spring.


    Easily carrying a backpack, she leaped over the alleyways between buildings,nding on the opposite side.


    Once she got the hang of it, she began to elerate continuously, moving as if practicing parkour.


    The alleys between ordinary buildings posed no obstacle, and the zombies she encountered en route were simply pped away with a raised hand¡ªher palm, d in puncture-resistant gloves, struck like a bear''s paw, flinging the zombies aside like rag dolls.


    Running, vaulting, sliding, jumping, rolling¡ªeven with fifty kilograms of supplies on her back, Tao Yu showed much greater agility than seasoned parkour practitioners.


    "Seventh floor, to the right front,"


    As Tao Yu sped across rooftops, she felt the strong winds at her ears, intermittently scanning the buildings she hadmitted to memory beforehand.


    Throughout her journey, someone at the window continued observing the street at intervals, yet failed to notice Tao Yu on the rooftops.


    "This rules out the Inner City Pioneers at least,"


    Comparing her own movements across rooftops to the capabilities of Jose and Wino, Tao Yu made a quick judgment. Even though she was moving atop the buildings, if they were neers from the Inner City, they should have been able to detect her easily.


    Even if the inhabitants of the Inner City had previously seemed uninterested in the spoils here, being able to further eliminate them as possibilities added a measure of controbility.


    Even now,pared to the former capabilities of Jose and Wino, she stillcked the strength for a direct confrontation.


    Shush~


    The friction of her tactical boots slid against the surface, and Tao Yu suddenly came to a stop at the edge of the rooftop.


    In front of her was no longer the alleyways she had been traversing, but instead a fourne road forming a T-intersection with the road she hade in on.


    The room where Tao Yu had confirmed someone''s presence was in a hotel diagonally across from the highway.


    As soon as Tao Yu stepped to the very edge of the rooftop, fully exposing herself, the shadow that had been peeking through the curtain finally spotted her. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Tao Yu locked gazes with the figure in the shadows for an instant, prompting them to hastily leave the window in panic.


    Not long after, it seemed another person came to the window, opened the curtain, and met Tao Yu''s gaze¡ªit was a muscr, tattooed, bald man.


    At that moment, Tao Yu was d in a full tactical suit with a tactical helmet, backpack slung over her shoulders, and fully armed to the teeth.


    Based purely on appearances, she was quite imposing, and upon seeing her, the man simply opened the curtain fully and then made several hand gestures.


    However, Tao Yu couldn''t understand the abstract gestures he was making.


    After realizing they couldn''tmunicate, the burly man pointed up, then ced a finger on his lips, making a universal shushing gesture, before he walked away from the window.


    This time, Tao Yu more or less understood what he wanted to convey; he was likely getting ready toe up to the rooftop and was asking her to keep silent.


    Sure enough, it wasn''t long before three figures made their way onto the roof.


    Although each had a different attire, Tao Yu could fairly confidently assess that they were unlikely to be Outskirts Pioneers.


    It wasn''t that the Pioneers from the Outskirts didn''t have good clothing, but most of the time, they would be clinging to their backpacks and belongings, creating a haphazardly patched-together appearance with whatever they had.


    Such an aura was easy to discern.


    The three people who came up included a bald, muscr white man, a tall ck man, one with a shotgun and the other holding a pistol, and it seemed they were also carrying a crossbow on their backs.


    But what was most unusual was that the person leading them was an Asian man with a scar on his face and a pronounced nose, who appeared to be the leader of the trio.


    The crucial thing was that Tao Yu''s vision was clear enough from this distance to recognize the Asian''s face, which surprisingly seemed very familiar to him.


    What''s going on?


    The big-nosed Uncle Dragon from the furniture store?


    Did he star in a zombie movie?


    Even though the Asian man''s face bore a deep scar that made him look somewhat ferocious, it was undoubtedly the big-nosed Uncle Dragon.


    This was the first time Tao Yu had encountered a local in the Abyss fragment, and he had not expected that his first encounter would be with such a significant figure!


    After seeing the big-nosed Uncle Dragon, Tao Yu had an ominous premonition in his heart.


    This world is not just a simple Zombie World!


    This guy definitely hasn''t acted in a zombie movie!


    Thinking about the Python that had been parasitized by an Alien, Tao Yu also formted some guesses in his mind.


    By now, the three people on the roof had likewise jumped over a small alley andnded on the rooftop opposite Tao Yu''s highway, after which the Asian man with Uncle Dragon''s face kept waving at Tao Yu, signaling him to move back.


    Tao Yu then saw the tall ck man pull out a crossbow bolt from behind him, which was attached to a rope, making the meaning clear to him.


    Looking down at the street, which wasn''t densely popted with zombies, as well as the width of the road and sidewalks, which added up to over twenty meters.


    Tao Yu actually felt that it would be faster to go directly down and climb up himself.


    But after some thought, he decided against it.


    Hum~


    The crossbow bolt shot over, piercing through the rooftop water tank.


    The bald, tattooed white man on the opposite side also made a pulling gesture to Tao Yu.


    Tao Yu went over to check and seeing the knot wasn''t very tight, he simply pulled out the arrow and tied the rope around the water tank''s frame in a hitch that resembled a trailer''stch, then pulled it tight and signaled to the others to pull from their side.


    Soon the rope was taut, and it was also tied down on the other side.


    Without any hesitation, Tao Yu grabbed the rope with both hands and began to quickly alternate his grip, moving across.


    However, during the crossing, Tao Yu remained vignt of the other side.


    Most of the time, Uncle Dragon''s characters were strongly associated with justice, but Tao Yu would notpletely entrust his safety to others.


    Now focused, even if the opposite side decided to take a surprise shot, he could rely on "Bullet Time" to maneuver.


    If he fell from this height, by throwing out his backpack he could adjust his trajectory tond on the roof of a car.


    As Tao Yu reached the opposite side, the things he had braced for didn''t happen.


    It was just that both the tall ck man and the bald white man were holding their guns with wary expressions.


    With Tao Yu''s armed appearance and the strength he exhibited by easily crossing over with the rope, it was understandable that they would be on their guard.


    In this post-apocalyptic world, sometimes humans are more frightening than zombies.


    "Hello, my name is Jack, I''m currently the leader of this survivor''s base, friend, your gear is quite impressive, where did you get it?"


    Uncle Dragon began with an introduction in English, probed with a question, and as he spoke, the scar on his face twisted, making him look somewhat fierce.


    Jack?


    Tao Yu had little recollection, it was a purely attractive name, likely from a Hollywood movie. Compared to names like Chen Jiaju, it felt somewhat unfamiliar.


    But he quickly responded in fairly fluent English,


    "Ie from the south, what exactly is the situation here?"


    Tao Yu didn''t know if they had had contact with the Pioneers, but based on the radio information, it was apparent that this area had be aware of the grasnds and Rainforest in the south.


    The Pioneers didn''t actually have any requirements about keeping secrets from the locals within the fragments, but most of the time they would still try to maximize the advantage of their information...

 Chapter 53 - 48 Malice

    Chapter 53 -48 Malice


    "South?"


    Jack, wearing Uncle Long''s face, was a bit surprised. As for Tao Yu''s English with a noticeable ent, it didn''t seem strange to him at all. Many people in this area had heavy ents. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Something seems to have happened in the south, a prairie and rainforest appeared."


    At this time, the bald man also seemed a bit puzzled, using his binocrs atop the roof, he could almost make out the abnormality over there.


    But because of the zombies, nobody had the energy to go and check it out.


    "I''m Tommy, former Marine Corps," the bald man extended his hand to Tao Yu and gave him a firm handshake. "Brother, your equipment and abilities are pretty impressive, and that gun of yours isn''t bad either."


    The tall ck man carrying a crossbow and holding a shotgun seemed a bit silent and reticent.


    "Zhang Wei."


    Tao Yu blurted out a random name.


    "You''re also of Chinese descent? Can you tell us about the situation down south? What are your ns now, to join our settlement or...?"


    Jack took the opportunity to ask.


    "The south isplicated. There are creatures even more terrifying than the zombies. I advise against going there. I want to investigate some information on the zombies and will likely leave after staying here a short while."


    Tao Yu was dressed in standardbat gear, devoid of any affiliation markings, but it was easy to associate him with members of particr special statuses.


    His talk of investigating zombie information was somewhat abrupt, but not uneptable.


    Still, it was somewhat remarkable for a person to dare undertake such a task alone.


    "More terrifying than zombies?"


    Jack frowned, hisrge nose bing more prominent as the scar on his face twitched.


    "Zombies aren''t much of an issue; it''s mainly their numbers."


    The bald man, Tommy, wasn''t surprised. After all, they were in an apocalyptic world and they had a high eptance level for change.


    Zombies were already a reality, so what if new creatures appeared?


    After all, things couldn''t get any worse!


    As they had just met, they didn''t want to interrogate him too much. Sometimes it''s better to wait until you''re more familiar before asking too many questions.


    "There''s also a type of python."


    "Pythons aren''t a big deal. When we were training in the Amazon, we hunted ones that were seven or eight meters long. With weapons, it''s easy to kill them alone; without weapons, two people can still take them down with their bare hands."


    The silent ck man Senke chimed in.


    "Senke used to be a part of the Delta Force, and I guess I was a former CIA agent, though my memories are a bit mixed up," Uncle Long Jack stated simply.


    It was no wonder that these three were the martial force in this end-of-the-world scenario, nor was it surprising that they had be the leaders.


    And Tao Yu, upon hearing what Jack said, began to slowly realize who he was and from what world he came.


    ''Who am I?'' A meteorite of high research value had fallen, a CIA task force went to retrieve it, then the team was wiped out, and Jack, one of the survivors of the failed silence operation, lost his memory!


    Because so much time had passed, all Tao Yu could roughly recall were these details. It seemed like the meteorite could also be used to create weapons, but it should be the kind that explodes on the physical side, how did it turn into a zombie world?


    The Abyss, indeed, was quite chaotic!


    "Alright, let''s head back and talk. If you want to know information about the zombies, we can tell you about that too. I actually do have some understanding of the cause of this crisis," Jack sighed, seemingly lost in memories for a moment. Then he looked up at the sun and decided to lead everyone back first.


    They went over the alley from rooftop to rooftop, heading back toward the hotel, as Jack shared along the way,


    "...Later it seemed all the water sources were contaminated. Someone was deliberately poisoning them, and the viruses, which had long incubation periods when transmitted through drinking water, meant that by the time our investigation teams understood the truth, it was toote. Only a few with resistance managed to avoid the initial infection, and everything descended into chaos."


    "I was betrayed by my superiors during a secret mission, and after I retired, I received a request from a friend to investigate a new virus. Initially, the impact of these viruses wasn''t significant. Although the zombies looked terrifying, they weren''t enough to affect the entire world..."


    Tao Yu nodded as he listened. If zombies could only spread through blood, then indeed they wouldn''t have much ability to spread given modern weaponry. It''s very likely that the virus originated from another world.


    "...Later it seemed all the water sources were contaminated. Someone was deliberately poisoning them, and the viruses, which had long incubation periods when transmitted through drinking water, meant that by the time our investigation teams understood the truth, it was toote. Only a few with resistance managed to avoid the initial infection, and everything descended into chaos."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu felt a stir in his heart, then he spoke up,


    "So is the water still contaminated?"


    "The broadcasts said it''s not anymore, no idea why, maybe it passed the survival period? But now we can''t receive official broadcasts anymore, only the ones from the neighboring radio station," Jack casually mentioned.


    Back at the hotel rooftop, they opened the metallic door and walked inside one after the other.


    The stairway had no lights, but with the sunlighting in from outside, it didn''t seem dark.


    "We managed to get a diesel generator, but because it attracts zombies with its noise, we don''t use it much."


    As they descended the stairs, Jack continued to exin, then suddenly remembered something,


    "Oh right, buddy, seeing how you moved effortlessly and dared to investigate this alone, does killing zombies make you stronger?" he asked.


    At these words, Tao Yu felt bemused. What was that about? Killing zombies to get stronger? What kind of nonsense was that?


    Even if the zombies possessed a weak Yuan Force, after killing them one would have to take their teeth, which would waste more time than just practicing directly!


    Then, Tao Yu keenly noticed the word ''also''.


    This Jack, with Uncle Long''s face, could get stronger by killing zombies?


    "Can you do it?" he immediately asked back.


    "I only discovered it after a long time. Mypanions grew weaker and weaker, but my physical condition kept improving. It''s pretty strange, and that''s why I became the leader," Jack replied without hiding anything. Tommy, the bald man, also interjected,


    "We''re pretty envious of the boss''s situation, but we only found out that he can do it. Can you, brother?"


    "Sort of," Tao Yu did not deny it, but his mind kept specting. What was going on?


    As an outsider, Tao Yu didn''t have much ess to information or intelligence. Although he made an effort to catch up on some things, there were still significant gaps.


    However, that didn''t prevent Tao Yu from making some guesses.


    Only Jack could do it, and it was very likely that he was the "Child of Destiny" Tao Yu had vaguely heard about.


    In some world fragments, there were always some individuals who were very special, but previously Tao Yu only knew so much. He had heard that there were some of these people serving thepany at its old gathering ces.


    Now it seemed that these ''key yers,'' after killing Yuan Force creatures, could also automatically gather Yuan Force and then naturally use it in their daily enhancements. Over time, this had given them a certain sensation.


    It appeared they didn''t need to absorb any Yuan Force objects, nor did they have any choice in actively enhancing or using it.


    Thinking of his own world''s will to save itself, Tao Yu faintly felt that this might be a self-rescue method of some of the fragmented worlds.


    Even for a short time, Tao Yu had some tempting thoughts, such as leaking a skill rted to being proficient in home furnishing.


    But he then suppressed them.


    Tao Yu didn''t think of himself as a good person, but he also didn''t want to be a ve to interests.


    If he were to die and also be someone he disliked, what was the point of having such abilities?


    Perhaps because he was somewhat astounded by Jack''s development, Tao Yu seemed a bit distracted as he followed them all the way to the hotel''s seventh-floor lobby.


    The hotel now looked somewhat disordered, with various supplies stacked up in the lobby in front of the elevator, and the corridors leading to the rooms were also filled with numerous items.


    Many people dressed in various clothes werenguidly sitting on sofas and various chairs that had been moved out.


    Most of their expressions were numb, with faces filled with worry.


    It was not until they saw Tao Yuing down with arge backpack that quite a few people''s eyes lit up.


    "Do you have food?"


    "What supplies do you have?"


    "..."


    Looking at those gazes, Tao Yu frowned slightly.


    He himself was not short on food; if necessary, he could even go back. As a person with 21st-century thinking, he didn''t mind lending a hand to others when it wouldn''t affect himself.


    But, he did not like moral coercion.


    "What are you looking at? This belongs to someone else, don''t embarrass yourselves," Jack, still holding some credibility as a leader, rebuked them and managed to quell some of the restlessness.


    Just then, a somewhat abrupt voice with a Cantonese ent speaking in Mandarin suddenly came from the corridor of a room on the side,


    "Brother Jack, those three who attacked us have disappeared, all gone, without leaving any traces of escape."


    Soon after, Tao Yu saw a person with an ordinary-looking face hurry over.


    Well, another familiar face. Although what he said was a bit disconnected, Tao Yu still pieced together the information, guessing that it might be three Pioneers who had attacked them and had been captured, and they managed to escape back to the real world through meditation.


    This kind of thing happened from time to time, but since the returned location was still the same, whether they could truly escape was a matter of luck.


    Since this face was here, it probably wasn''t just some minor character. Zhang Wei had said earlier that only Jack could absorb Yuan Force, so couldn''t this guy do it? Or was he holding back?


    Or did Tao Yu get it wrong, and it wasn''t ''who am I''?


    Tao Yu pondered in his mind, but the information he knew was indeed not enough.


    "Gone?"


    Jack seemed to have a hard time understanding what he meant. If they were locked up and tied up in a room, how could they disappear?


    He then turned to Tao Yu to exin,


    "His English isn''t good. He''s an undocumented worker who came here for a job. Previously, there were a few arrogant guys who attacked our stronghold, all very strong, with very urate shooting. If they did not hold back from killing us, probably many of us would have died at the first encounter.


    "He helped with a sudden attack, killed one, otherwise our losses could have been significant."


    After exining to Tao Yu, Jack turned back and continued to ask the neer in Mandarin,


    "Shaolin, what exactly happened?"


    Tao Yu, who had been listening with a smile on the side, suddenly stiffened when he heard Jack call out the neer''s name. Then, he slowly removed his helmet and said with a smile in Mandarin,


    "I understand too, we''re all our own people here."


    After speaking, he also looked at the neer with a beaming smile.


    "You''re quite handsome, young man. May I know your esteemed name?"


    Tao Yu himself possessed a very high level of attractiveness, even more so than the neer, and removing his helmet also took people aback.


    Then the neer subconsciously said,


    "Oh, no need for formalities. My surname is Cao, my name is Cao Shaolin, and I''m an undocumented worker."


    Cao Shaolin''s face also showed a smile, but the smile seemed somewhat forced.


    And the Spirit Perception that came with Tao Yu''s Deification in the form of a Crane immediately let him sense an iing wave of malice.


    Okay then, no escape now.


    Although the disguise was well done, it must be that Cao Shaolin!


    What the hell, why did hee here?!


    There were not many viins yed by the neer, but Tao Yu had a very deep impression of this one.


    The scene of ''I don''t eat beef'' was vivid in his memory.


    Most importantly, when that wave of malice hit, Tao Yu even felt a sense of crisis as if a thorn was on his back.


    Was this guy a threat to him?


    He was supposed to be just a character with a twisted personality, a spoiled rich kid.


    Considering what Jack said, if Cao Shaolin came from another world, then it was unknown what he might have experienced along the way.


    This was someone who could easily gamble with his own life for the sake of his ''fun in the game.''


    He was truly f***ing well-suited for this Abyssal environment!


    Tsk~


    Hes fingers twitched, but Tao Yu still suppressed the urge to attack immediately and simply nodded with a smile,


    "Nice name..."


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 54 - 49 Unexpected

    Chapter 54 - 49 Unexpected


    The fleeting sense of crisis had prevented Tao Yu from taking any action.


    From Jack''s attitude towards Cao Shaolin, it seemed that for now, the neer had started to be epted. If Tao Yu were to target Cao Shaolin suddenly, he would face resistance from the wholemunity.


    It would be better to look for an opportunity at night and avoid arousing his suspicion and alertness for now.


    So on the surface, Tao Yu also showed a warm and friendly smile to Cao Shaolin.


    "Let''s go, I''m quite curious about how they vanished into thin air."


    "Yeah, let''s check it out together."


    Jack tranted for Tommy and the others.


    Themunity had over twenty people, but not many were capable of using weapons orbat, and there were about ten elderly, frail, and sick among them.


    In this post-apocalyptic environment of seven months, having ten such individuals in a team, and a third of them being women, was telling of Jack''s overabundant sense of justice in both character and personality.


    As a former CIA special operations member, it would not be urate to call him a saint, but as a partner, he was more trustworthy than most Pioneers.


    While Tao Yu made this assessment of themunity, the group walked down the corridor to the room where the captives had been held and entered through the door.


    The room had been cleared out once before, with boards nailed over the windows. Other than that, it was just a regr hotel room, and the bed''s mattress appeared messy and unmade.


    "They were all tied up, usually just sitting on the bed. We''re short on food ourselves, so we only gave them some nearly expired food to keep them alive."


    "But now we''ve found they''ve disappeared, even the ropes they were tied with are gone, and there were no signs of escape. Everything looks so normal."


    Cao Shaolin seemed quite astonished as he said this.


    "Is Brother Cao in charge of food?"


    Tao Yu casually asked.


    "I have to do whatever is within my power. I can''t fight like Brother Jack, so I have to contribute by handling the logistics."


    Cao Shaolin showed a shy smile.


    "Just vanished like that?"


    Jack stood in front of the boarded-up window, looking perplexed, unable toprehend how this could happen. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    They had never encountered such a bewildering disappearance before, so it was definitely beyond their understanding.


    "Did these three people say anything? Did they leave any other clues, or why did they attack you?"


    Tao Yu also timely posed his question.


    "They had a strange ent, and they had plenty of food, which relieved a lot of our pressure,"


    Jack began to reminisce.


    "Moreover, they had a strong will to survive. When captured, they kept begging us for a chance. Now that I think of it, they must have nned ahead and were confident they could get away."


    "As for the reason they attacked us, they said they wanted to coerce a few ordinary people to scout for them, which is why they didn''t kill anyone. They found a well-stocked gas station and even told us the location."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu pondered quickly.


    A strange ent was normal, as it must have cost them Yuan Force tomunicate. As for the supplies, for an average Outsider Pioneer, transporting goods to sell and drawing maps for profit was amon practice.


    The gas station might indeed have plenty of supplies, like a truck, but lots of zombies as well.


    Or it could be a temporary gathering ce for a small group of Pioneers.


    "They have no weapons now, so just increasing the vignce should be enough."


    Unable to figure it out, Jack decided not to overthink it. He had enough daily worries already, enough to make his hair fall out.


    "Is Brother Zhang Wei still nning to rest up before leaving?"


    Jack turned back to ask Tao Yu.


    "Yes."


    "Can I ask who you gather zombie information for? Are there any formal forces still out there? The official broadcasts are gone, and now we only have some local broadcasts that have lost contact."


    Seeing the right moment, Jack too posed his inquiry, wishing to understand if there were still ces that could arrange for people to investigate.


    They were barely surviving, whereas some ces could send out people for investigations, a stark contrast.


    "I''m serving apany. Thepany is currently nning to establish amunity in the nearby area, and I think you guys could join us if the conditions are right."


    Tao Yu gave some information after careful consideration.


    Incorporating fragments of the native poption into themunity was one direction of development; after all, most Outsiders could be seen as ordinary people, and early Pioneers were too few in number.


    Someone like Jack could stand out in times of need.


    "Amunity? That''s a big project?"


    Cao Shaolin appeared surprised at this moment, his face revealing an excited expression, seemingly quite interested.


    Jack and his group were all ears, but hearing is one thing, trusting is another. Only they knew how much they believed.


    "Yes, we are actually looking for a suitable location now, and I personally think this ce is pretty good."


    Tao Yu wasn''t just making it up; they had already discovered the Icebound World in other directions, obviously not suitable, the Rainforest required immediate development, and the prairies had ckwater.


    This ce was full of zombies, but the buildings were ready-made.


    Especially knowing that this was a city called Henderson in Nevada, about ten kilometers northwest of the famous Las Vegas.

 Chapter 55: 49 Unexpected_2

    ```


    Although they were all surrounded by zombies,pared to the likes of ckwater and Extreme Cold, these ordinary zombies were far less troublesome.


    Adding to that, the meteorite that could be used to create weapons was obviously an item of great Yuan Force, making Tao Yu feel that just this information alone could fetch him a few thousand units of Yuan Force if he went back now.


    "So... you think this ce is good?"


    Jack was somewhat puzzled.


    "Rtively good, and I can''t rule out those three guys as being mercenaries on apany task either."


    Tao Yu took the initiative to mention this.


    In fact, without saying it, people would surely suspect his connection to the three individuals ahead, and so far, it had always been Jack and his twobatpanions following him, never letting their guard down.


    Better to be candid.


    "Mercenaries? There''s still such a thing happening now?"


    Bald Tommy was somewhat surprised, as he had been with the Marine Corps and also spent some time as a mercenary.


    And in these haunting days, they really weren''t too bothered by Tao Yu''s words¡ªthey were all adults with their own judgements, not inclined to judge the whole by an individual.


    "Right now, it''s actually hard to rify thepany''s situation all at once, but once they start to establish gathering ces, you''ll probably understand."


    Tao Yu gave out some information again, then hesitated before directly asking,


    "Besides zombies, I''m actually investigating something else. You all have or had some connection with the military, I wonder if you''re clear on it."


    "Go ahead."


    Jack was also considering what Tao Yu had said.


    "It''s a meteorite that can be used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. Thepany wants to use it to clear out the hordes of zombies."


    Different environments make things work differently!


    If it were peacetime, Jack would definitely be very wary, as he was the one who nearly got silenced because of this mission.


    However,ter, because his superior wanted to sell this item, it wasn''t strange for somerge corporations to be privy to this information, some even approached to pay for it.


    And now, with the world ending, there''s indeed a need for something that can clear out zombies on arge scale!


    When the infection was first getting out of control, some had even proposed disinfecting with nuclear bombs, but unexpectedly found that nuclear bombs had be ineffective!


    And then, there was no "after" because there was no time left to research.


    Tao Yu first provided some information, and now asked back, causing Jack to hesitate before he actually revealed a few details,


    "I''m aware of what you''re talking about. Actually, the location of that meteorite isn''t too far from here. It should be about a hundred kilometers northwest of Las Vegas, at a military base."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu''s eyes lit up slightly.


    Originally, he was pondering simply using this information to hand in for a task to exchange for some Yuan Force to spend.


    But now, perhaps he could try finding it himself!


    A hundred kilometers might seem long, but if there were suitable transportation and a route, it really wouldn''t be much.


    In this world, aside from people like Jack and Cao Shaolin, the majority were ordinary humans and zombies, perfect for him to make his move.


    "Mr. Jack is aware? Then I wonder if Mr. Jack is willing to personally take me there. I have a lot of food here, willing to offer it aspensation, and I can promise to facilitate connections with thepany afterward."


    Tao Yu looked eagerly at Jack, making Jack hesitate for a moment.


    As a former CIA special operations team member, and having been betrayed by his superior.


    Hearing that Tao Yu wanted those meteorites, his initial thought was that another inherently evilpany wanted to create weapons.


    Only after considering the current environment did he divulge some information.


    Now, Tao Yu''s sincere willingness to leave behind food¡ªamodity of great importance in the apocalypse, regardless of the amount¡ªwasmendable in attitude.


    He wasn''t saying he trusted Tao Yupletely regarding thepany gathering ces and cleaning up zombies, but at least he thought he could give it a try!


    He would make his judgment by observing during the journey.


    "I can try..."


    Hearing Jack''s response, Tao Yu felt a rush of joy. Having someone like Jack¡ªwho had a strong sense of justice, could be generally trusted, and was capable of taking action¡ªguide him could indeed save a lot of trouble.


    But after ncing at Cao Shaolin, Tao Yu fell silent for a moment.


    This profligate who took delight in killing, if left alone here, might have them all killed by the time he and Jack returned.


    Strike first at night!


    To maximize the cost-efficiency, he should wait until Cao Shaolin made his move, then expose and stop him in front of Jack and the others.


    Reminding others of a pit in their path doesn''t have as much effect as giving them a hand when they''ve already fallen into one.


    But...


    Tao Yu didn''t want to do that...


    ...


    "There''s more new food."


    "It''s all high-energy products, enough tost a few more days at least."


    "..."


    Though Tao Yu had brought a lot of food, meant to replenish his strength as needed, it was still just around thirty kilograms for a person to carry.


    Yet even so, this batch of food still brought a wave of joy to the people at this small gathering ce.


    In such a situation, nobody objected to Jack leaving for a few days.


    "I also heard a radio station when I wasing here, there should be a small gathering ce there as well, right?"


    Tao Yu watched Bald Tommy lock the supplies in the warehouse, then turned to ask Jack beside him.


    "There are actually quite a few small gathering ces in the city, usually centered around hotels, apartments, supermarkets, but that radio station you mentioned is from the next door, Las Vegas."


    ```

 Chapter 56: 49 Unexpected_3

    ```


    Jack let out a sigh as he saw the delight in everyone''s eyes.


    "Now there are even attacks and looting between settlements, sometimes humans are more terrifying than zombies..."


    "Ha, aren''t you afraid that I''m a spy sent over?"


    Hearing Tao Yu''s words, Jack rolled his eyes.


    "Do I not know the situation in the city better than you? How could we possibly arrange a spy like you?"


    He paused for a moment here.


    "Besides, even if it were true, as long as you can provide food, we''ll take it, but you''ll have to sleep alone in a room at night. Shaolin is doing the same right now.


    Though Jack spoke as if everything were fine, he couldn''t afford to let down his guard.


    Just as the threebatants were always following Tao Yu.


    They weren''t as ''naive'' as they appeared.


    Shaolin had also just entered the settlement not long ago and was now also living alone in a room, which prompted a warm smile on Tao Yu''s face as he amiably addressed Shaolin,


    "Little brother Shaolin, we''re going to be neighbors after this."


    "That''s right, brother Zhang, please look out for me."


    Shaolin, too, put on a fake smile...


    ...


    That night, Tao Yu, who had been leaning against the wall, silently peered through the cracks of the wooden nks nailed to the window, gazing at the darkness outside.


    The sky seemed to be covered with clouds, and the moonlight was obscured by the dark clouds, turning everything pitch ck.


    Sliding his hand across the cracks on the window, Tao Yu estimated their size.


    The wooden nks served as a defense from the outside and also as a precaution against Tao Yu, but overall, they were just to prevent something the size of a human body, as the nks had to ensure venttion, the cracks were not small.


    "Should be enough..."


    Tao Yu waited until three in the morning, then he took out two Qi Replenishing Pills and held them in his mouth.


    Afterward, he suddenly dove into the shadows, instantly entering that mottled world of shadows and quickly squeezed through the cracks in the wooden nks, swiftly making his way to the side and into Shaolin''s room.


    However, what nearly caused Tao Yu to lose hisposure was that, just as he had entered the room, the supposedly sleeping Shaolin on the bed suddenly opened his eyes and sat up, looking around alertly!


    Even Li Hui, the deputy captain of the outer city security team, had not been aware of Tao Yu at all.


    This was also the source of Tao Yu''s confidence.


    Yet who would have expected that this precaution would lead to such a situation?


    No wonder he felt malicious intent and a sense of crisis simultaneously!


    "Who goes there!"


    Shaolin''s demeanorpletely changed from his gentlemanly daytime appearance, his face turned cold as he stepped violently towards the approximate direction Tao Yu was in.


    The standard Baji Fist style brought a chill to Tao Yu, as he instantly entered Bullet Time!


    It was supposed to be his ambush, but now the opponent had seized the initiative. What incredible perception!


    However, Tao Yu could see clearly that the other person did not actually see him, but seemed to sense this direction through some unknown means!


    Under Bullet Time, Shaolin''s once ferocious and brutal rapid punches slowed down immensely.


    The grimace on his face due to the force of the punch, the vacant pupils, seemingly turning his head to sense something, and the twisted air caused by the punch all yed out in slow motion before Tao Yu.


    Using the strength depletion from Bullet Time to elerate his body, Tao Yu felt all his Qi-Blood energized.


    With his powerful physique, he felt a tearing pain.


    His Qi-Blood spurred the explosion of force, and in conjunction with the Crane style''s crisp movements, Tao Yu sidestepped the punch and with a twist of his wrist, he shed his hooked knife fiercely towards the other''s chest and abdomen.


    He aimed to spill the entrails by crossing past each other.


    But chilling Tao Yu''s heart was the sight, even in the precise slow-motion of Bullet Time, of the opponent''s knees and elbows beginning to twist unnaturally.


    ng~


    With a knee lift and elbow press, Shaolin''s raised knee and pressed elbow firmly trapped the sh Tao Yu had intended for his torso.


    This nearly caused Tao Yu to curse out loud.


    The situation had changed!


    Shluck~


    ```


    The Shadow Force that enveloped Tao Yu''s entire body poured out,bining with the force of his own sh like a sea embracing rivers, rushing toward the space between Cao Shaolin''s elbow and knee.


    In an instant, the fabric of the clothes at the opponent''s elbow and knee flew apart!


    The bronze skin also bore numerous disordered bloodstains in the air.


    In addition to this, the psychic shock attached to Basic Armament: Modified made Cao Shaolin let out a muffled grunt as the whites of his eyes burst with blood vessels.


    Yet even so, the defense with the leg-cutting knife did not loosen in the slightest.


    Even under the entanglement of multiple forces, the leg-cutting knife broke with a snap.


    Crack~


    But just as Cao Shaolin forcibly endured the dizziness in his head, as well as the tearing pain from the physical attack, and was preparing to pull back and counterattack,


    he turned his head only to see the pistol Tao Yu had drawn and its dark barrel.


    His pupils constricted, and Cao Shaolin dodged the bullet that followed the sh of gunfire in the nick of time by tilting his head.


    Upon recognizing it was Tao Yu, his face twisted ferociously.


    Cao Shaolin had never imagined that he, who always toyed with others, would be the one ambushed this time!


    I want you dead!


    But before he could turn that furious thought into action,


    the bullet he should have dodged with a tilt of his head suddenly took a turn and burrowed into his eye.


    Fuck! Damn you!


    "He isn''t dead yet?"


    Tao Yu clicked his tongue in astonishment at the sight of Cao Shaolin, whose eye sockets had turned into bloody holes, merely tilting his head back and retreating, seemingly ready to turn over and smash through the window to escape.


    He then followed up with a flurry of bullets, each shot targeted at the head.


    With the first step of Cao Shaolin''s turn, a bullet struck the back of his head, the psychic shock together with the physical blow causing his head to feel heavy.


    But his reinforced skull stubbornly caught the bullets, merely cracking without him dying instantly.


    Looking at the window blocked with wooden boards in front of him, he also harbored a longing for life in the depths of his heart.


    Just dash through, just break out, and he could survive!


    And then he would definitelye back to kill them all!


    Toys, daring to defy their master!


    Unfortunately, though his speed and strength were extremely fearsome, and his defensive capabilities and vitality were astonishing,


    being hit by a bullet with every step, unable to dodge any of them, and subjected to severe psychic shocks, hisst thread of consciousness dissipated as his head broke through the wooden boards.


    In the end, his entire corpse was wedged hard onto the broken boards, dying with his eyes wide open.


    Even Tao Yu himself was heart thumping at this moment.


    He had been sure that Cao Shaolin was no ordinary foe, that sense of threat was real.


    Which is why he went all out!


    He had thought that under a sneak attack, there shouldn''t have been much problem!


    Who would have thought that not only had he used all of his means, but he had also almost been overturned.


    If it weren''t for One Certificate, Forever Valid allowing him to ignore the tearing injuries and draw his pistol immediately, if he had really been countered by that fierce force, then it would have been all over.


    A skull resisting a burst of bullets before dying, what kind of thing was that.


    Reloading his pistol until he confirmed that Yuan Force had begun to gather on the body.


    Only then did he quickly drag his exhausted body away amid the disturbance of the awakening crowd outside.


    "Not a part on the body?"


    Tao Yu was somewhat surprised to find that the Yuan Force ultimately gathered on a golden pistol at the opponent''s waist that he had never had the chance to use.


    Without concerning himself too much with it, he quickly cleaned up the spent cartridges at the scene, and Tao Yu, having quickly replenished his Qi with a Qi Replenishing Pill, casually threw Cao Shaolin''s body from the broken window down to the building below.


    He then evaded back into the shadows and returned to his room.


    He casually sensed the gains from the golden pistol.


    Simply absorbing Yuan Force could reach over a thousand units.


    That was the amount from killing over fifty Aliens!

 Chapter 57: 50 Cleanup

    "What''s going on?"


    "Gunshots!"


    "What situation?"


    "Kid, open the door."


    "..."


    Through the crack of the door, one could see the flickering shadows of shlights outside, it wasn''t a time to turn on the lights.


    Tao Yu had also opened his door just in time to see Tommy, who was holding a shlight, about to knock.


    "There were gunshots nearby, what''s the situation?"


    Tommy first shone his shlight into Tao Yu''s room, making sure of the window, and then he spoke in a grave tone,


    "Don''t know, let''s break in and check."


    Tao Yu knew that Tommy and the others actually took turns to keep a lookout in the hallway at night.


    It was meant to guard against zombies and other troubles, but also to watch over Tao Yu himself and Cao Shaolin.


    In this apocalyptic environment, it was certain there would be Night Watchers, so it wasn''t surprising that Tao Yu, who had "awakened from deep sleep," was slower to emerge than the watch personnel.


    Bang~


    The door was forced open, several shlight beams shone in, revealing the messy scene inside and the broken wooden window.


    With the door open, the night wind blew in, sending chills down one''s spine, vaguely carrying with it the scent of zombies from the streets.


    "What''s the situation? Was it the three people who disappeared during the day?"


    Having encountered even more bizarre events, Tommy''s first thought was naturally this.


    He had already roughly inspected Tao Yu''s room and, although it couldn''tpletely eliminate suspicion, it had moved down the list of priorities.


    At that moment, Jack had also arrived and, looking at the situation in the room, headed over to the window to look down on his own.


    "Bring the shlight over here."


    He reached out and took the shlight passed to him from the side and shone it directly below.


    Without much effort, he found Cao Shaolin''s body on the ground.


    The key issue was that a group of zombies had already followed the noise to the corpse and were crouched down feasting on it.


    Beyond that, there were no other clues.


    Tommy had alsoe over and whispered a few words into Jack''s ear, leading Jack to nod and then turn back to Tao Yu, saying,


    "Brother, sorry, but we need to have a look inside your room."


    "Sure."


    Jack didn''t stand on ceremony and walked straight into Tao Yu''s room, feeling the rough wooden boards at the window with his hand and shining the shlight at the area where the nails were driven in. After finding no traces of prying, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    But then his expression turned solemn again,


    "Today has been very strange, first, three people vanish into thin air, then Shaolin is brutally attacked. From now on, we must stay together as much as possible at night."


    "Damn, we have no idea how they''re doing it."


    Tommy was equally somber at the moment.


    This was the apocalypse; high-tech investigative tools for gathering clues were not avable, and Tao Yu was just ying along temporarily to avoid some misunderstandings and troubles.


    "We can only defend passively, or perhaps, move to another ce..."


    A sigh was heard; relocating was easier said than done. Seven months in, this was one of the ces they had chosen.


    Not to mention anything else, just the zombies on the migration route were a huge headache, inevitably meaning death and injury.


    The adult men might still cope, but the elderly, frail, and sick would likely find it very difficult to hold on.


    "Brother Zhang Wei, what are the chances that thepany''s gathering ce is for real?"


    Jack raised the question again.


    The gathering ce Tao Yu had spoken of was taken as just talk by the others; it could only be taken as gathering information, and they certainly wouldn''t trust Tao Yu''s word just because of his unsubstantiated ims.


    Even if they truly believed what Tao Yu said, they definitely wouldn''t consider abandoning this rtively safe base in the short term.


    But the events of today weighed heavily on Jack''s mind.


    Three able-bodied people disappeared into thin air, and then Cao Shaolin was killed in the dead of night!


    If they had to live continuously in such tense spirits, worrying about zombies, food, as well as nighttime raids, they really couldn''tst long.


    "A settlement will inevitably be built, but I''m not certain it can be built near here. It''s not something I can influence alone. However, I can promise to tell you the location. The new gathering ce will surely be in need of people."


    Tao Yu roughly understood Jack''s thoughts and didn''t deceive him.


    "Okay, we will set out first thing tomorrow morning."


    Jack nodded with his eyes closed as if he had made up his mind.


    Although he had a scar on his face which made him look somewhat fierce, it had to be said that this guy was really willing to take risks for others.


    Perhaps he also entertained the idea of using the Meteorite as a merit to exchange for sheltering these people¡­


    Early the next morning, Tao Yu and Jack had already made simple preparations.


    Since both of them were very capable of moving around, it was not a big problem for them to find food for themselves, so they didn''t bring much. Instead, Jack was incessantly reminding Tommy about things to be careful of.


    Apart from Tommy and Senke, the rest of the people at the gathering ce didn''t pay much attention to Jack''s departure, seeming more concerned about what they would eat today.


    "Boss, why don''t we go with you? Senke and I won''t hold you back."


    Tommy was somewhat worried, though his bald head was tattooed and his face was full of muscle, he was quite convinced by Jack.


    "No need. After what happened yesterday, we need to be extra careful in the next few days and focus on safety."


    Jack didn''t waver in his decision to stay and investigate what had happened before leaving. If they didn''t find out, were they supposed to never leave and just sit around until the food ran out?


    Act decisively when you must!


    "Boss,e and take a look. I went downstairs earlier to take care of Cao Shaolin''s body, but I discovered that his corpse hadn''t been eaten."


    They were just about to leave, but the words from Senke, the ck man, made both Jack and Tao Yu hesitate.


    They quickly descended the stairs. Although the hotel''s stairwell was somewhat messy and dim, and the handrails were covered with dust, which could be headache-inducing for someone with rhinitis, the zombies inside the hotel had been dealt with, and the supplies had been looted long ago, so going downstairs was uneventful.


    Once they reached the lobby at the bottom of the stairs, they were a bit more cautious, proceeding silently without making any noise.


    The hotel''s doors had been blocked off; various sofas, cabs, chairs from the lobby, and some nailed wooden boards made it airtight.


    There was only one small door for convenient ess inside.


    On the other side of the hotel, a bell was installed that could be rung with a pull of a string. Every time someone wanted to leave through this door, they would pull the bell to attract the zombies to the side.


    Beyond that, there was a small garden with railings and a back door that was used as an alternative safe passage.


    At this moment, Cao Shaolin''s corpse had been dragged in by Senke and wasid out in that small garden, seemingly in preparation for burial. It was evident from the several small mounds in the garden that this was not the first time.


    Cao Shaolin''s one eye had turned into a dark red bloody hole, and his other eye was wide open in death. The blood scabs on his head were tangled with his hair and had clumped together.


    But the key point was that his clothes had been almostpletely torn by zombies, his body covered in bite marks; yet, astonishingly, it was mostly intact!


    They could even see several teeth embedded in his flesh!


    "This is¡­"


    Jack was shocked. He took off his gloves and pressed against Cao Shaolin''s stiff corpse, then took out his dagger. After bringing his hands together in apology, he began to cut into Cao Shaolin''s body.


    It felt tougher to cut through than cowhide, requiring force to make an incision!


    Tao Yu was also secretly rmed. This creature''s explosive power and vitality from yesterday were already frightening, but he hadn''t expected the body to remain so tough after death.


    He relied on Deification in bear form, using "Five Forms as One" to boost his localized defense, which at best was slightly better than this. Yet this guy''s passive body had reached such a state!


    Thankfully, he had many tactics at his disposal and his injuries didn''t affect his condition, otherwise, if he had not managed to overwhelm the opponentst night and had given him a chance to fight back, the situation would have been dire.


    Inparison, it was not surprising that the zombies'' teeth and biting could not shred his body.


    "Incredible, Shaolin was this strong?"


    There hadn''t been time for a thorough checkst night, but now that Jack had looked closer and found bullet fragments lodged in the skull, he was even more shocked.


    The bullets hadn''tpletely prated?


    Even though Jack himself had started on the path of getting stronger by killing zombies, theparison still showed he was far behind.


    It immediately urred to him that Cao Shaolin might have been able to kill zombies to get stronger!


    But why be so low-key if he was that strong?


    It made no sense, and he couldn''t understand it.


    And how could someone with such an inhuman physique have actually died!


    "For these few days while I''m out, try not to look for supplies. Stay on full alert. On the way, I''ll also keep an eye out for a new suitable ce for us to settle."


    Jack began to suspect that Cao Shaolin might have had other motives, but in the end, he decided to focus on the safety of the people at the gathering ce. He then turned to Tao Yu and said,


    "Brother Zhang, let''s set out. We have a modified vehicle, follow me."

 Chapter 58: 51 Cultivating Trust

    In the garage, a wine-red Raptor pickup was covered in dust, having apparently not been washed for a long time.


    But with its domineering size, six meters in length, two meters in width and height, and thirty-five-inch tires, the pickup still exuded a sense of wildness.


    The obvious modifications, such as the welded metal bars at the front and the wire mesh on the windows, added a wastnd style to the vehicle.


    "The only issue is that it guzzles fuel quite a bit, but for now, we''re not exactly short on gas..."


    Jack sighed lightly as he examined the truck.


    The virus outbreak hade so suddenly, so many dead, so few survivors. Although seven months had passed, gasoline was surprisingly easy to find throughout the city.


    Fuel can go ''bad'' over time, but that mostly just harms the engine; in a post-apocalyptic world, one can''t afford to be so particr.


    Homemade gasoline incendiary bombs had always been an effective weapon for them.


    "Let''s find something to eat first. We''ve already scavenged most ces within close range, and other survivors probably have too. Nowadays, finding food usually poses some difficulty."


    Food was the first thing Jack thought of, and Tao Yu felt the same.


    He had used up a total of four Qi Replenishing Pills just to recover from a brief skirmish the night before, so getting food was the priority.


    "The two of us don''t need to bother with the trouble of transporting goods, so it should be easy to find."


    Before, Jack needed to lead a team to carry supplies, which made it much harder to ensure quiet and coordination.


    Now it was just the two of them; they could just fill their backpacks and leave.


    Jack then started the pickup truck, which roared to life and charged onto the street.


    Many zombies didn''t even have time to react before they were brushed aside.


    Some that were blocking the road were simply rammed through.


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Tao Yu felt the asional jolts from the collisions and realized that the danger on their journey shouldn''t be too great under normal circumstances.


    But how to shake off zombies after stopping was another problem.


    "Where is the gas station those three guys were talking about? Are you considering checking it out?"


    Tao Yu asked casually.


    "I''m not nning on going for now; there might be other dangers. I''ve scoped out a few ces with stock before. They''re a bit more challenging, but we can just go to one of them to find what we need this time.


    "Once we''ve done that, we can go around the center of Las Vegas by the desert and head straight to the military base. We''ve got extra fuel in the trunk, and the tires are good for sand, so our range should be more than sufficient," Jack answered while driving smoothly, much like a race car driver.


    "Great."


    Tao Yu exhaled, then took out the gold pistol he got from Cao Shaolin and toyed with it. After a moment of silence, he said,


    "I was the one who killed Cao Shaolin."


    Tao Yu''s revtion nearly caused Jack to lose control of the vehicle. It swayed before he managed to steady it again.


    He didn''t yell or even stop the car but asked in a heavy, solemn voice,


    "Why?"


    "Because I had seen him before. He was a powerful pervert who took pleasure in killing. You also examined his body today; if I hadn''t attacked him by surprise, chances are I would be the one dead."


    Tao Yu turned his head to look at Jack,


    "Do you believe me?"


    The cabin fell silent for a moment, the only sound the roaring engine.


    "I believe you. You didn''t have to tell me," Jack responded after a pause, his voice tinged with a hint of mncholy.


    He tried to put himself in Tao Yu''s shoes. If what he said was true, there didn''t seem to be any good solution!


    If he had tried to discuss it with Jack, would Jack have believed him at that time?


    The fact that Jack believed Tao Yu now was mainly because he had seen Cao Shaolin''s body and sensed the powerful aura lingering even after death.


    After hearing Jack''s answer, Tao Yu also showed a slight smile.


    He had changed his n on the spur of the moment after seeing Jack''s suspicion about Cao Shaolin''s body.


    Building mutual trust takes time.


    Actually, when Tao Yu first teamed up with Zhang Wei, they also tried to build some trust between them. He even guided Zhang Wei in learning the Basic Breathing Technique, but thetter''s change in attitude following the appearance of the two people from the Inner City led Tao Yu to dismiss the idea outright.


    Everyone has their own thoughts and interests, and that''s perfectly reasonable.


    However, the level of trust affects the degree to which cooperation is possible.


    Tao Yu then put away the golden handgun again.


    Warlord''s Sidearm: Comes with Armor-Piercing, Precision, and Self-Repair effects. It also enhances the wielder''s Spirit Perception, allowing detection of malice and offering a degree of Perception towards mystical entities (can be stacked), and can be absorbed for one thousand and eighty units of Yuan Force.


    Tao Yu had a handgun with precision ballistic effect, but its shorings became evident when facing Cao Shaolin; even with the spiritual impact of his Deified Shooting Technique, it barely managed to kill him after firing a whole clip.


    And that was just Cao Shaolin. If he were to face someone even stronger, wouldn''t that just mean instant defeat?


    This Warlord''s Sidearm was without a doubt a supplement to Tao Yu''s lethality, and the stackable Spirit Perception was probably a physical manifestation of a Perception ability simr to Cao Shaolin''s.


    It was because of this ability and the stackability with the Crane-shaped Spirit Perception that Tao Yu could feel the sincerity in Jack''s previous words¡ªhe truly believed what Tao Yu had said.


    This encounter had served as a wake-up call to a slightlycent Tao Yu; Shadow Evasion was not omnipotent!


    Beyond the Armor-Piercing and Precision, that Self-Repair feature was also quite impressive.


    In addition to repairing the gun when damaged, the most important aspect was that when the magazine was empty, it could automatically replenish one ''air bullet'' per minute, with the same effect as a regr bullet but unable to be removed.


    A fourteen-round magazine could be refilled about every quarter-hour.


    Bullets cost money, and they also take up a lot of space in a backpack.


    Although one bullet per minute wouldn''t significantly reduce Tao Yu''s reliance on spare ammunition, it did give him the confidence to fire his gun when clearing lesser creatures on ordinary days.


    It definitely qualified as a fine piece of equipment.


    Although it only absorbed a little over a thousand Yuan Force, its actual value was certainly much higher.


    "The protagonist is the protagonist, after all. It''s difficult to find such a character among Pioneers. A preliminary foundation of trust has been established, perhaps..."


    Watching Jack, who was driving with his prominent nose, a few thoughts shed through Tao Yu''s mind.


    After pondering for a moment, he continued,


    "Actually, the condition of your body being able to absorb Yuan Force, you''ll sooner orter hear some news about it. I think I might as well tell you now."


    The trust Jack showed and the fact that Tao Yu didn''t sense any malice warmed his heart. Although he had thought about exploding Jack for Gold Coins, actions speak louder than intentions, and after all, he hadn''t made a move.


    And since he had decided to partner with Jack for a temporary team-up, he felt that he could give Jack a heads-up.


    After all, this information was worthless to him, and Jack would find out eventually anyway.


    "Yuan Force?"


    At this moment, Jack hadn''t fully digested Tao Yu''s earlier words, his heart still unsettled, but upon hearing Tao Yu mention this, he vaguely felt that a major secret was about to be revealed.


    "Yes, Yuan Force. It''s crucial for us Pioneers and for ''Children of Destiny'' like you. The hignds and Rainforest to the south, you already know about, are actually different worlds..."


    Compared to the unpredictable Pioneers, such a ''protagonist'' setup was clearly more trustworthy...


    ...


    "Abyss... World fragments... Yuan Force..."


    Zzzt¡ªThe pickup truck stopped in an empty park, ripping a trail through the disheveled grass.


    Jack finally couldn''t hold back anymore, letting zombies slowly approach as he leaned back in his seat and rubbed his temples.


    "So, those three guys who disappeared were the Pioneers you mentioned? Was Cao Shaolin one too?"


    "Those three were indeed Pioneers, but they have nothing to do with me. Cao Shaolin must be simr to you, except you are the hero, and he is the viin."


    Tao Yu gave an example, causing Jack to show a bitter smile,


    "Now there''s a hero and a viin too, sigh, what a headache."


    "Compared to others who can''t even use Yuan Force, you''re doing well. Only by bing stronger can you survive in this environment."


    "Alright, I deeply appreciate you telling me all this. Let''s go, find something to eat first."


    Jack opened the car door, pulled a shovel from the roof of the vehicle, and with a few swift motions, beheaded the approaching zombies, their heads flying off.


    His strength indeed already surpassed that of the average person.


    Given that he was designed to be a soldier king type and had been absorbing Yuan Force for seven months, Jack''s strength was not weak. No wonder he already felt different even though zombies provided only a small amount of Yuan Force.


    Even though Jack and his kind couldn''t level up like Pioneers, their rate of absorbing Yuan Force must be higher...

 Chapter 59: 52 Local

    Two agile figures jumped from a withered tree in the park onto the school''s perimeter wall, then nimbly pushed off and effortlessly vaulted over it.


    The school yground was in disarray, the ground littered with dried blood stains and flesh scabs sticking to the floor, hosting far more zombies than the streets outside, all blocked by the school''s bulletproof gates.


    They hadn''t spread out.


    Therefore, this ce was generally off-limits to ordinary survivors.


    Outside the school supermarket, a female zombie in a school uniform, with pale skeletal features already showing on its face, asionally twitched in its spot.


    But the next moment, a shovel smacked onto its head, sttering some viscous fluid.


    At the same time, as the zombie was about to fall, Jack intervened with his leg to soften the noise of its copse.


    For Tao Yu and Jack, who both had strong mobility, avoiding zombies and entering the school was not difficult; they had a clear understanding of the zombies'' habits and easily established tacit coordination.


    To move lightly and quietly, Tao Yu didn''t even wear his helmet, and Jack minimized his gear as much as possible.


    Their movements were soundless.


    Seven months had passed, and although the supermarket was a bit cluttered, the shelves were still crammed with goods, with just a few scattered on the floor.


    It was evident that no one had patronized this ce from the beginning to the end.


    Apart from a few zombies already cleared at the entrance, there were still about seven or eight inside the supermarket.


    "Be careful not to let them knock over the shelves, otherwise we''ll have to run ahead of time," Jack whispered, holding the shovel.


    Tao Yu simply nodded without making a sound.


    "I''ll take the left, you take the right."


    Jack made several hand signals to Tao Yu, gesturing numbers and directions.


    Tao Yu also raised his hand and gestured an OK.


    Dang~


    Click~


    Pfft~


    Both wielding a shovel and a crooked knife, their movements were clean and crisp.


    Plus, they controlled the directions well, preventing the zombies from toppling the shelves.


    They easily eliminated all the zombies in the supermarket.


    Besides, they thoroughly checked inside and out, ensuring no stragglers suddenly emerged and made noise.


    Once certain, they quickly stuffed their backpacks with various high-energy foods.


    Snickers, chocte, biscuits, canned food, and some sports drinks kept filling their backpacks.


    Tao Yu even ate as he packed, snacking directly.


    The Swallow Essence Technique - Modified not only elerated digestion and provided resistance to poison, but it also increased the energy reserves one could store in advance.


    Given the abundance of food, keeping oneself at peak condition was definitely the right choice.


    Jack, who was beside Tao Yu, was wide-eyed at the sight of his voracious eating.


    He really could eat a lot.


    Then, as he helped pack Tao Yu''s backpack, Jack came closer and whispered,


    "Is this the Yuan Force strengthening skill you were talking about?"


    "Mmm-hmm~"


    Chewing with his cheeks puffed, Tao Yu hummed affirmatively and nodded.


    He then tilted his head to nce at Jack, pondering for a moment.


    Maybe he could try teaching Jack the Basic Breathing Method, even the Wanliu Stance Skill and Myriad Streams Five Forms.


    Jack couldn''t absorb those Yuan Force skills, but skills that could be practiced should definitely be no problem for him.


    In truth, the dojos in the outskirts didn''t have strict measures to prevent the outside transmission of skills.


    As long as the apprentices who''d learned didn''t openly teach others in the name of the dojo and kept it private for friends and family, it wasn''t a concern.


    Outsiders valued their own skills highly, plus practicing skills without proper mastery could lead to injury or, in the case of breathing techniques, could harm the internal organs.


    There were far more cases of people being crippled in secret practice than of sesses. Tao Yu had only dared to train in the Basic Breathing Method under the guidance of his older brother.


    Therefore, ordinary people without connections, willing to pay for learning, would still mainly rely on dojos.


    This was also why Wanliu Dojo tied its outstanding students to the dojo.


    However, although Tao Yu''s proficiency in several skills wasn''t high, due to the holistic awareness brought about by Deification, he felt he could at least get Jack started.


    Trading free knowledge for genuine goodwill seemed like a good deal.


    If Jack managed to get a foothold in the settlementter, it could mean having an extra source of support¡­


    ...


    "Are you willing to teach me?"


    Having returned to the driver''s seat of the pickup with supplies, Jack also seemed invigorated, even beginning to lift his hands and gesture some moves of his own.


    "Since you''re willing to take the risk of going with me to find the meteorite, teaching a few skills is nothing, but whether you can learn them is up to you."


    Tao Yu was indifferent.


    "Haha, thanks, bro, you''re pretty decent."


    "Remember, if you get a chance to learn skills at a gathering ce in the future, try to find a formal venue, otherwise, if you train incorrectly or ruin your potential, it''ll be troublesome."


    As Jack started the pickup, Tao Yu reminded him again with a word of caution,


    "Currently, our entire Pioneer group, myself included, prioritizes interests. You need to change your way of handling things a bit and be more vignt."


    Jack listened to Tao Yu''s words,ughing and ncing at him while driving,


    "Brother Zhang Wei, no matter what, I''m ex-CIA, not so na?ve, but still, thanks."


    "My name is Tao Yu."


    Since he had decided to cultivate a long-term operation, and with the groundworkid, Tao Yu no longer concealed his identity.


    "Haha, Brother Tao Yu, we''re friends now, right?"


    "Naturally."


    "Hold tight, I''m going to elerate."


    Jack started shifting gears and stepped on the gas, zooming off the highway and driving straight onto the Gobi, kicking up a trail of dust behind him, forming a long snake-like pattern across the barren desert...


    ...


    wa cha yo oh..., wa cha yo oh...


    As the sun set, since they couldn''t pick up speed on the Gobi, and after changing a tire mid-way, Tao Yu and his group finally bypassed the center of Las Vegas.


    Carrying a cloud of dust, they returned to the highway on the Gobi, driving toward the military base in the distance.


    Next to this military base lies the globally notorious restricted area, Area 51...


    So, researching the meteorite over here wouldn''t be surprising at all.


    "This Breathing Technique is really useful, I''m hungry again."


    Jack''s face lit up with excitement as he bit into a Snickers bar, but it was evident that his breathing rate was simr to Tao Yu''s while driving.


    With Jack''s robust physical condition and without any mistakes, there was no need to worry about damaging his internal organs, so by midday during their break for a meal, he had already been initiated into the Basic Breathing Technique under Tao Yu''s guidance.


    His talent was beyond question.


    Perhaps this also involved some factor of being a "Child of Destiny" vested with the Yuan Force.


    No wonder Cao Shaolin was so strong.


    And since he had sessfully initiated, the rest was just a process of familiarization and adaptation.


    "Now that you''ve just initiated, make sure you don''t breathe incorrectly. If you feel pain, stop immediately, or you might suffer from lifelong internal injuries." Tao Yu warned again, as not everyone could disregard pain like him, and there were plenty who had ruined themselves and were left disabled.


    "I don''t feel ufortable at all. Right now, I''m feeling great, full of energy."


    "Are you sure there''s no one left in the military base ahead? Won''t we be targets if we drive there and it hasn''t been overrun?"


    "I''m sure. Before, some survivors tried to take some military weapons from here, but ended up finding only zombies. Moreover, the ammunition depot has exploded."


    Jack mentioned casually.


    "Exploded? Didn''t the meteorite explode too?"


    "No, if the meteorite had exploded, the base would be gone."


    Jack was clearly aware of the meteorite''s power; it was the kind of thing that could make a handgun deal missile-level damage.


    The military wasn''t foolish¡ªof course, they would have stored it separately and safely.


    But at that moment, Tao Yu''s pupils contracted slightly as he suddenly shouted,


    "Stop the car!"


    Jack didn''t know what Tao Yu meant, but due to the tacit understanding and trust between them at that moment, he mmed on the brakes, causing the pickup to slide a distance on the highway, leaving evident skid marks.


    "Duck your head, be careful, the ground ahead is littered with nails. It must be deliberate."


    Tao Yu quickly scanned the surroundings and spotted some people peering out from behind several scrapped vehicles in the Gobi direction.


    From their weapons and attire, they were either Pioneers or people who had killed Pioneers and taken their equipment...


    "They may be Pioneers. Remember what I told you, stay alert, don''t speak, I''ll handle the negotiation."


    While quickly advising Jack, Tao Yu opened the car door and, staying alert, waved toward the other side and called out loudly in themon tongue,


    "Hey, big brother, I''m a local, one of our own."

 Chapter 60: 53 Shortcuts? Shortcuts!

    ```


    A few abandoned cars, anchored in the Gobi Desert and covered in sand, were the hideout for five Pioneers who were constantly observing the conditions on the road.


    When they saw a vehicle appear, a trace of joy emerged on their faces.


    The frail Pioneer responsible for using the binocrs turned to a slender, lizard-skinned figure and said,


    "Boss, someone''sing."


    That figure, referred to as the boss and having lizard-like skin, could be seen to have fairly regr features, but the vertical pupils and shark-like teeth in her mouth created a sense of dread.


    "You''re in luck, recementmbs havee, so consider your earlier problems resolved."


    The Lizardman had been lyingzily on the scorching Gobi sand, seemingly indifferent to the desert''s temperature, even deliberately staying under the sun.


    Now, she stood up with an expression of indolence on her face.


    This made the other several figures, obviously dressed like Outsiders, shrink back in fear.


    "Eh? Boss, they''ve found a snag, got out of the car, seem like Pioneers too."


    Watching the figures speaking themonnguage get out of the car on the road, the group was momentarily stunned.


    "Ha, it doesn''t matter to me whether it''s you or someone else who distracts the zombies at the military base up ahead."


    The woman with the forked tongue spat it out and with the focus of her vertical pupils, instantly discerned the two individuals on the highway in a split second.


    "Quite handsome."


    The Lizardwoman''s face showed a hint of interest, causing the others'' hearts to sink.


    "Bring them here."


    "Yes."


    A man carrying a backpack and an assault rifle hurriedly ran up and gestured for Tao Yu and the others toe over.


    Tao Yu, who also noticed the Lizardwoman''s appearance, felt a sense of gravity in his heart.


    Had Inner City folks actually taken a liking to this barren ce?


    With the experience fromst time, he knew this Lizardwoman was definitely a being from the Inner City, imnted with a mutant body!


    With the resources of the Inner City folks, even if she could only be considered a peer at most, her power was not to be underestimated.


    "y dumb for now; we''ve got trouble and need to y it by ear," Tao Yu quietly warned Jack as his boots hit the hot Gobi sands, distorting the air with their heat.


    Afterwards, he approached with a smile, even slinging his gun over his back to appear non-threatening.


    "What are your talents? Where are you heading? Where did you get this car? Can you drive?"


    The barefoot Lizardwoman walked over on the scorching sand, eyeing Tao Yu with keen interest. Tao Yu''s whole body tensed up, overwhelmed by the dense aura of threat.


    Very strong!


    Tao Yu, feeling the palpitations, responded submissively,


    "His talent is Endurance, and mine is Dynamic Vision. We''ve spent some time in the city with the locals and got our hands on these things."


    "Not bad, you''re well-built."


    The Lizardwoman, fixing her gaze on Tao Yu''s handsome face, squeezed his body and her eyes lit up momentarily. She even stuck out her forked tongue, nearly licking Tao Yu''s face.


    "You tter me."


    "You have two choices now. First, be my favorite and let me check you over, or second, lure the zombies away from the base up ahead."


    The Lizardwoman spoke flippantly, offering Tao Yu two options.


    "Of course, I know which shortcut to take."


    Tao Yu answered without hesitation, a situation typical of Inner City encounters with Outsiders.


    Even without an expendable list, they''d still force people to go!


    It''s still better within the city, where there are some basic rules.


    But in Abyss, there is little to no order!


    Last time, Joseph and Wino were rtively polite because they both had a quota of five Outsiders.


    Now, this Lizardwoman, unconcerned by such considerations, was even more unrestrained¡ªor rather, reckless!


    By choosing this deste area, she could say she had nopetition, and her focus on the military base was probably more about finding a gathering spot.


    "Elbow,e with me."


    Pleased with Tao Yu''spliance, the Lizardwoman turned and walked away.


    "May I have the honor of your name, my lord?"


    "Xilin, of the Inner City''s Longxi n. Forget it, you Outsiders wouldn''t understand, but if you work hard and please me, perhaps I''ll consider bringing you into the city."


    Xilin appeared very arrogant.


    "Also, my lord Xilin, we encountered a special situation in the city previously. A local managed to kill a zombie and grow stronger, I wonder..."


    "Where!"


    Xilin, who had seemed somewhatzy, suddenly brightened up, fixing a piercing gaze on Tao Yu.


    "Uh, in a survivor''s camp within the city."


    Tao Yu seemed somewhat fearful as he shrank back a bit.


    "Ha-ha, you really are my lucky star! What''s this person like? Never mind, you wouldn''t know how to judge. Come on, let''s go into the city; you lead the way to that ce."


    Xilin changed her mind instantly, no longer interested in inspecting the merchandise.


    "Is it very important?"


    Tao Yu asked with some surprise.


    ```


    "The old gathering ce might be fine, but here, it''s still worth a visit!"


    "They are all ''Children of Destiny'' of the world fragments, there are those blessed by the world, the ''Chosen Ones,'' and those favored by the Abyss, the ''Fortune Thieves.''


    "But no matter which, their existence can reduce the probability of the gathering ce suffering from the abyssal cmities."


    Lizardman seemed to be in a very good mood.


    "Do you really think you can just set up a gathering ce anywhere? You''ve seen the domineering power of the world fragment boundary.


    "No one can rule out the possibility of a world fragment falling from the sky over the gathering ce; we individuals are okay, with the world''s will to protect us, the most we''ll get is a stumble, a loss of direction, but it''s not fatal.


    "But the gathering ce could easily be split to the four corners of the earth."


    "I see."


    Tao Yu also nodded in understanding, no wonder it''s the Abyss!


    Then he carefully continued to ask,


    "Is there any difference between the two?"


    Lizardman hummed a little tune, leading the way towards that car and said casually,


    "If you kill a local ''Chosen One'' within the world fragment, you could be surrounded by misfortune in the current world fragment.


    "''Fortune Thieves'' are not so bad, but overall, the cost-effectiveness of killing them is low; what they drop in Yuan Force is not as good as their strength. It''s a poor bargain, so even the old gathering ces will try to keep them around, never too many.


    "It''s just that you have to be cautious with ''Fortune Thieves''; they often stir up trouble."


    After hearing all this, Tao Yu felt a wave of emotions.


    After all, he was from the Inner City, more knowledgeable indeed, not something an Outsider like him couldpare to.


    "Thank you very much."


    "Haha, you''ve done a great service; ask for whatever reward you want when the timees."


    "Can I borrow some Yuan Force from you?"


    Tao Yu passed over a Yuan Force maic card with an eager face, the one with almost a five thousand limit.


    "Rewarded in advance, if you find it, you won''t have to pay it back, if not, repay nine for thirteen, or provide good service to offset it."


    Lizardman didn''t hesitate much and directly filled up that Yuan Force maic card, tossing it to Tao Yu.


    The aura of a wealthy woman hit him in the face.


    Making the few other Outsiders beside them green with envy.


    But looking at Tao Yu''s appearance, and thinking of the crucial information he provided, none dared to show him any disrespect.


    Even when eyes met, many still wore pleasing smiles filled with goodwill.


    "Thank you."


    Tao Yu retracted the maic card and absorbed the Yuan Force inside.


    He felt a sigh of relief in his heart.


    It turns out that having some Yuan Force in reserve for emergencies was still essential; the amount he had before wouldn''t have been enough even for treatment if he got hurt, now he felt much more stable...


    "Actually, that Chosen One is him."


    Tao Yu pointed casually at Jack, leaving Jack, who could not understand theirnguage,pletely confused about the situation.


    But at the moment Lizardman''s attention was distracted toward Jack, everything in Tao Yu''s vision slowed down to a crawl.


    The golden pistol slid out, bang~ bang~ bang~


    A series of gunshots sounded.


    Lizardman seemed as if goosebumps covered her entire body, erupting into terrifying speed in an instant¡ªeven in the slow motion of Bullet Time, you could see her head swinging to the side, seemingly trying to dodge the trajectory of the bullets.


    However, those bullets, which left trails in the air in slow motion, suddenly made sharp turns in the air, cunningly following Lizardman''s head movements!


    Bang!


    Perhaps Lizardman''s mutated body was no weaker than Cao Shaolin''s, it might even be stronger, but now armed with the Warlord''s Sidearm, Tao Yu had refreshed his own upper limit of attack.


    In the slow motion of Bullet Time, you could see the Armor-Piercing bullets with distorted air trails, lifting her keratin scalp, tearing through the skull, and boring in!


    Plus the mental attack that came with Basic Shooting - Modified.


    She didn''t have any time to struggle like Cao Shaolin had; her brain matter exploded instantly.


    As her skull was thrown open and her body began to fall forward, Tao Yu hadn''t evene out of Bullet Time yet; he turned and aimed at the few others who had yet to react, and gave each one a shot, blood sttered everywhere!


    Leaving only Jack with a dumbfounded face at the side, watching it all, thinking, what the hell just happened?


    He couldn''t understand the gibberish they were speaking, and no one bothered to expend Yuan Force to exin.


    At first, it looked like a happy scene, weren''t they having a good conversation?


    Howe in the blink of an eye, they were all killed?


    You must be the real psycho killer, right?


    "Get used to it, this is the Abyss."


    Tao Yu said to Jack with a baffled look, smiling casually.


    What goes around,es around, he thought. Having suppressed the wicked thought of exploding Gold Coins from Jack earlier, now he knew that killing the ''Chosen One'' recklessly could ''invite retribution''.


    "Since you couldn''t understand our conversation, you might not know what was happening, but they wanted to use us as cannon fodder to lure away the zombies, or as her consorts."


    As Jack was still digesting the information, hearing thetter part made him shiver and he looked down at the Lizardman''s keratin skin, instantly feeling a chill.


    Good riddance!


    Tao Yu picked up an assault rifle and fired another burst into Lizardman''s fallen body, then slowly exined the situation with the Pioneers to Jack, as well as what had just happened...

 Chapter 61: 54 Harvest

    When Wino had first stealth-attacked Joseph from the Inner City, Tao Yu had been somewhat panicked, worried that some method might trace the attack back to her.


    This time, her mindset was much steadier.


    After the finishing blow, Tao Yu remembered how Joseph had self-destructedst time, so she waited on the spot for a moment before going over with gloved hands to search the body.


    ''Highly toxic, with a chance of prating the skin.''


    Tao Yu''s Deification Auxiliary Ability proved its worth again¡ª who would have thought that that Lizardman''s corpse would turn into a deadly toxin after death?


    Had toxic nds burst and entered the body?


    No wonder her style was different from Wino''s, who favored broad and forceful swings. She must have chosen to be dexterous, utilizing toxins to kill in one hit.


    Very tough to deal with!


    Moreover, Tao Yu hadn''t forgotten that when Wino was once besieged by Aliens, she had used some kind of potion, losing her sanity in exchange for a surge in power, and even after being parasitized by an Alien and being cut open, she had stubbornly survived.


    Tao Yu continually probed, using various pieces of information to stimte, and based on her Deification Crane Stance and Warlord''s Sidearm''sbined Spirit Perception, she would confirm and onlyunch a stealth attack when she sensed the highest emotional fluctuation from her adversary.


    "I''m d I yed that safe, otherwise I really could have had trouble not knowing about this toxic intelligence."


    Tao Yu was quite satisfied with her own caution. What if the adversary could release a wide-area toxic fog or something of the sort?


    No matter what ace she had up her sleeve, the safest option was to subdue her right in the bag.


    If the information regarding ''Child of Destiny'' couldn''t distract her opponent, Tao Yu was even prepared to make some risqu¨¦ remarks.


    And if she couldn''t find the right opportunity for a long time, she might indeed have to risk herself to find a chance.


    Thinking of her opponent''s sharp teeth, Tao Yu couldn''t help shivering inwardly. Luckily, there were no ifs...


    After searching the body with gloves on, Tao Yu indeed found several good items.


    Last time, that beast Joseph hadn''t dropped anything when he self-destructed, but this time several items turned out to be quite useful to Tao Yu!


    One was a dagger shaped like a fang, with some patterns wrapped around the handle. Although she didn''t detect any poison, Tao Yu still washed it with the water from several dead men.


    Colossal Lizard''s Fang: A dagger made from a giant lizard''s tooth, possessing the properties of causing bleeding, Armor-Piercing, and paralysis. It can absorb nine hundred Yuan Force.


    A body armor that could only protect the chest and abdomen, with fine scales on the armor.


    Inner Scale Armor: Possesses strong defensive and anti-pration abilities, able to distribute damage evenly, weaker against blunt weapons, can absorb four hundred Yuan Force.


    Although this Inner Scale Armor seemed cheaper than the dagger, its actual price might be even higher!


    Being lightweight, with a defensive mode highly resistant to bullets, Tao Yu really loved it and didn''t mind at all that someone else had used it.


    Even if it seemed to be designed for a woman, Tao Yu didn''t care, since it was worn inside. Practicality was all that mattered!


    After washing it with water, she quickly began changing into it, which caused Jack, standing by her side, to stare wide-eyed, his mouth agape in an ''O'' shape.


    What kind of fetish is this?


    So you are the real pervert, after all!


    "What are you looking at? Shallow!"


    Tao Yu''s Sensitive Spirit Perception was kind of annoyed by Jack''s gaze, and she red back fiercely at him.


    Stuck in conventional views, they know nothing of practicality above all else.


    Muttering to herself, Tao Yu sped up the dressing process, eager to cover the Inner Scales Armor.


    Besides that, she also found a pair of knee pads and wrist guards, simr to the stic leather type of sports knee protectors with average defensive capabilities, absorbing only about one to two hundred Yuan Force, but they could enhance explosiveness and Endurance somewhat and reduce the risk of muscle sprains.


    Good value for the price, excellent cost-effectiveness.


    "These suit me, following a simr path I''ve taken. Each one is exceedingly fitting."


    Although the items contained not much Yuan Force individually, like the Blood Orchid which absorbed less than a hundred, their utility wasid out inly, truly allowing Tao Yu to trade her shotgun for a cannon!


    "Although they''re loot from a body, they''re small and can be hidden; considering the profit, it''s worth the risk."


    Tao Yu didn''t bother with unnecessary worries.


    Thepany has its rules, the Abyss has its ownws. Even if the equipment she found in the Abyss did end up exposed, it would be hard for others to use it as an excuse to openly do anything to her.


    At least, that''s how it appears on the surface.


    Apart from the several useful pieces of equipment, Tao Yu also found seven potions and stored them in the backpack at her waist.


    Six of them seemed to be specifically for her imnted Alien mutations and were highly toxic to ordinary people.


    Tao Yu directly absorbed all the Yuan Force from these six potions, together amounting to around two thousand.


    While absorbing the potions, Tao Yu also noticed that high-quality items like these took longer to absorb Yuan Force.


    "If Ie across some relics or such things in the future, maybe I''ll even suffer a bacsh while absorbing them," he mused.


    After draining the potions that were of no use to himself, Tao Yu did some thinking.


    Then, he looked at the only one left, simr to Qi Replenishing Pill, but presumably more effective¡ªa Stamina Potion.


    [Stamina Recovery Potion]: Slightly poisonous, may cause bleeding, greatly restores stamina, stimtes nerves, and to some extent, recovers mental strength.


    There were only three of these milky Stamina Recovery Potions, and Tao Yu directly pocketed them, discarding the drained potion residues.


    "Come, give me a hand, and let''s burn them."


    Although it was getting dark, Tao Yu had no intention of leaving right away; instead, he went back to the pickup truck and brought out a small barrel of gasoline. Combined with some discarded tires, he piled up the bodies and sprinkled the gasoline to ignite them.


    Jack had by now recovered from the shock of Tao Yu changing into women''s Inner Scales Armor.


    "Will this bring trouble?"


    As a former member of a CIA task force, Jack, although willing to help civilians and generally upright, was not averse to covering tracks, including disposing of bodies.


    "If they find out it was me, definitely, the energy and influence of Inner City people are quite substantial."


    "It''s us."


    Jack smiled and corrected Tao Yu''s words, taking the initiative to start the fire.


    "I can''t imagine being pinned down by that fanged hag."


    Jack shivered, and the scar on hisrge nose quivered.


    Tao Yu kept silent for a moment but did not correct him.


    It seemed that the female Lizardman hadn''t taken a liking to him...


    Maybe because he was too ugly...


    ...


    "It''s all about sudden wealth..."


    Feeling the nearly 7,000 points of Yuan Force reserves and considering his new set of equipment that was an improvement over the old, Tao Yu couldn''t help but reflect.


    Even if he hadn''te to the barren Zombie World and had ventured in the prairies and rainforests hunting instead.


    Not to mention the risk of being surrounded by Aliens leading to more loss than gain if not hunting went smoothly, tirelessly day and night, it wouldn''t have been this quick.


    And that''s considering the Skills from the newly developed Development Zone could still sell at high prices, and he still had tomute between the Abyss and the real world to turn in assignments.


    Yet here, a Lizardman''s explosion of Gold Coins was a windfall, let alone when calcting the value of Cao Shaolin''s [Warlord''s Sidearm]earlier.


    Currently, the [Warlord''s Sidearm]remained the most valuable piece of equipment Tao Yu possessed.


    [Armor-Piercing][Precision]¡ªthese two functions were quite ordinary, but that stackable Spirit Perception seemed very effective even against more powerful opponents.


    Just like the Deification of the Crane Stance, which Tao Yu considered to be the most practical and potential-rich of the five stances.


    "We''re here, let''s stop. Let''s make do with resting in the car for the night to recuperate and gather strength."


    Driving with the headlights against the night, Jack stopped the car.


    Already there were some roadblocks up ahead, with barbed wire beside them.


    The ce looked very run down.


    With his eyesight, Tao Yu could see several ces where the barbed wire had been intentionally cut and damaged.


    "Good, have the zombies around the perimeter already been cleared out?"


    "Some people wanted to take the perimeter equipment and military vehicles, attracted some zombies, and now most of the zombies in this base are concentrated in the center, denser than the school we visited before. It''s a challenge," Jack exined.


    Having been around this area for some time, Jack was familiar with the local situation. Although thest time he had escorted goods here was before the outbreak of the biohazard, he still learned a lot through interactions with other survivors.


    "Actually, the best way to handle ces like this is indeed to arrange for some people to draw the zombies away."


    "But with these creatures, if you drive too fast, they stop following. You can only keep up a simr speed and continuously make noise. Once surrounded, it''s sure death. Everyone who has attempted it has died, and gradually no onees anymore."


    There had also been an explosion at the armory, and even with someone risking their life to create an opportunity to enter, sess wasn''t guaranteed, so naturally, attempts diminished over time.


    Given the current ratio of survivors and supplies, it wasn''t necessary to take such risks.


    "Then let''s rest for the night, have something to eat, and I''ll teach you some Stance Skills in the meantime."


    With the substantial physical foundation Jack had from absorbing Yuan Force, simr to Tao Yu''s initial learning phase, and his own strongbat Skill base, he would naturally progress quickly...

 Chapter 62: 55 Base

    At dawn, when the sky was just beginning to light up, Tao Yu had already gotten out of the car and started his training for the day.


    Even with "One Proof Forever Proof," preventing any degradation of his abilities, improving them still took time.


    Even when hecked Yuan Force, he still insisted on practicing every day, and now that he had enough Yuan Force, he naturally wouldn''t fall behind.


    Tao Yu''s figure was seen constantly moving within the circle drawn by his feet, activating different variants of the Myriad Streams Five Forms, at times dexterous, at times weighty. The tenseness of his muscles could be heard with every motion, like a bowstring plucked, his bones creaking under the flow of his Qi-Blood.


    His movements were sometimes as quick as lightning, other times as slow as a tortoise.


    Yet even when Tao Yu seemed to move slowly, thepression and twisting of his muscles as he slowly threw a punch, followed by a rapid, short strike, produced a vigorous sound in the air.


    Afterpleting a full set of Five Forms interacting with each other, Tao Yu finally slowly finished and took a deep breath.


    "High-level skills really consume a lot."


    Without fear of injuring his body, after a simple stretch, Tao Yu started drinking a bottle of sports drink inrge gulps and then began stuffing Snickers into his mouth.


    "Still need the meat though."


    Muttering to himself, Tao Yu had just acquired Five Forms as One and had started earning money with it.


    But he had encountered tough enemies twice, and both times, it could be said he was somewhat at a disadvantage.


    The first time facing Cao Shaolin, he had shattered the knife with his explosive power; the second time, he didn''t even dare to let his opponent get close enough to engage.


    In the end, it was still due to ack of proficiency. If he could get "Five Forms as One - Modified" up to LV5, plus fully unlocking the potential of his body, he should be able to grapple in closebat.


    "Guns are extremely cost-effective, but it''s a pity they have a limit, and obtaining non-standard firearms isn''t easy either."


    Tao Yu nced at the "Warlord''s Sidearm" in his hand.


    For now, it was sufficient for him, but based on thest two encounters, he needed to anticipate and prevent potential threats.


    "You''re up really early."


    At that moment, Jack also yawned, opened the car door, and stretched his limbs while pressing on his lower back.


    Resting in the car was quite ufortable.


    "In the Abyss, being weak is the original sin."


    Tao Yu continued munching on food, quickly digesting it with the help of "Swallow Essence Technique - Modified."


    With his stomach churning and intestines absorbing, he took care of half a backpack''s contents in no time.


    Seeing Tao Yu''s intense training, Jack felt some pressure himself and quickly performed a set of Stance Skill that he hadn''tpletely mastered yet.


    "We have a tough fight ahead; conserve your strength."


    Tao Yu smiled at Jack''s efforts. He himself could ignore pain, but Jack was different.


    "Alright, I''m not too sure about the specifics inside, so let''s observe for a while and decide on a strategy."


    Looking at Jack''s serious demeanor, Tao Yu didn''t feel much pressure.


    "Don''t worry. If it''s too difficult, we won''t bother searching. We''ll just turn back and find someone strong to sweep through."


    If there was an opportunity, of course, it would be most profitable to secure it for himself and sell it.


    But if the difficulty was too high, Tao Yu wasn''t set on breaking through at any cost.


    Tao Yu knew his capabilities for burst damage, ambushes, sneaking, and hiding were strong, and seizing the moment to ovee stronger foes wasn''t out of the question.


    Joseph, Li Hui, Cao Shaolin, and the Lizard-Kirin were all examples.


    But endurance was indeed a weakness. Back when facing the minor troops at the Li family''s ce, it was all sustained by spending Yuan Force.


    Although it seemed convenient, it was genuinely a bit too costly, and now with increased strength, the consumption was certainly greater.


    In a way, he was actually restrained by hordes of zombies.


    This base, due to its association with Area 51, had been surrounded by an aura of mystery, but it actually appeared quite ordinary. From a distance, one could see some regr military barracks and an airfield runway.


    The perimeter fence was simple, already rusty and mottled.


    It seemed to just encircle a wide military restricted area.


    Within it, moreprehensive military camps could be seen, with walls, metal railings, and electrified fences.


    Beyond that, there was a massive scorched area with some debris, likely from the explosion at the weapons storage.


    The two parked the car on the highway outside, each grabbing weapons and backpacks, and entered the base through a cut section of barbed wire.


    The outskirts had almost no remaining zombies, appearing quite sparse and posing no threat.


    There were still some remnants of bodies on the ground, likely from zombies cleared out by earlier groups.


    But deeper inside, whether in the barracks or on the airstrip, there was a dense mass of zombies.


    Most were still dressed in their impressive military uniforms.


    It seemed as though all the people from the camp had gathered there and were trapped inside.


    "The ce researching the meteorite is underground; I know the entrance, but it''s right in that camp, which is a bit troublesome, and we need to find an ID card to get in. If the main gate is closed, we''ll probably have to search for it among the zombies."


    Jack had once escorted goods here and had a fairly deep understanding of the ce.


    "Let''s give it a try, find a suitable point for infiltration first."


    Tao Yu didn''t give a long speech. After all, he could use Shadow Evasion, and if necessary, sneak in through venttion ducts or simr areas.


    As they approached the barracks, they lightened their footsteps, not wanting to attract the attention of the horde.


    Smelling the stench of decay and looking at the metal railings much sturdier than the barbed wire outside impeding the zombies, both were looking for a suitable breakthrough point.


    While observing, Tao Yu was also nibbling on a Snickers bar.


    He whispered to Jack,


    "What the heck did those people before us do? Why are there so many?"


    "I don''t know either. It seems more difficult than expected..."


    Just as Jack was also taken aback, Tao Yu suddenly paused, then quickly looked up and saw a security camera hanging under the eaves of a building.


    At that moment, the camera was still regrly shing a red light, clearly operational.


    Seeing Tao Yu stop, Jack became puzzled. But when he followed Tao Yu''s gaze and realized the situation, he whispered,


    "This is a military base, after all. See those sr panels on the roofs? They''re enough to keep the basic systems running even if everything else is disconnected, considering it''s only been seven months."


    "No, that camera just moved. There''s someone alive in there, or something with intelligence."


    The Crane form from Tao Yu''s Deification had granted him High Spiritual Perception, and it was further enhanced by the passive effects of the Warlord''s Sidearm. He had definitely felt as though he was being watched.


    This revtion stunned Jack for a moment. Were there still people alive?


    "As you said, this is a military base. It''s fallen outside for some reason, but it seems normal that they might have a secure area and enough food inside to survive," Tao Yu said.


    "You''re right. There could really be people. Let me test it out," Jack replied.


    Jack nodded at Tao Yu and then cautiously approached the camera, careful not to stir up the zombies on the other side of the fence, before intentionally moving in front of the camera.


    As a former CIA task force member, Jack was well-versed in some secret signals and started gesturing in front of the camera.


    Indeed, the seemingly still camera quickly moved up and down, as if nodding.


    "There really is someone."


    Jack turned back to Tao Yu and took another look at Tao Yu''sbat suit.


    Although Tao Yu wasn''t wearing a helmet while eating, his outfit could easily be misunderstood.


    "Your outfit, plus the signals I just sent, might have gained us some initial trust. With so many zombies outside, the people inside must be trapped and for a long time," Jack deduced.


    The main focus was on theboratory below, and there could be guards or something, but actually, the mainbat forces were above.


    Clearly, those above had been wiped out and turned into the enemy, preventing the people inside from venturing out again.


    "However, it''s also a bit strange. The military camp here should not be so easily contaminated, right? How did the outside be like this?" Tao Yu began to ponder another issue.


    If the people inside were fine, it was highly likely that they hadn''t consumed the contaminated water and had a separate water supply?


    If this were inherently a Zombie World, there wouldn''t need to be so much consideration. But this infection hadeter, so there should be an origin, not too exaggerated.


    But upon further thought, with zombies that could still move around after seven months here, it seemed anything was possible...

 Chapter 63: Shelf Testimonial~

    Today, the book finally went live. I am grateful for everyone''s continued support and would also like to thank Editor Yexiao for his help. It''s the first time in many years that I couldunch on the first of the month and maintain full attendance for the entire month, which is just delightful~


    Your subscriptions and my update speed both y a crucial role in our sess, so I''ll definitely try to update as frequently as possible.


    To be honest, I''m at a rather awkward stage with my integrity now. The leave time from my day job is expected to run out next year, and then I will face some tough choices. I really enjoy writing novels, but with the weight of both elderly parents and young children on my shoulders, I feel like I''m constantly being chased from behind, forcing me to keep pushing forward.


    Once, while resting, I came across a short video sketch. It depicted the weariness of a day''s work, and the moment of eating a meal, followed by the discovery that the parents had spent thousands on health products and even got some eggs for free, and then facing the daughter telling them 7+7=11, and at bedtime, the wife asking if he would still love her if she turned into a caterpir.


    This kind of video is really bittersweet. While others might find it amusing, I see it as a reflection. But as long as my family is healthy and safe, and I have my parents, wife, and daughter by my side, life is actually quite good. That''s why I keep working hard at writing to provide for my family¡ªit''s a straight path.


    I won''t say much more, let''s talk about the update schedule after theunch.


    After theunch, I''ll make sure to release at least three chapters daily. If nothing unusual happens, the updates wille in a batch at five in the afternoon. If there are missing chapters, it may be due to middle chapters being blocked, but since this book isn''t of that controversial type, the likelihood should be lower.


    For every 500 initial subscriptions, I''ll add one chapter.


    Once the average subscription exceeds 1000, for every additional 100, I''ll add one more chapter.


    The main incentive is still subscription-based additional chapters. Monthly tickets and rewards are less predictable, and although we can fantasize, I still have to consider scenarios where I might not be able to fulfill thesemits. Therefore, I will only add chapters symbolically, and I''ve set the thresholds quite high.


    An extra chapter for each Alliance Hierarch.


    During the first month, one extra chapter for every 1000 monthly tickets.


    Uh, the reason it''s only for the first month is because I surely won''t have any chapters in reserve afterward. The few I have now need to see me through the Spring Festival. Rather than not fulfilling a promiseter and having to feign death, it''s better to be honest now¡­


    On the first day ofunch, I''ll release five chapters, which includes the guaranteed three, plus the owed chapter for the Alliance Hierarch, and on top of that, I''ve also added the extra chapter for the initial 500 subscriptions in advance.


    I beg you not to p my face. Although the book wasunched earlier than nned because of a faster update pace during the new book period, I''m hoping 500 won''t be too much to handle. Whimpering¡­


    Seeking subscriptions~or2

 Chapter 64: 56 Clear the Field (Please Subscribe First~)

    In a dimly litboratory, only the faint emergency lights were flickering, giving off an eerily underworld vibe.


    Most of the facilities had already shut down, but the monitors in the surveince room were still glowing. At this moment, probably seven or eight people were squeezed into this room.


    One of them, a ck man who had be quite overweight after seven months of apocalypse, urgently said to the others,


    "Finally, someone hase again. If they dare toe in pairs, they must be very strong. Quickly, let them distract those zombies. This might be ourst chance!"


    "How do we call them? Use the broadcast? That will drive the zombie horde mad."


    "It''s not realistic to think the two of them can draw them all away. Ah, it would have been better to try during thest group. There were many people then, and several vehicles."


    "What''s the use of saying this now?"


    "..."


    The people went back and forth with each other, disying some anxiety. However, as their voices became more intense, suddenly a heavy metallic sh silenced them all, their faces filled with terror, not daring to breathe.


    After a while and several more collisions, the sounds finally stopped.


    The intense impacts allowed them to feel the vibrations on the surveince screens.


    Despite that, the undergroundboratory''s protective measures ensured that no sound escaped outside.


    "Drawing them away is unrealistic. Why would they do that? But I think we could invite them in and try to get them to take us out. They must have a purpose foring here. We could help."


    A middle-aged woman with sses spoke up.


    "Anyway, they look likebat personnel, right? Let''s call them in."


    "How do we call them? And what about the zombies at the door?"


    "I don''t think we need to call them; they seem to know about our base. They''re probably here for it. Look."


    As they were discussing, Tao Yu and Jack had already started climbing onto the nearby rooftop.


    The electric fence had long been out of power, posing no obstacle to them.


    Despite zombies being everywhere inside the military base,pletely swarming the ce, there was virtually nowhere to set foot.


    Yet the two of them, purely by the strength of their bodies, managed to traverse above the heads of the zombie crowd, gripping onto eaves and gutters.


    Although the operating cameras couldn''t cover everything, by stitching together multiple feeds, they could see that their objective towards the entrance was quite apparent.


    "Get ready, prepare to back them up," someone said.


    "Back up my ass, the entrance is swarming with zombies! How can we open the door?"


    "..."


    No one among them seemed to be in charge.


    But the monitor responsible for the door showed arge group of zombies crowded around the entrance of what looked like a warehouse, effectively sealing off the exit. A rough nce revealed dozens of figures in the frame.


    Tao Yu and Jack had clearly seen the situation at the entrance, but their pace didn''t slow in the slightest.


    Moreover, to avoid attracting the nearby zombies'' attention, they had made their way without making any noise.


    The way they carried backpacks and moved long distances by gripping and climbing with just their hands showcased their extraordinary physical strength, gradually causing the people in the surveince room to stop their arguing.


    "Are all those soldiers so strong? Special forces?"


    "More like agents. Those terms seem like CIA jargon."


    "But there are dozens of them at the door. Helpp, if we start shooting, it''ll blow the lid off everything."


    "We thought it was going to be simple at the start."


    "Maybe they could try throwing a grenade somewhere else to draw them away?"


    "Are you crazy? That would wake all the zombies in the military base. Imagine the chaos; it would be even worse."


    "It can''t be worse than it is now, can it?"


    "..."


    They seemed quite torn, as many of them were co-workers outside who had made numerous attempts before, yet every attempt just made things worse.


    Just then, their camera at the entrance captured the moment Tao Yu and Jack both hit the ground.


    The entrance to the undergroundboratory was inside this warehouse; however, because of their multiple escape attempts, the surroundings of the warehouse were stacked with zombies.


    But it was these attempts that caused the zombies to clump together, creating a not-so-wide ''buffer zone'' between this group and the rest of the zombies in the outer military camp.


    Tao Yu and Jack, continually prying off eaves, had circumvented the zombie horde from above andnded one after another in this "buffer zone."


    No sooner had theynded than both exhibited extreme caution, but upon realizing they hadn''t stirred up any disturbance, they breathed a sigh of relief and then cast their gaze toward the tightly encircled mass of zombies ahead.


    Jack whispered to Tao Yu in a hushed voice,


    "It''s dense, we could try a gasoline bomb."


    "But the noise that would create might alert the zombies in the other parts of the camp,"


    that number is too many¡ªchaos would actually work against us,"


    "and we don''t know if there are explosives in this warehouse."


    Tao Yu calmly stated.


    Once the zombies started to be chaotic, there was no way they could maintainplete silence any longer,


    the noise would only escte, attracting more and more zombies,


    and the warehouse''s potential explosives and a possibly uncontrolled fire were equally lethal concerns.


    Tao Yu kept scouting the warehouse, trying to find a suitable window to possibly use Shadow Evasion and sneak inside.


    This distance was still within the limits of his physical stamina.


    The problem now was that, as a bona fide former CIA operative, Jack would certainlymunicate more smoothly with the inside,


    but if he went alone and couldn''t open the door afterwards, he''d be at a loss.


    Shadow Evasion was already bordering on the supernatural; it was normal to feel fear from the visual shock it produced.


    Without a channel formunication between them outside, it was indeed a bit of a hassle.


    "Around fifty at the main entrance, but the distance could also draw in zombies from both sides,"


    "if we rely only on closebat, can you handle it physically?"


    Tao Yu asked with a somber tone.


    Put inly, it was like dozens of pigs were here to be ughtered¡ªit was a physically demanding task!


    Individually, zombies posed no threat to Tao Yu or Jack, and they weren''t a big problem in groups of two or three.


    But the force of each attack and sh, positioning, the repetition dozens of times, that could wear anyone down.


    Anaerobic exertion at such an intensity does have its human limits.


    Even with [One Proof Forever Proof], Tao Yu could ensure his attack strength remained constant, but the energy expenditure was very real.


    Not to mention Jack, the Muggle beside him.


    "As long as we don''t alert the main horde, handling about half each shouldn''t be a problem,"


    "we just need to be careful about the noise, I''m worried about not being able to keep upter when our strength fades."


    Jack also made an estimate and began flexing his arms, which had started to feel stiff from climbing.


    "Alright, let''s try, if it doesn''t work, we head straight up to the roof¡ªsafety first."


    "I take the left, you take the right?"


    "Sure, I''lle and help you after I clear my side."


    "Hey, it might be me who ends up helping you!"


    Last of all, Jack made a yful remark, as hispetitive instincts surged; not to mention lending a hand to the other side,


    at the very least, he didn''t want to be the one cleaning up the mess!


    After exchanging a nce, the two silently went their separate ways.


    Zombies primarily rely on hearing from a distance, but once the prey is close enough, their sense of smell, coupled with blurry vision, can rapidly lock onto a target.


    Soon, the most peripheral zombies took notice of them and lunged toward the pair.


    Though they didn''t emit any piercing noises, their movements naturally stirred the adjacent zombies,


    and like dominoes, they began to advance steadily toward them!


    Fortunately, thismotion did not reach the threshold that would affect the far greater mass of zombies outside the "istion band."


    Personnel inside the base, observing the zombies'' movement, felt their hearts racing with anxiety.


    Damn, are these two crazy? They''re acting so recklessly?


    However, the demons who, in their eyes, were ferocious and had killed countless, those terrifying zombies,


    seemed as fragile as scarecrows in front of the two men.


    With each raise of the hand and fall of the de, they easily took down a zombie,


    and they even seemed to be controlling the position where the zombies fell?


    The very first zombie they killed, they actually reached out to cushion its fall, softening the sound of it hitting the ground,


    and subsequent zombies were taken down in a circle, with parts of their bodies inevitablynding on other corpses, like stars scattering in the sky,


    thus the densest part of the zombie crowd surrounding the warehouse was gradually cleared out.


    This left those monitoring the situationpletely dumbfounded.


    What became of this world?


    We''ve been locked up for seven months¡ªis this a change of heaven and earth?


    Why doesn''t evolution take us along with it¡­

 Chapter 65: 57: Specialty

    ```


    "Thirty-seven."


    "I''ve got thirty-eight, I win."


    "Psh ¨C liar, let me count."


    Just as the two had finished clearing out the zombies and were taking a breather,


    the small iron door of the factory was opened from the inside, and then a chubby ck man carefully poked his head out and waved at the two men continuously.


    "Come in quick,e in quick."


    Tao Yu and Jack had just finished clearing out the zombies when this fat man appeared; it was obvious that he had been monitoring them the whole time.


    As they entered, the fat man also gently closed the small door behind them, careful not to make any noise that might attract the zombies from afar.


    "Hello, my name is Jam, I''m just a regr security guard at theb, usually in charge of things like ess control."


    The inside of the factory appeared quite ordinary, but you could see that it was used to store food supplies, arge quantity of beautiful, individually packaged rations, and canned goods filled the shelves; it''s no wonder this chubby fellow was so well-fed.


    At least they didn''t have to worry about food and drink.


    "How are things inside? How many people are left? Has there been any outbreak of infection down there?"


    asked Tao Yu.


    "There are seven people left. There used to be more, but those who tried to break out have turned into the zombies that you two killed outside."


    "With so much food, you still thought to break out? Outside is a real hell!"


    Jack was also surprised to find such an abundance of food here!


    The magnitude of the initial explosion had been quite misleading.


    "Ah, you''ll see when youe down. I''m just a security guard, I don''t know how to exin to you."


    "Anyway, whatever you''re here for this time, we''ll cooperate with you on anything you want, we''ve long lost contact with the upper levels..."


    The ck man Jam sighed, resigned to the situation.


    This made Tao Yu frown slightly; such a resigned fellow was intent on getting out?


    Something abnormal must have happened in theb below.


    The entrance to theb was parallel to the forklift garage, the entire garage being a lift for convenient transport of experimental equipment¡ªit was very spacious.


    However, as the lift descended below, a feeling of gloom hit them.


    The dimness of the emergency lights gave off a vibe of the Underworld, and several people were already waiting at the elevator doors.


    When the elevator doors opened, a chill ran down Tao Yu''s spine¡ªhis Spirit Perception was warning him of danger here!


    It even triggered Bullet Time, almost making him ready to employ Shadow Evasion while preparing to reach for his gun.


    But then he realized the danger wasn''ting from the grouping to greet them.


    He stopped reaching for his gun.


    The survivors, unaware they''d just dodged a bullet due to the dim light, approached and began talking all at once.


    "You guys are so strong!"


    "Shh¡ªquiet, we need to keep our voices down here, otherwise we''ll wake ''it'' up."


    "Can you find a way to get us out? We''ll get whatever you want."


    "..."


    The crowd circled around them, speaking over one another, creating a cluttered atmosphere.


    "I want to know what exactly happened here? Why do we have to whisper, and what is ''that thing''?"


    Tao Yu and Jack stepped away from the elevator and asked seriously.


    Jack, who had been surveying the area and recalling thest visit, turned to Tao Yu and whispered,


    "What''s up? Is there a problem?"


    He had a lot of respect for Tao Yu. Though a bit of a freak, with questionable tastes, he was reliable and had a good physique.


    "Yeah, let''s first hear what they have to say."


    "That thing is a Corpse King, and it''s one of the sources of the apocalypse, secretly brought here for research."


    "But with the external power supply cut off, and the internal backup generator running out of fuel, we lost control over it. Now it''s locked behind the third istion door..."


    a middle-aged woman, likely a researcher familiar with the situation, whispered.


    "Corpse King? The source?"


    Tao Yu was somewhat surprised, having thought it was a typical zombie virus; the presence of a Corpse King was unexpected!


    And the fact that he could feel a faint threat just being here meant it was probably quite troublesome, definitely not your average zombie.


    Jack was also surprised on the side,


    "The source? When did you discover it?"


    At those words, the researcher looked embarrassed and then replied quietly,


    "A couple months before the apocalypse became widespread. I''m just a researcher, I didn''t know it would turn out like this."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu and Jack looked skyward in speechlessness.


    Only big and beautiful, huh?


    No wonder there hadn''t been any crises erupting from thisb; the issues came after the power went out, revealing their well-prepared defense measures were in ce.


    "We found many oddities duringter research, and it must have been someone spreading it purposely¡ªthe near simultaneous global outbreak is too exaggerated; there must be more than one Corpse King."


    The researcher went on to exin the possibility of an internal betrayer among humanity.


    This gave Tao Yu pause, his mind racing to the information he had received from the deceased lizard tycoon,


    ''The ''Fortune Thief'' favored by the Abyss...''


    Why would the Abyss favor the ''Fortune Thief''?


    He also thought of Cao Shaolin, this...


    Maybe he was overthinking it.


    But for the moment, such levels of issues were not his concern; when the sky falls, tall people will handle it. He came here to make money, all for that one Meteorite.


    ```

 Chapter 66: 57 Professional_2

    The Corpse King''s situation can be assessed, and actions can be determined based on the specifics.


    "We''vee this time for that special meteorite, ourpany wants to create a weapon that can quickly clear out zombies."


    Tao Yu nned to get his hands on something first, having spent so much time, there should at least be some sort of gain, right?


    But after hearing what Tao Yu said, the expressions on the faces of the others were a bit awkward


    "About that, the meteorite is located behind the third istion door. If we had that thing, we would have blown it out with a fragment earlier..."


    Upon hearing this, Tao Yu paused briefly, then said in a deep voice


    "The Corpse King has already started moving, it didn''t smash the meteorite, did it?"


    If that thing really exploded, wouldn''t I directly spiral to heaven right here?


    "No, no, it''s well taken care of, and a special shock-proof box was specifically made for it. Ordinary handling won''t cause issues, plus that Corpse King doesn''t move around much on its own unless it''s disturbed from the outside."


    After hearing this, Tao Yu pondered for a moment. He could now choose to go back and just report the missionpleted as the information gained was definitely substantial, but he still wanted to give it a try himself!


    Apart from the rising cost of Yuan Force as his strength increased, the next step Tao Yu wanted to start, which was the secondary enhancement of some skills, was also a money pit.


    The secondary consumption of [Basic Breathing Technique - Modified] was almost thirty thousand Yuan Force, [Bullet Time] was in the hundreds of thousands, [Five Forms as One] in the two hundred thousands!


    With such a shortfall, he could only take on a big job.


    "Take me over there to observe, I''ll see if I can deal with that Corpse King."


    The words of Tao Yu made the group''s faces change, and then they earnestly tried to dissuade him


    "Please don''t, can you see why we have so few people here, and why there''s hardly anybat staff? Besides those who broke throughter, most died in that thing''s rampage. Firearms have a limited effect on it!"


    "Even a shot to the head is useless?"


    "Probably useless, I remember its skull is extremely tough, maybe a bit, but it requires a lot of shots."


    Recalling some of the data from the research, the researcher said uncertainly and then added


    "We''ve never seen anyone else fighting it. The area is a ssified zone with a separate surveince room. We could only hear lots of gunfire, then everyone died, and after that, we closed the istion door."


    As she said this, her gaze seemed a bit distracted, perhaps there were people who were not dead yet, but they had prematurely cut off others'' lifelines.


    "Is there a venttion duct nearby?"


    Tao Yu was also considering an escape route.


    "Yes, but don''t worry, it can''t get through that."


    "First take me to see it, I''ll decide based on the situation."


    "Alright..."


    The researcher was somewhat helpless and then quietly walked off in a direction, barefoot. Meanwhile, Tao Yu said to Jack


    "It''s enough for me to take a look, you know, I have some special abilities."


    Tao Yu''s words made Jack nod. He had asked several times how Tao Yu got into Cao Shaolin''s room, and although he didn''t get an answer, now he wondered if the venttion duct could be a way to evacuate.


    After carefully observing the size of the venttion duct, Tao Yu also felt more assured.


    "I''ll try going in to take a look, if it doesn''t work, I''ll pull out."


    "No, no, it''s very fast, and the protective doors might not close in time."


    The survivors from theboratory were all shaking their heads vigorously.


    "You don''t need to open the door for me, I have a way to get in. Give me some more rted information so I can understand the situation better."


    Hearing Tao Yu say this, everyone looked at each other, and then it was the female researcher who stepped forward to speak


    "After we got here, we have been keeping it soaked in liquid nitrogen to preserve it. When we tested the bone strength during research, we found it wasparable to steel, especially the skull. Ordinary bullets probably can''t prate it, though maybe they could enter through the eyes."


    As the researcher spoke up to this point, she looked at Tao Yu''s reaction and then paused briefly before continuing


    "Moreover, the flesh of the Corpse King is also quite tough, serving as high-quality cushioning, and its resistance to all kinds of physical damage is very strong."


    Tao Yu pondered upon hearing the words.


    Bones as hard as steel? Even the Warlord''s Standard-issue Pistol might have a hard time prating that.


    However, my Basic Shooting - Modified is really urate when aiming for the eye sockets, and if it reallyes down to it, using the Giant Lizard''s Fang inbination with the strike that harnesses Shadow Force whening out of invisibility should be able to cut through the neck.


    If worstes to worst, I could always use Yuan Force to recover and retreat.


    With a fresh deposit of seven thousand Yuan Force funds, Tao Yu felt it might be worth giving it a try.


    "Okay, I understand, I''ll go give it a try, and I won''t overdo it," Tao Yu assured.


    "Once you try, there''s noing back! That thing is the source of the apocalypse!"


    The few who were still hoping that Tao Yu and Jack could lead them to safety continued to plead.


    At worst, even if they just stayed here, having two individuals with off-the-chartsbat abilities gave them a sense of security. Why the rush to court death?


    "Let''s just say it still counts as a zombie," Tao Yu said with a slight smile.


    "It does..."


    "Then there''s no problem. When ites to dealing with zombies, I''m a professional."


    Tao Yu checked his equipment and, after trying on the new suit, loaded his ammunition, set down his backpack, and prepared to enter the fray unencumbered.


    Besides that, he took out two Qi Replenishing Pills and held them in his mouth.


    If I can avoid using Yuan Force for recovery, I will¡ªit''s just not cost-effective.


    "Don''t be afraid, this is my special ability," Tao Yu reassured them.


    He reminded them not to scream in shock, and the next moment, Tao Yu disappeared into the shadows in the dimboratory as if he were smoke spreading out in a watercolor painting when touched by water, vanishing from everyone''s sight!


    This prompted exmations of awe from everyone.


    For sure, evolution left us behind!


    But if it''s him, maybe he really could solve this problem...


    ...


    Tao Yu moved directly into the venttion duct from the world of fragmented shadows, the reflections around him receding rapidly as his speed surged.


    Apanied by massive stamina consumption and the chewing and absorption of the Qi Replenishing Pills, the next moment he was on the other side of the metal door through that venttion duct.


    Cao Shaolin, with his high Spirit Perception, was aware of his own normal state, but a mere zombie...


    When Tao Yu emerged from the venttion duct and saw the figure with fangs, spiked armor, arms held straight out, and wearing an official Qing Dynasty robe beginning to turn its head, even he was close to cursing his mother. Isn''t that the test subject?


    What''s with these clothes!? Was it included at capture, or is this your sick sense of humor?


    What zombie? What Corpse King?


    Haven''t you ever seen a zombie movie?


    Why is it a zombie!!


    This is Uncle Ji''s territory!


    Why not just bring out Arthas for good measure?


    Seeing the ce littered with desated corpses ofboratory personnel, Tao Yu''s heart was tingling with trepidation, this was a zombie that had already fed on human blood.


    But as he synced into Bullet Time and realized the zombie was just sniffing around without pinpointing his location, Tao Yu did not flee right away.


    "Shadow Evasion doesn''t leave a scent; is it tracking ''life force''?"


    Now that I''m here, might as well give it a try...

 Chapter 67: 58: Thrilling

    "Shit!"


    As he stared at the thing called the ''Corpse King,'' Tao Yu''s resentment nearly materialized.


    Although he didn''t know where the test subject got its clothes from, the thing was thoroughly a textbook zombie!


    Luckily, Tao Yu was quite the fan of Uncle Nine''s films, and though he hadn''t brought any glutinous rice or ink brushes, as soon as he saw the zombie sniffing around, he immediately held his breath and used the speed enhanced by Shadow Evasion to retreat quickly.


    As expected, the zombie just stood there and made no further movements.


    Reaching the end of the corridor, which turned into a T-junction, Tao Yu backed up against the wall and pulled out the Warlord''s Sidearm, before squeezing the trigger without hesitation.


    Bang!


    The bullet, apanied by a sh of fire, had just left the barrel when the zombie, which had been standing in front of the metal door, noticed Tao Yu. Its stiff legs kicked off the ground and its whole body shot towards Tao Yu like a cannonball!


    Its raised arms were like harpoons!


    The force, the burst of speed¡ªit was all too visible, even within the slowed perception of Bullet Time.


    Though not as fast as a bullet, it was quicker than both Cao Shaolin and the Scaled Kirin!


    With erupting forcebined with the eleration used during Bullet Time, Tao Yu anticipated the zombie''s trajectory and began sidestepping while continuously pulling the trigger.


    He let the bullets, which distorted the air as they flew, shoot one after another at the lurching zombie.


    And his main target was its eyes!


    Thwack~


    Even a zombie''s eyes couldn''t withstand the impact of Tao Yu''s Warlord''s Sidearm.


    With the trajectory modified by Basic Shooting - Modified, all of Tao Yu''s shots hit their mark!


    They also carried the inherent mental shock.


    In theory, this should have been a perfect start.


    But Tao Yu, still in the midst of Bullet Time, felt a sinking feeling in his heart.


    The mental attack that came with his Basic Shooting - Modified hadn''t shown the slightest effect for the first time!


    Not just the mental shock¡ªthe zombie that got shot in the eye seemed unfazed, its expression as stiff and unchanged as before.


    The oing figure wasn''t swayed in the slightest!


    It was as if what had entered its eyes were not bullets, but less than mosquitoes!


    Fortunately, Tao Yu had been evading in advance. Although the zombie had extraordinary power, its trajectory was quite predictable.


    While Tao Yu''s bullets were ineffective, he had already sidestepped the zombie''s lunge.


    The zombie''s arms, like steel forks, heavily collided with the metallic-colored wall in front, tearing through the metal and embedding deeply into the reinforced concrete behind.


    The violent impact made Tao Yu feel the vibration beneath his feet, and seeing the arms stuck deep past the wrists in the concrete, he discarded any thought of using his force to strike the zombie and once again held his breath to slip into the shadows!


    A body of steel?


    Do you think you''re Superman?


    Slipping into the shadows again, Tao Yu didn''t choose to retreat but instead pushed his double-concealment skills to the limit, moving continuously around the area and constantly draining his physical and mental strength.


    The Shadow Force around him grew denser as the skills reached their limits.


    He even began to consume Yuan Force to recover and replenish himself.


    Embush - Modified, a skill inherited from the Alien, didn''t cost as much as concealment to enhance, but it did harness the Shadow Force emitted while enacting Shadow Evasion.


    "This time, I want to see where the limit lies!"


    Thest time Tao Yu activated Embush - Modified was against Cao Shaolin, but that time he didn''t push it to the limit. Cao Shaolin sensed him and managed to break the knife, which was a rather embarrassing debut.


    But the failure wasn''t just because the Shadow Force wasn''t enough. Cao Shaolin''s anticipation of the danger and his use of an elbow to catch the strike from the side were critical factors.


    Otherwise, a hit would have been lethal!


    I refuse to believe that a zombie, straightforward as it is, could do the same!


    "Die for me!"


    Seizing the moment the zombie pulled out its arms and lost its bnce, Tao Yu propelled his speed to its limit from within the shadows, charging with an explosive force far beyond his normal capabilities, stacking it with his own strength.


    His force was born from Qi-Blood, spiraling from the soles of his feet to his groin, then up his spine, before culminating in a seamless flow from his waist, back, shoulders, and wrist.


    The highest form of explosive power from the Myriad Streams Five Forms, the tiger shape, was perfectly executed.


    Pop pop pop~


    Sounds like snapping bowstrings kept erupting from Tao Yu''s body.


    Since his physical fitness surpassed the human limit, this was another instance where his body neared total copse.


    The knee and wrist guards that were barely used shattered in session, fulfilling their purpose. Even the clothes from Tao Yu''s right trouser leg to his sleeve scattered like a Celestial Maiden casting flowers.


    A visible bulge traveled up his arm, creating a mist-like trail through the air.


    The suddenly fracturing shadows, like ink being spilled in reverse, swiftly copsed from covering his entire body and converged in Tao Yu''s hand, focusing on the Colossal Lizard''s Fang.


    Ptui~


    Concrete-shattering, bone-breaking force crushed the zombie''s head on impact!


    Thud~


    Tao Yu grabbed the soaring head with one hand and kicked the zombie''s body with his foot, then quickly retreated, using the force to pull back and distance himself.


    Indeed, the zombie whose head was taken swung its arms back in retaliation, creating a thunderous st that grazed Tao Yu''s cheek, stinging painfully.


    But had he not retreated immediately after taking the head, a direct hit would have been far more damaging than just a sting...


    As Tao Yu hastily retreated, he slid backwards on the ground for a distance before fixating his gaze on the zombie''s body.


    There wasn''t a spot on his body that didn''t hurt, but it didn''t affect his movements in the slightest.


    "Previously, I was mistaken. Zombies have substance but no soul. Normal mental attacks are indeed useless, and the brain isn''t the centralmand. But once the head is gone, their ability to track targets is lost."


    Watching the zombie spin on the spot in a frenzy, its attacks carving cracks in the concrete with torn metal, Tao Yu also breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    Although things started off badly, his gamble was paying off now!


    This zombie, who knew who had created it, seemed to have been specially modified, given that it could serve as a source of contamination.


    It must be tied to the real mastermind behind the global biochemical crisis.


    But no matter what, this should still be a standard zombie, not something out of myths and legends. Therefore, it had its limits.


    Bearing the soreness in his entire body, Tao Yu moved towards the doorway and then yelled outside,


    "Open the door! I''ve mostly handled the problem. Bring me all the Molotov cocktails, I''m going to burn it down."


    Tao Yu faintly heard a brief argument outside, followed by the metal door slowly opening.


    There, Jack was holding others at gunpoint, making them carry out the task without giving them any chance to argue or exin.


    After the door opened, everyone watched in horror at the headless zombie still throwing a tantrum and the head in Tao Yu''s hand.


    Had it really been dealt with?!


    "Damn..."


    The African American Jam raised his finger in a daze.


    Jack also sighed in relief, ncing at the head Tao Yu was holding while pulling out homemade gasoline bombs from his backpack.


    Tao Yu himself had brought a couple inside, but judging from the zombie''s initial strength, two probably wouldn''t be enough.


    Now, using them all, let''s burn steel to g!


    Crackle and pop~


    Boom~


    The gasoline bottles shattered precisely on the zombie''s body, engulfing it in mes.


    Then came the second bottle, the third bottle...

 Chapter 68: 59: Huge Harvest (Update by Alliance Hierarch Newbie Village Chief Tyrael)

    The roaring mes burned fiercely, and in the corridor lit only by emergency lights, they seemed particrly blinding. At a high temperature exceeding eighteen hundred degrees, all the gasoline bottles were consumed before the zombie finally fell to the ground with a crash, motionless.


    Tao Yu even made a point of separating and burning the zombie''s head, not knowing whether it was the body or the head that was the fatal factor.


    "Thankfully there''s nothing much mmable in this corridor, otherwise we''d have a fire on our hands," he said.


    Looking at the scorched ck corridor and the billowing, pungent ck smoke, Tao Yu, who had been constantly snacking, finally heaved a sigh of relief.


    The Yuan Force was gathering!


    Sess!


    In terms of physical traits alone, the zombie was much stronger than Cao Shaolin.


    But aside from the self-inflicted damage during his stacking attacks while breaking defense, the overall sense of crisis was actually less than that of his encounter with Cao Shaolin.


    The zombie possessed immense strength and off-the-charts defense, but its straightforward, mindless attacks were perfectly countered by Tao Yu''s own fighting style.


    If Cao Shaolin had faced the zombie head-on, he would surely have been killed by it. I would have been killed by Cao Shaolin in a direct confrontation, but even if I faced the zombie head-on, I would still be able to maneuver!


    The culmination of the Yuan Force concentrated on the zombie''s hand¡ªor rather, its w¡ªwhich was burnt somewhat crispy and emanating a stench of char.


    Tao Yu went over and simply broke off the carbonized w.


    At the same time, his other hand was still stuffing chocte into his mouth.


    This vigorous action left theboratory survivors gaping in shock.


    This individual with the power to vanish suddenly and supernatural abilities, he wouldn''t really eat that ''Corpse King''s'' w, would he?


    This person seems a bit perverted, psychologically twisted¡­


    "It''s a pity my clothes got burned. Otherwise, they would have been a decent item," Tao Yu mused.


    Recalling the question he had asked them earlier, the clothing had been delivered along with the zombie, and wearing it made control easier, seemingly having a suppressive effect¡ªnot because they had a perverse interest.


    w of the Zombie: A w that has gathered the essence of a zombie, seemingly containing some Corpse Refining Art. Absorbs a thousand Yuan Force.


    In terms of Yuan Force value, it was about the same as Cao Shaolin''s Warlord''s Sidearm, equivalent to fifty aliens!


    "If I couldn''t hit it solidly, with the Dexterity of an alien, perhaps one could even entangle it. It must be an enhancement from a skill," Tao Yu considered.


    What truly excited Tao Yu was that this was a skill withplete functionality, different from the Warlord''s Sidearm, which was useless after absorbing the gun; this item involved absorbing skill information and contamination information together.


    Without the slightest hesitation, Tao Yu, who could Deify skills, immediately chose to absorb.


    The influx of a thousand Yuan Force, along with the absorption of residual Yuan Force from the damaged equipment,pletely replenished Tao Yu''s previously consumed Yuan Force and even increased it by five hundred units.


    The most crucial thing was that Tao Yu now had another skill orb that waspletely different from the ones he had before!


    Unlike the bodily andbat skills, this one appeared separately above the rest.


    Art of Corpse Refinement: A secret method of Corpse Refinement that allows one to cultivate different zombies over periods of seven days, forty-nine days, or eighty-one days by incorporating various toxins for enhancement. The process requires constant nourishment with one''s own blood.


    Each zombie controlled will upy a portion of mental fortitude; controlling additional zombies will incrementally increase the consumption¡­


    While it wasn''t the mythical type of zombie that could fly or burrow, and indeed the previous zombie had many ws such as being rigid and direct in attack,


    and despite having a strong physique, it could probably be bound by just one or two aliens,


    But!


    The imprable body and terrifying strength made it an exceptionally good meat shield, which was a perfect supplement for Tao Yu, whose stamina and energy endurance were poor.


    Most importantly¡­


    The Deification cost two thousand five!


    For Tao Yu, this was not a point of hesitation.


    "I spent five hundred just to replenish physical strength and mental energy. Compared to that, what''s two thousand five!" he eximed.


    From an original peak at seven thousand five, his Yuan Force sharply dropped back down to five thousand!


    Art of Corpse Refinement ¨C Modified: Omitted. The zombies nourished by my own blood can be shadowy, eliminating the weakness of zombies fearing the Yang energy.


    The change wasn''t major, but as Tao Yu understood the meaning naturally conveyed, he felt a considerable surge of excitement.


    Shadowing!


    Simr to the use of Shadow Force like Shadow Evasion!


    It''s not that zombies can be invisible, but one can choose a zombie to be their own shadow, merging into it!


    And when necessary, the consumption of mental power can be increased to allow part of the zombie''s body to transform into Shadow Force duringbat, making its movements more dexterous!


    The downside is that, like all Deification skills, actively transforming part of the zombie into shadow inbat consumes a lot of mental energy, and it also takes more passive mental energy to control the zombie.


    In exchange, when the zombie passively hides in the shadows without transforming, there is no extra consumption.


    "Regardless, the effects after Deification are far superior to before,pensating for the greatest need for flexibility. Otherwise, it would also be a bit weird to be running around with a zombie every day, and atst, I finally have a ce to stash things..."


    Feeling the profoundness of that skill, Tao Yu had a pretty clear idea that although zombies can''t merge a backpack into the shadows, it was still possible to hang ''equipment'' and store some small items on them.


    How safe it is to be in the shadows.


    However, the prerequisite is to refine one''s own zombie first.


    "When I have moneyter, I wonder if it''s possible to use zombies for mechanical transformations or Alien imnts."


    Thinking about the lowest price of mechanical transformations and Alien imnts, Tao Yu couldn''t help but sigh. With that kind of money, of course, he would first upgrade himself, and see if there would be a chance in the future.


    As for the materials for manufacturing...


    The first thing that came to Tao Yu''s mind was the richdy''s lizard-scaled creature that he had burned, which made him feel a pang of regret.


    Such perfect material, and it even had toxins itself!


    But then Tao Yu thought of Cao Shaolin''s body, which didn''t seem to have been burned, right? Wasn''t it buried in the garden?


    There''s still time to salvage it now!


    As for toxins...


    Tao Yu reflected on the needs of the Corpse Refining Art, with thoughts racing through his mind.


    It was probably a zombie raised by a ''Fortune Thief'', and the virus likely infused into it was probably the zombie virus,bined with its own corpse poison to create such a strong infection power. It''s no wonder!


    With a tinge of mysticism, it indeed bes hard to guard against!


    Also, considering that the source of infection wasn''t just one ce, it indicated that the guy raising those zombies probably had quite a number of them!


    ording to the records of the Corpse Refining Art, the burden of increasing the number of zombies refined with essence blood grows exponentially. Even if the other party had used some clever method, they clearly were no ordinary individuals.


    Thinking that he had killed a zombie on his side, Tao Yu wondered if that person could feel it.


    "So much time has passed and he still hasn''te to rescue the zombie; he must be preupied with other matters. But I can''t take risks. After eating and recovering, I should hurry and leave, and call for backup..."


    Tao Yu had already made up his mind and had some ideas about this skill.


    Because of various Deification skills, he had a high demand for mental and physical energy consumption. Since he could only hide a single zombie in the shadow on a regr basis, Tao Yu decided to carefully create one or two high-quality zombies.


    A few fine pieces are always better than a swarm of trash, as they offer a higher cost-performance ratio in terms of the mental energy upied.


    After solving the zombie problem and gaining a decent skill, Tao Yu recalled the main purpose of his trip here.


    "Where''s the meteorite?"


    Tao Yu''s mind was preupied with returning to process Cao Shaolin''s corpse, but he couldn''t overlook the other major gain.


    In Tao Yu''s view, even if the meteorite itself didn''t contain much Yuan Force, the effects were clear. Although it served limited personal use for him, selling it to those young masters anddies from the Floating City should at least a baseline of one hundred thousand, right?


    Plus, with the discovery of Jack being the ''Chosen One'', maybe it would allow him to further enhance his talent through Deification!


    "I, I''ll take you there."


    The middle-aged female researcher seemed to feel some reverence towards Tao Yu, using honorifics unconsciously.


    With this insider''s help, coupled with the malfunction of the electrical facilities, they easily made their way to anotherb, where in the center, a transparent container held a viscous liquid simr to mercury, encasing the meteorite like it was in amber.


    "Very good."


    Tao Yu smiled and walked over. This way, it would be easy to take it with him, no need to worry about exploding due to too much vibration during transport.


    "Hmm, maybe it''s better to take it back directly and then sell it when those two return."


    Tao Yu pondered. Although the two of them were strong and could stay in the Abyss much longer, during the early stages, they would probably stille back to get some targeted items based on the situation, right?


    But as Tao Yu casually touched the transparent container, wanting to see what exactly it contained, he suddenly froze.


    Shattered World''s Heart: Can enhance talents or has a chance to activate new talents.


    Fuck fuck fuck fuck!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 69: 60 New Talent (Five more s for subscription)

    ```


    Shattered World''s Heart?


    What is that? I''ve never even heard of it!


    I apologize, as Tao Yu, a simple peasant from the outskirts, is unfamiliar with such things...


    However, Tao Yu quickly remembered some stories he had heard from his parents. Indeed, there had always been rumors of talent changes among themon folk.


    The rumors even suggested the possibility of second or third talents, and it was said that some major figures in the Floating City were born with two or three talents.


    But, these had nothing to do with the Outsiders, not one bit!


    So, they remained merely rumors.


    Even Tao Yu never really thought about such things in the short term. After all, he already had a dual talent, so what more could he want? A third talent?


    That certainly wasn''t something to consider at the moment, too far-fetched.


    Learning more skills, continually undergoing Deification, and then saving up for a second Deification of talents was the tangible goal.


    He had his own path, and he was also aware that his current strength was not enough to encounter such things.


    Who would have thought that an unintentional act would bring unexpected sess?


    A fragment of the Shattered World''s Heart?


    Is this the channel for talent enhancement and new talents?!


    Tao Yu pondered continuously. The meteorite itself surely wasn''t the Heart of the World.


    But, this world indeed revolved around that meteorite.


    So, was the Heart of the World the representation of the most important and core aspect of a World Fragment?


    Then why wasn''t the Blood Orchid considered as such?


    Or is it that not every world is capable of nurturing a Heart of the World?


    Tao Yu thought of the world barrier that kept the Aliens at bay, and of Jack, the "Chosen One".


    "Indeed, this isn''t something I should be thinking about right now, nor something I can inquire about! The moment I seek out information about it, I would expose the issue. It''s better to use it first and talkter."


    This was something you could encounter but not seek, and Tao Yu had no reason to sell it.


    Although he didn''t have much demand for enhancing his talents, as he already had a path to heaven, he was quite interested in acquiring a third talent.


    Talents and skills are vastly different.


    Talents might not be able to increase one''s upper limit by much, nor offer immediatebat power, but they are a long-term effective auxiliary ability, whose usefulness does not diminish with the increase in one''s strength.


    Moreover, they could also reduce the difficulty of the corresponding series of skills and increase the efficiency of Yuan Force eleration!


    The most noticeable effect Tao Yu felt was with [Basic Shooting - Modified]''s proficiency practice.


    Even with a shortage of bullets, back in the rainforest, he fired a few shots every few days and easily advanced to lv2.


    Also, during his practice at the Myriad Streams Dojo, although Zhang Wei was just an [Endurance] at D+, his Yuan Force eleration efficiency after getting started was quite decent due to the talent in his body.


    It was only because Tao Yu himself could enhance skills, making his body improvement much stronger, that it seemed better. If it were purely a matter of Stance Skill level, Zhang Wei would definitely reach lv3 faster with the same amount of Yuan Force points spent!


    That''s the power of talents!


    [Bullet Time] originated from [Dynamic Vision], though it''s abat talent, its strength lies in shooting, which could also elerate Pupil Skills in the future, but its effect on physical abilities is quite ordinary.


    "If I could choose the category of the new talent, even just likely obtaining it would be worth a shot."


    Tao Yu held the box and nced back at the group of people behind him with calm indifference, ultimately suppressing some of the more nefarious thoughts in his heart.


    Even Jack, a ''Chosen One'', could only passively use Yuan Force to strengthen himself, and they didn''t know what the Heart of the World was.


    "Alright, this turns out to be a pretty decent skill."


    Tao Yu went straight to swallowing the meteorite. After all, once it was absorbed, it would be his, and no one could ask him to regurgitate it.


    "Ah? You figured it out already? That special ability of yours?"


    Jack said with a hint of envy on his face.


    Although Jack could also strengthen himself, it felt different from those so-called ''Pioneers'', too passive.


    "Yep, I''ve absorbed it directly. No objections, right?"


    "Hey, it''s no big deal. Just remember to teach me that Myriad Streams Five Forms, uh, once I get the hang of the Stance Skill."


    ```


    Jack was not particr, as he was simply hired by Tao Yu.


    Thus far, he felt that their rapport was quite good.


    Having learned about the Abyss and the World Fragments, Jack knew he had to n for the future.


    Anyway, judging by the obstructive behavior of the female Lizardman they had encountered, those Pioneers were not so approachable...


    Tao Yu didn''t rush to absorb it all at once; he made some simple exnations, asked someone to move over some more canned goods, and then went to an experimentationb alone to begin the absorption.


    Knowing that Tao Yu had "superpowers" and was the strongest among them, plus with Jack helping to stand guard, no one felt ufortable or tried to sneak a peek.


    As Tao Yu absorbed the force from the Meteorite, which was different from the Yuan Force, he once again sensed the use of the Heart of the World in a profound way.


    Concentrating will on a talent would attempt to strengthen it, and because it was a Shattered World''s Heart, the enhancement had a limit. The stronger the talent, the weaker the enhancement, and the effects of improvement were lower.


    Alternatively, focusing will on a Skill could attempt to open up new talents.


    New talent acquisition wasn''t simply a case of stronger anchored Skills leading to stronger talents; it was merely choosing a direction. Even divine skills would just follow that same vector, and nothing more.


    "Can every talent be slightly improved?"


    Tao Yu first directed this force towards his Divinity, but before it got close, it met with a strong repulsion, unable to even make a connection.


    "Is that it?"


    Tao Yu curled his lip disapprovingly, though the oue was both unexpected and reasonable.


    What could be done with the "Shattered" prefix?


    He didn''t dwell on it any longer but started anchoring Skills to try!


    He had three preliminary choices. The first was Stealth - Modified, as this Skill could bring the Shadow Force, a kind of transcendental ability.


    The second was Five Forms as One - Modified; the emergence of Fist Intention and the potential in his physical attributes¡ªif activated sessfully¡ªwould likely grant a physical talent, which was the safest bet.


    Then Crane Form - Modified was also an option, as it was currently the only Skill that could enhance Spirit Perception.


    Finally, of course, was Corpse Refinement that he had just acquired, but since the power derived from Corpse Refinement was external and considering his own body''s limitations and energy consumption issues,


    Tao Yu still chose to anchor Five Forms as One - Modified.


    "I hope it''s sessful."


    Tao Yu was somewhat nervous; the more talents one possessed, the harder to acquire new ones, and he already had two!


    However, if he failed, it would umte towards the next attempt, so it wouldn''t be a waste.


    While Tao Yu wasforting himself that failure was eptable, a new Talent sphere had alreadye into being.


    Sturdy Body C-: Can lock down one''s Qi-Blood, reducing the loss of Qi-Blood and vital energy, marginally increasing the speed of physical-sided Skills.


    Good news, the new talent had emerged! He was quite lucky!


    Bad news, the new talent was somewhatckluster.


    To others, Sturdy Body wasn''t trash; it was certainly not inferior tomonbat talents like Dynamic Vision or Endurance.


    But the issue was that Tao Yu''s divine attribute, [One Proof Forever Proof], instantly nullified Sturdy Body''s advantage¡ªit only slightly improved the speed of his physical skills.


    "Better than nothing, I guess. It can be deified, and although it may notpare to Bullet Time, it will still increase my training efficiency."


    To deify it would cost a thousand, confirming that its original level was not below that of Dynamic Vision.


    Sturdy Body??: Consolidates spirit and Qi-Blood, transforming spirit into willpower to infuse into various moves, significantly increasing the training speed of physical skills and slightly boosting the training speed of mental-sided Skills.


    Wow!


    I knew it, Deification never disappoints!


    This was aplete metamorphosis!


    "The efficiency of deifying talents far surpasses that of enhancing Skills..."


    Tao Yu considered his Bullet Time, realizing that Five Forms as One was more expensive than enhancing a talent, but indeed, its effect couldn''tpare.


    Yet, Skill improvement provided instant capability enhancement, and some even had the characteristic of increasing limits. They allowed continuous practice to stimte [One Proof Forever Proof],plementing each other and being indispensable...


    "This isn''t quite ''Sturdy Body'' anymore, ''Fist Intent'' should be quite good."


    The next moment, Tao Yu''s talent underwent a change: Fist Intent S-!


    ¡ª

 Chapter 70: 61 Changes

    "Exciting! Exciting! Exciting!"


    The air was filled with a fierce energy, and the group beside him could feel a gust of wind hitting their faces as they watched the agile figure dancing in front of them.


    Tao Yu had gone through the Myriad Streams Five Forms one by one and felt the smoothness in his body, a vast improvement in efficiencypared to before, and a burst of pride surged from his chest.


    Originally, due to diminishing returns and the increased consumption of Yuan Force from his strength enhancement, Tao Yu''s body refining efficiency had visibly declined.


    But now, he was back to feeling just like when he first entered the Myriad Streams Dojo.


    This was the super cost-effective nature of the physical side talents!


    Beyond that...


    "Jack! Watch me!"


    Jack, who had been watching Tao Yu and asionally trying to mimic him, looked up at Tao Yu''s face when he heard him.


    Tao Yu then formed his hand into a w, mimicking the form of a tiger, and pounced forward, pressing down fiercely towards Jack.


    In an instant, Jack seemed to see a fierce, colourful tiger leaping towards him, as if an invisible tiger''s phantom rose from behind Tao Yu, merged with him, and then a double image appeared at the tiger''s w.


    Roar!


    It was as if the roar of a tiger was rising beside his ear, causing Jack''s thoughts to go nk for a moment.


    When he came back to his senses, he saw the tiger''s w stopped right in front of his eyes.


    Oh, not a tiger''s w, but Tao Yu''s palm.


    He could even clearly see the lines on the palm.


    "How does that feel?"


    "Teach me, father."


    "Haha, I promised to teach you, and I will. Whether you can master the real skills, that''s up to you."


    Tao Yu didn''t borate, as this thing couldn''t be clearly exined. Anyway, Five Forms as One originally had real substance, and Jack''s talents were strong, so he should be able to develop something from it.


    After experiencing the new talent, Tao Yu was actually very satisfied.


    The deification of several basic skills all brought spiritual attacks, with Basic Shooting - Modified''s mental shock being particrly impactful on several crucial asions.


    But the pure efficiency of that impact was actually so-so. Back then, even after being hit by it, Cao Shaolin could still clench onto the de, and now with the integration of will, there was no doubt that the efficiency was much higher, and it could even be released from a distance!


    Although there was significant attenuation with distance, the main purpose of a will impact was to catch the enemy off guard and distract them, making it a powerful addition to his toolkit.


    Tao Yu''s skills were most suitable for delivering a one-hit kill, and this could lead to a massive advantage if it produced an opening.


    This gain far exceeded his expectations!


    "Now I shouldn''t be in such a rush for a second deification since Five Forms as One - Modified has increased my potential and there''s still much to explore. However, saving money is still important..."


    Having recently received arge delivery thanks to a temporary replenishment of Yuan Force, Tao Yu decided that he must always save at least a thousand or two thousand units of Yuan Force for emergencies, just in case!


    "You''ve decided not to break through anymore, right?"


    While tearing open a can of beef and starting to eat, Tao Yu spoke to the survivors in theboratory.


    "Since you''ve taken care of the biggest issue, we think we''ll stay here. After all, there''s plenty of food."


    The chubby ck man, Jam, was operating a small forklift, bringing over severalrge boxes of canned goods from the warehouse. Without the threat of the ''Corpse King'', it was naturally safer underground. Jack had already briefly described the situation outside.


    "Actually, we were hoping you''d stay too. There''s more than enough food here," said a young, rather pretty girl with a few freckles on her face, inviting Tao Yu.


    Her gaze was boldly fixed on Tao Yu''s handsome face, her enthusiasm not even slightly hidden.


    The fiery sensation gave Tao Yu some feedback in his Spirit Perception.


    But right now, Tao Yu wasn''t interested in wasting any time and directly ignored the invitation.


    "I have to go back to thepany for some business, and besides, this ce is well-located; it may be chosen by thepany as a base."


    Tao Yu gave them a heads-up in advance.


    Originally, the base was surrounded by the Gobi Desert; although it had existing military facilities that could save a lot of trouble, itcked water sources and wasn''t quite suitable.


    Right next to Las Vegas is the Hoover Dam, which would actually be a good choice as well.


    But ording to some casual conversation with the few people here, it turned out that there was an abundance of underground water resources beneath the base; it''s just that previously as a military base, there was no need for any greening.


    Once the water source issue was resolved, the base''s location could suddenly receive a boost in desirability.


    After all, safety first in the Abyss World!


    If the water source is not a problem, then theprehensive defense works of the base immediately appear to be of utmost importance.


    The surrounding Gobi Desert actually bes a barrier, which inversely increases the safety and bes an advantage.


    Anyway, when it''s time to really submit the mission, the military base, Las Vegas, and the Hoover Dam can all be reported as potential locations for selection¡ªit''s up to them to decide.


    I''m just after the mission rewards!


    "Can I ask about the details of yourpany?"


    The middle-aged woman, who was a researcher, had a worried look on her face.


    "It has a bad reputation; the lower ranks are only slightly better than ves, but if you''re of value, the treatment will be better."


    Tao Yu decided to give them a dose of the harsh truth upfront¡ªlike a ''hang you from themp post'' kind ofpany.


    This turned everyone present quite pale.


    But then Tao Yu added seriously,


    "However, it should be the only ce here that can forge a rtively normal settlement, at least able to restore some order."


    "The only power capable of restoring order is that strong?"


    The few of them were somewhat dazed, starting with the expectation of a ''bad reputation,'' but after thetterment, they felt it wasn''t uneptable.


    Restoring order was something they hardly dared to think about, but recalling Tao Yu''s previously impressive superpowers, who had killed the Corpse King, they seemed to slowlye to terms with it.


    Being locked up in this sunless underground ce every day, they felt that if order could be restored, they could ept even the intensivebor!


    Humans, after all, are social animals.


    "Alright, we''ll wait here, don''t worry, we''ll definitely cooperate."


    "I also need to find a way to bring my people over."


    Jack had also made up his mind; if the zombies inside the military base could be cleared out, then it indeed would be a very good ce.


    Strictpany management?


    Could it be worse than the current situation of constantly being at risk? Dealing with zombies every day, searching for food among the hordes, life had already been hell!


    If thepany Tao Yu spoke of really was that strong, it was definitely worth a gamble.


    Survival is the top priority!


    Moreover, even if thepany didn''t choose this ce, with the food storage here, even if including his own people, it would be more than enough for long-term living...


    "I''ll apany you back first, and then I need to return to thepany."


    Tao Yu spoke calmly to Jack, which unexpectedly touched him.


    "Haha, you''re worried I might run into trouble, huh?"


    Seeing Jack''s cheerful demeanor, Tao Yu opened her mouth but in the end, didn''t say anything.


    Uh, she was just after Cao Shaolin''s body...


    ¡­

 Chapter 71: 62: Negotiation

    ```


    Under the cover of the setting sun, the Gobi Desert seemed to have beenid with a red carpet.


    Jack drove the pickup truck around Las Vegas once again, returning to the highway.


    "Can you make it or not? Didn''t you say we would definitely arrive by tonight?"


    Tao Yu sat in the passenger seat,zily speaking while eating a can of beef.


    "How could I know we''d be so unlucky, with two t tires."


    Jack had an expression of speechlessness.


    Since they hade out of the base in the afternoon after resolving the ''Corpse King'' issue, the two of them did not have enough time to climb out of the military camp and return, so Jack simply took Tao Yu back into Las Vegas to gather some supplies, and after resting outside for a night, they set off again.


    It took a total of three days and two nights to solve the problem and bring back quite a lot of materials, which was already very efficient.


    However, it was unfortunate that the environment on the Gobi Desert was notparable to that of the highway. The continuous tire damage wasted a lot of time, causing them to bypass Las Vegas just at dusk, and finally returned to the highway.


    There is a moreplex road condition to enter Henderson, and it is unlikely that they will make it before dark.


    Tao Yu was just speaking off the cuff while running the Breathing Technique to stimte the Qi-Blood forces toplete some enhancements; he then raised his fully charged watch to listen to what information there was on the two channels today.


    "...to the south there is another rainforest, preliminarily confirmed as the Alien 01 fragments stretching around two thousand kilometers north to south, it is roughly determined that the Rainforest 02 in the south far exceeds Rainforest 01 in size.


    "The air is toxic andcks oxygen, posing a high threat to normal people. Individualscking strength need professional equipment to enter. In the sky, one can see a blue gaseous; the flora and fauna are very peculiar, presenting extreme danger to the Outsiders of the Development Zone.


    "Primitive tribal civilization of tall humanoid creatures has been initially discovered; the world barrier at the same time restricts all interactions, causing minimal impact on the outside world..."


    Obviously, the north-south distance of the Alien world was much shorter than the east-west direction, only two thousand kilometers, no wonder they had reached the south in just a few days.


    With this information, an outline formed in Tao Yu''s mind.


    The characteristics of that world they mentioned were so distinct, Tao Yu knew it must be the Pandora World, a special with room-temperature superconductive ore!


    Thinking of the Floating City hanging above Starshine City, Tao Yu knew that the technological elements of his own world were not low.


    However, judging from their regret of obtaining the spaceship wreckage previously, they must possess more of the ability to directly use things from world fragments, because the Miasma has divided all cities, and a single city clearly has already lost the capability for full industrialization, with toorge a gap in theplete industry chain.


    Perhaps they have unique insights into mutation, mechanical modification, and other aspects, but most likely, they are notprehensive.


    Based on actions brought from the Abyss, modification is stronger than manufacturing.


    "But nevertheless, it is room-temperature superconductivity; even if it is used in some mechanical retrofit enhancement, it is quite strong..."


    Tao Yu pondered silently. For the time being, it seemed they had not yet discovered those superconductors.


    Thebat capabilities of the creatures and the Na''vi people in the World of Avatar appeared to be quite formidable, posing much greater threats than the Python.


    An individual Python might not be weak, butpared to the numbers, they are too few, and they are not capable of systemicbat like the Na''vi, not to mention that there are also human forces at y there.


    All sorts of high-techbat weapons are present, and the poisoned air, toxic for humans, is also trouble, requiring specialized equipment to enter.


    Furthermore, there''s also a nt-based ''Divine Spirit'' whose depth is unknown.


    In terms of the overall power of the new Development Zone, it''s really not that strong. They rely entirely on the folks from the two Floating Cities.


    It''s just unknown what the real limits of the two from the Floating City are, and in case they find Unobtainium, whether they would invest more resources here.


    "What a pity, I wonder if there''s aplete financial system in Floating City. Wouldn''t it be a bloodbath if now''s the time to bottom-fish in the machinery sector?"


    Tao Yu kept pondering how to bring benefits


    "If we could really secure the Unobtainium of the Avatar World, then machinery might have the upper hand over alien imntation in the future... right?"


    Tao Yu was not too sure himself. He wasn''t a financial expert; it was fine to talk strategy, but actually putting it into practice, he could blow his assets in minutes because ultimately, the rules were in the hands of others. What if they just disconnect your inte?


    ```


    However, the situation with the Avatars was neither a current issue for the settlement nor for Tao Yu.


    "Even if I could get there now and seize the Unobtanium mine, I wouldn''t have the strength to hold onto it, and it might even cost me my life. Besides, that ''Eva'' with the Heart of the World isn''t something I can covet in the short term.


    "Better take care of the present first, process Cao Shaolin''s body properly, handle a simplified version in seven days, and look for a chance to upgradeter.


    "Then I''ll return and sell this ''Chosen One'' Jack, along with the base coordinates intelligence, the money should sustain me for a while..."


    Tao Yu nned out his short-term goals.


    The Jack who was driving beside him suddenly shivered, then turned back to Tao Yu andined,


    "Are you thinking about something bad?"


    "Heh, let''s just think about how we''re going to get through tonight, shall we head back under the cover of night?"


    Tao Yu didn''t really mind on his own since his vision wouldn''t be affected by the night, but he had to consider Jack, especially since night driving in the city was much more difficult. Unless necessary, it was better not to take the risk.


    "I''ll try to get in contact first, we should be close enough."


    Jack adjusted the radio.


    Both the pickup and the settlement were equipped with radios, not stations, but rather extended-range walkie-talkies. Now that they were close to the city, the internal frequency should be reachable.


    "Is anyone there, who''s on duty today, can you hear me?"


    Jack continued to drive towards the city.


    After a while, a voice came through the walkie-talkie, but with quite a lot of noise, indicating they were probably at the limit of themunication range.


    "Sss~ Brother Jack, are you guys back? Today Tommy''s on duty. Something came up, and he went to deal with it with Senke."


    "What happened?"


    Jack nced at the increasingly dim sky and frowned involuntarily.


    "It''s about those three guys who disappearedst time; theirpanions have appeared and say they want to negotiate."


    Tao Yu had been somewhat indifferent beside him, but at this, he showed a bit of surprise, quicklying to terms with the situation.


    "They probably went to get help, maybe someone was nning toe in, and they happen to be nearby."


    Outsiders likely didn''t have the money to issue missions, so these so-calledpanions were probably just trying to lend a hand, to see if they could get them out or distract the focus to give them a chance to escape on their own.


    The likelihood of them risking their lives was small.


    Considering the timing, their cooldown periods haven''t even finished yet, so it''s probably just a probe.


    "So what do we do?"


    Jack thought of the dead Lizardman and looked a bit solemn.


    "Don''t worry too much, they''re likely from the outside with limited strength; that''s why they''re thinking of negotiating. Otherwise, they would''vee in fighting. But indeed, we ought to be cautious. Let''s try to return tonight. We Pioneers do have a rather low bottom line."


    Tao Yu was unbothered by revealing his shorings, as the environment dictated such oues.


    When survival bes problematic, there''s no point in talking about morals..."


    ...


    Meanwhile, on another rooftop stood four scruffy figures donned in all sorts of weird gear, even including a frying pan, looking across the street at the hotel from where Tao Yu had crossed using the ropes.


    On the opposite side stood Tommy and Senke, armed, along with two other adult males from the settlement, in a standoff.


    As the street below was filled with zombies, neither party shouted across the street to each other.


    Instead, Tommy and his group used the ropes, which had not been removed, to slide a walkie-talkie over.


    However, creating an awkward and rather cold scene was the group on the other side, huddled together and fiddling with the device for quite a while without establishingmunication.


    This left Tommy and Senke exchanging nces, bewildered.


    "Looks like we have four idiots over there..."

 Chapter 72: 63: Clubs

    "Brother Chao, this thing looks like a walkie-talkie, but it''s different from ours. What if I mess with it and identally change the frequency?"


    Zhang Wei looked at the buttons on the walkie-talkie, feeling like he shouldn''t tamper with them.


    "It''s probably a walkie-talkie. It''s because of ourck of education, sigh."


    The man called Brother Chao, Lin Chao, sighed at this moment as well.


    "Education? What does that have to do with anything?"


    Another man who looked somewhat mixed-race didn''t seem to care much. Most Outsiders were illiterate or semi-literate, and few could fully recognize characters. He didn''t think wasting time on this would increase their survival rate.


    "The Chief once said that the purpose of reading is to broaden your horizons and expand your vision. If we were really familiar with the functions of our own walkie-talkies, then even if this one looks different, we''d know how to use it."


    Lin Chao spoke in a calm tone.


    Thement made a girl standing nearby, who looked somewhat like Lin Chao and had the delicate features of a beauty, wrinkle her nose and snort lightly.


    "All day it''s the Chief this, the Chief that, enough already..."


    "It should be like this."


    Before the girl could finish, Lin Chao had already figured out how to use the walkie-talkie and then stepped under the eaves to take a deep breath looking across.


    With the passage of a few points of Yuan Force, he could almost finish the trantion at this distance.


    This was the high cost-effective special ability bestowed upon them by the will of the world as they walked among the heavens.


    As long as thenguage of the other party was the same, selecting just one person would suffice to sessfullyplete the trantion.


    "Hello, our visit this time is for negotiation."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Tommy, who was already growing impatient, directly asked,


    "I want to know right now, was it your people who came back and killed ours two days ago?"


    Hearing Tommy''s blunt question, those who had initiated the trantion were also taken aback.


    But they quickly realized that something must have happened and Lin Chao hurriedly exined,


    "Although we are not aware of what happened on your side, I believe there''s some misunderstanding. Our visit not only aims to negotiate but also involves exchanging some extremely useful information for you."


    Tommy had decided toe here, also with his own considerations in mind. They had been on full alert for the past few days, and nothing had happened.


    If they had the ability to kill silently as they didst time, there would indeed be no need to capture someone from his side and release them to send a message.


    Actually, sincerity was already somewhat apparent.


    "You need to convince me. Exin the causes and consequences clearly, and also tell us what you really want to do. Your people have already escaped."


    Tommy''s words caused Lin Chao to breathe a sigh of relief, and he then began to slowly exin the Abyss and the current situation.


    There was no doubt that these unbelievable words caused a tremendous shock to Tommy and his group.


    Inconceivable!


    Yet, while they were inconceivable, they also made logical sense!


    Indeed, it was precisely because they were so inconceivable, coupled with the corroborating appearance of the hignd and Rainforest, not to mention the bizarre disappearance of the three individuals, that everything could form a closed loop, making it quite credible!


    Sincerity is the greatest Assassin''s skill!


    After Lin Chao earnestly exined everything in a calm tone, it left Tommy and the others in silence.


    "We need to discuss this."


    While processing the shocking news, Tommy had also been informed through another walkie-talkie that the boss was starting toe back. However, this walkie-talkie''s range was insufficient, and they couldn''t directly contact Jack right now.


    So he nned to return and use the extended range version at the gathering ce to ask for opinions.


    "Sure, please do as you see fit."


    Lin Chao had no objections.


    "Brother Chao, you''re too easy-going. Why do you have to tell these natives so much?"


    At this point, Zhang Wei again spoke up next to him, somewhat sycophantically and indignantly. Clinging to the powerful as a means of survival was something he learned from a young age.


    "The Chief always said, only sincerity can win hearts. We''re not doing anything shady, so it''s better to speak openly about it."


    "Actually, those three have a month to stay in the present world. We could have picked them up at a convenient time and saved them easily, Brother Chao. You have a Grade B rarebat talent that can be on par with an A+ or even Level S ordinarybat talent."


    Zhang Wei said this with envy in his heart.


    Although the three unlucky individuals had reappeared at the same spot, the ropes that had bound them had been untied when they returned.


    After setting a specific time, and drawing some attention on their side, they would be able to retreat sessfully after aplishing their mission.


    Even taking an extreme approach, given thebination of the four of them, it wasn''t impossible to try to break through directly!


    "The president has said that the indigenous people in these world fragments are also flesh and blood, survivors of the world fragments torn apart by the Abyss."


    Lin Chao''s words were full of ''the president has said,'' and his expression remained calm, without showing anycency for the praises Zhang Wei gave about his talents.


    "Brother, we all know you''re a die-hard fan of the president, can''t you stop mentioning that every time? Plus, that makes you easy to exploit,"


    As Lin Chao''s twin sister, Lin Xue also felt somewhat exasperated at that moment. Her brother was good at everything but too rigid and by-the-book.


    "Yeah, those three guys obviously didn''t have money to post missions and were also worried about their safety; that''s why they chose to join the society on a whim; their motives are impure."


    The mixed-race Tom also spoke up, as if he had some opinions about those few who came seeking help.


    As someone from the bottom of the Outsider, Tom had seen plenty of the dark side of things. He liked the Chaoyang Society and the atmosphere within it very much.


    However, it was undeniable that even when he joined the Chaoyang Society, he did have the intention of seeking refuge. From his perspective, the president''s romantic idealism was impracticable in the Outsider.


    "It''s okay for them to seek help by joining the society. Helping each other in the Abyss to get through difficulties together is indeed our purpose.


    "By being upfront with the natives and sharing so much, I actually want to understand what those three have specifically done. Bybining perspectives and statements from both sides, we can better discern a rtively objective truth, can''t we?"


    Lin Chao''s words were naive and sincere, yet they seemed unassable.


    This made Zhang Wei and Tom both fall silent.


    No matter whether the two of them could achieve that, but at least having such a teammate, also a strong one, was indeed a fortunate thing.


    As people from the bottom of the Outsider, even if they were lucky enough to awaken fighting talents, they still needed to huddle together for warmth.


    How could one person survive in such a hellish environment like the Abyss?


    Zhang Wei awkwardly thought again of Tao Yu, who had rejected him; a Grade A ordinary fighting talent, not much worse than Super, ah. When Wino, an Inner City person, had an opinion about Tao Yu, he had made it too obvious.


    "I knew those two from the Inner City, one dead and the other injured, I should have insisted a bit."


    Zhang Wei felt a bit of regret in his heart.


    As dusk approached, the four of them took turns arranging the night watch order, ready to make do and spend the night on this rooftop.


    The street below was full of zombies; the rooftop here was quite safe.


    However, as midnight neared and it was time to change the night watch, the faint roar of an engine made Lin Chao frown. As the sound drew nearer, he quietly woke the others,


    "Get up, everyone. Someone''s approaching by car. Traveling at night in this environment is unusual."


    Even if one was on night watch duty in the Abyss, sleep would be light; the other three grabbed their weapons and responded immediately.


    Once up, they too heard the approaching noise, along with the sounds of the awakened zombies moving on the street.


    "Let''s take a look."


    Lin Chao took the lead; they crept to the edge of the roof, secretly peering towards the source of the sound.


    They could see a total of four headlights, both in front of the car and on the roof; it must be a sizable vehicle, with lights that were obviously modified to be quite bright.


    Dark figures flitted before the lights, the zombies attracted by the sound were struck aside or even run over; it was evident that the vehicle was powerfully driven.


    The car weaved aggressively through the streets, "Snake Skin" maneuvering, avoiding some obstacles formed by abandoned vehicles while also choosing paths with fewer zombies.


    asionally sending a few flying.


    When the car reached this T-junction, it executed a drift at the intersection, knocking down several zombies with the rear of the vehicle during the process. After that, the vehicle obviously slowed down, seemingly leading the zombies slowly in another direction.


    "Are they luring the zombies away?"


    "What on earth are they doing..."


    The people on the roof were a bit puzzled.


    Watching the vehicle slowly take a number of zombies away, while continuing to throw firecrackers outside, creating an incessant popping noise and a lot of sound.


    But soon, the group roughly understood why. After making a round, the car came back from another narrow street.


    A person got out of the car, wielding a shovel and effortlessly knocking down a few nearby zombies, then opened a garage and drove the car in.


    "It could be someone from this settlement or temporary external support they called in, but it doesn''t matter; we haven''t deceived them. If an enemyes, we will block; if wateres, we cover with earth..."


    Lin Chao, watching the garage door being pulled down again, still appeared very calm.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 73: 64 Corpse Refinement

    "What are you looking at? The door''s closed."


    Jack, who had parked the car in the garage, spoke to Tao Yu, who was looking up at something at the entrance.


    "Oh."


    Tao Yu promptly pulled down the garage door and looked back, saying


    "There are a few people on the roof opposite us watching. They must be the Pioneers, and it looks like they''re probably Outsiders."


    "So what now?"


    Jack was taken aback, then asked Tao Yu for advice with an open mind, as his understanding of the Pioneers all came from Tao Yu.


    "Judging from your conversation with Tommy earlier, I didn''t detect much malice. Let''s call them over tomorrow and meet face-to-face. I''ll make contact with them."


    Tao Yu didn''t mind giving a hand with the coordination.


    But now that the Pioneers had found this ce, it was time to start preparing to ''sell'' Jack.


    This had already been agreed upon with Jack on the way here, that if anyone was to sell, it should be done by Tao Yu.


    ording to what the lizard-chimera had said, ''Chosen Ones'' are quite important to the base initially, and their opinions will definitely be taken into ount.


    Therefore, keeping a good rtionship with Jack was not something to be worried about, even the likelihood of Outsiders not knowing about the ''Chosen One'' was quite high.


    "You go upstairs to rest. I''m going to check on Cao Shaolin''s body."


    On the way back earlier, through the walkie-talkie, Tao Yu had inquired about the situation. Cao Shaolin''s body hadn''t moved much and was still buried in that garden.


    "Okay, be careful."


    Jack knew Tao Yu had learned a new skill, and while envious of the convenience, he also offered a word of caution.


    Afterward, the two climbed up from the garage and crawled back into the hotel through the upstairs window.


    As Jack went upstairs, Tao Yu headed for the first floor and entered the hotel''s backyard.


    This ce was supposed to be a secluded little garden, now turned into a graveyard.


    Actually, the best way to deal with the bodies right now was cremation, but since it was too close to the hotel and inconvenient, they were buried after being tied up. Even if they were infected, they wouldn''t be able to get out, and even if they somehow did, it would just be in the backyard, which wasn''t a problem.


    The survivors here indeed needed something to hold onto emotionally.


    After checking the color of the soil, Tao Yu found thetest burial site and dug it up with a shovel that was lying nearby. With a few digs, he saw the color of the bedsheet.


    After dragging it out, therey Cao Shaolin''s body with its eyes wide open in death.


    Although two or three days had passed, his body still showed no significant signs of decay, and there was no trace of zombification.


    "The requirement for Corpse Refinement is a body that has not significantly dposed within seven days after death. This one qualifies, and the material quality is indeed top-notch."


    Since the skill was directly absorbed and then Deified, Tao Yu simply smeared his hands over Cao Shaolin''s body and got a rough outline of the process.


    His judgment was correct; this was excellent material!


    Finding a handheld pressure washer nearby, Tao Yu tossed the hose into a bucket of water and with it, stripped Cao Shaolin''s body down as if it were a pig ready for butchering, then scrubbed continuously.


    He even went to the first-floor kitchen to find a brush and a steel wool pad, scrubbing repeatedly on the tough, leather-like body.


    The sturdy body was quickly washed clean.


    "It''s best to have adjuvant medicines, but there''s no helping it; the conditions are just too rudimentary right now..."


    Tao Yu sighed as he looked at the cleaned body in front of him.


    The clothes from the previous zombie had also been burned, which might have been an item that yed a facilitating role. Such a pity.


    Taking out a disposable paper cup, Tao Yu pulled out a dagger and held it over the me of a lighter before shing across his wrist.


    Blood flowed, quickly filling up more than half a cup.


    When enough had been collected, as his strength waned, the wound on Tao Yu''s wrist started to heal, and soon there was a rumbling sound from his stomach.


    "Healing does consume a lot, just for a wound like this, huh, probably has to do with blood loss as well."


    Tao Yu put the paper cup on the ground, tore open a can of beef and gulped it down in two bites. Thanks to the Swallow Essence Technique - Modified, he absorbed it quickly, then washed his hands with the hose next to him.


    Without a writing brush, cinnabar, or even a talisman paper, Tao Yu could only resort to the most primitive method.


    His right index and middle finger joined together, stirring in the blood within the paper cup continuously, and with the sustained consumption of his mental energy, he soon started to scribble on Cao Shaolin''s cleaned body.


    A massive outpour of mental energy, like a floodgate opening, caused an increasing headache for Tao Yu.


    Nevertheless, he clenched his teeth andpleted the drawing in one go.


    Separate symbols were drawn on the body''s Root Chakra, Sacral Chakra, Sr Plexus Chakra, Heart Chakra, Throat Chakra, Third Eye Chakra, and Crown Chakra.


    As Tao Yu poured his mental energy into them, his blood essence seeped into the drawings on the skin, bing birthmark-like markings.


    With the final stroke finished, the cup filled with half of his essence blood was now nearly depleted.


    After catching his breath for a moment, Tao Yu once again devoured several cans of beef to quickly restore his strength.


    "Corpse Refinement really is a physically demanding task..."


    Having rested for a short while, Tao Yu once again sliced open his fingertip, allowing two drops of blood infused with his psychic power to fall into Cao Shaolin''s mouth.


    The moment the blood entered, Cao Shaolin''s remaining sole eye, already full of blood vessels, seemed to widen once again.


    "s, life is tough, it''s going to be a major bloodletting period ahead."


    Unconcerned with the corpse''s reactions, Tao Yu instead used the bedsheet to wrap the body up again and reburied it in the pit.


    Corpse Refinement requires choosing a ce of extreme Yin, spreading rooster blood morning, noon, and evening, and burning Corpse Refinement talismans.


    However, based on the Skill knowledge Tao Yu possessed, it seemed the entire city was and of extreme Yin, where one could bury corpses just about anywhere.


    When you think about it, so many people have died...


    But then, Tao Yu''s expression hardened


    "Oh no, could it be that the mastermind behind all this wants to refine corpses..."


    A shadow passed through his heart, but there was nothing Tao Yu could do at the moment.


    He was evencking some of the items needed for Corpse Refinement.


    For instance, where could he find rooster blood now?


    Looking up at the red-eyed crows perched on the garden fence and listening to their unpleasant cawing, Tao Yu considered alternative solutions.


    Rooster blood is extremely Yang, while crow blood is extremely Yin, and he currentlycked the technique to utilize it, perhaps it could be tried at a higher level.


    Anyway, if he really couldn''t find any, he would have to use his own blood...


    At the very least, to form a Zombie, it would take seven days; for an ordinary person, they would probably bleed out, but Tao Yu could quickly make up for it by eating¡ªa feat others couldn''t endure...


    ...


    "My goodness, at this rate of eating, you''d finish off all the food meant for one person."


    Early in the morning, after Tao Yu had shed blood for the morning ritual and started to eat ravenously, Jack, who came downstairs to find him, caught him in the act.


    "What''s wrong? Can''t bear it?"


    "Yes, I can''t bear it. What did you do to burn through so much energy?"


    Having interacted with Tao Yu thus far, Jack knew that he only ate like this when he was practicing his skills or had expended arge amount of energy.


    "Corpse Refinement."


    "Ugh~, stay away from me in the future."


    Jack rubbed his arms as if he was getting goosebumps.


    "Still need my help to go and talk to them?"


    "Yes."


    Tossing a Snickers bar to Tao Yu, Jack rubbed his hands again and walked over.


    "Let''s go, let''s see what situation they''re in."


    Tao Yu, disying an expression that said you know what''s good for you, followed Jack upstairs.


    They reached the roof, flipping over to the other side where they faced off against the group across the street.


    By then, Tommy and Senke had also arrived on the scene, armed with guns.


    Seeing Tao Yu appear, they all looked over with curiosity.


    Now, they also knew from Jack that ''Zhang Wei'' was a Pioneer.


    But the boss trusted him, so he was considered one of their own.


    "Wow, there are people I know over there."


    Seeing Zhang Wei on the other side, Tao Yu felt a bit awkward, cough, should have used Li Le next time.


    "They probably don''t dare toe over directly. I''ll go over for a bit."


    "Be careful, we''ll cover you from here."


    Jack knew Tao Yu was capable of taking action on his own, but he still patted his gun.


    "Mhm."


    After that, Tao Yu grabbed the rope and, with practiced ease, began scaling his way across to the other side...

 Chapter 74: 65: Incoming Attack (Fifth update, please subscribe!)

    "Tao Yu?"


    Zhang Wei looked at the figure crawling over with some surprise; he hadn''t expected to encounter Tao Yu here.


    He had invited Tao Yu when they were at the dojo, but he was politely declined.


    "Yeah, are you guys here to advocate for those three unlucky fellows?"


    Tao Yu nodded at Zhang Wei in greeting, then nced over the group.


    "Right, they sought help at our doorstep; we couldn''t just ignore them."


    Lin Chao also saw Tao Yu and, although Tao Yu was just standing there casually, he somehow exerted a pressure that felt quite palpable.


    Being someone with Grade B "Intuition," his sensing of danger was extremely urate.


    An Outsider? A neer who had just awakened talents recently?


    Quite strong...


    Still, even so, Lin Chao calmly stood in front of everyone.


    Tao Yu looked at him somewhat unexpectedly, then pondered for a moment before saying,


    "Chaoyang Society?"


    "You''ve heard of our club?"


    Lin Chao''s eyes lit up, and then he began to speak enthusiastically,


    "Our club ismitted to mutual help and support in the Abyss, gathering friends and brethren of like minds. Brother, would you like to join us?"


    Looking at Lin Chao''s passionate demeanor, Tao Yu couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow.


    He only knew about the club because of his younger brother, Tao Shi, and from what information he had, it indeed seemed to be an organization made up of passionate youths, apparently formed because the club president had a high talent and strong abilities, sheltering a group of people.


    However, as someone who''d been a corporate serf in his previous life, his edges smoothed by society, Tao Yu wouldn''t easily believe in it¡ªafter all, the scandals of environmental organizations and animal protection groups were well known in his past life.


    But judging by deeds rather than intentions, at least based on what he knew, the Chaoyang Society was indeed doing what it could to help others.


    If considering only the person speaking before him, Tao Yu''s "Spirit Perception" could sense a genuine sincerity in the other''s words.


    An upbeat, enthusiastic young man...


    "No interest."


    The straightforward reply didn''t seem to embarrass Lin Chao; he appeared to be used to it.


    At this moment, Zhang Wei stepped in to smooth things over,


    "This is Tao Yu. Tao Yu has Grade A ''Dynamic Vision'' and is also a partner, definitely one of the top experts in the new Development Zone."


    After briefly introducing Tao Yu, he turned back to Tao Yu and said,


    "Tao Yu, this is Brother Chao, with Grade B ''Intuition.'' The young master of the Suns personally invited him, but Brother Chao still chose to develop a branch of the club in the new Development Zone. This is his sister, Lin Xue, with Grade B ''Instinct,'' and this is our club member, Tom, with Grade C- ''Willpower.''"


    After Zhang Wei''s introduction, everyone was somewhat surprised.


    Tao Yu gave Lin Chao another look. His sister, Lin Xue''s "Instinct," was regarded as amonbat talent, but "Intuition" was definitely a rarebat talent.


    Beyond possessing strong intuition and perception, it often allowed for a miraculous shot or a divine sh.


    Or an unexpected dodge of a critical attack, with the body outrunning thoughts.


    In some ways, a talent like "Intuition" could be somewhat restraining against Tao Yu''s assassin style.


    Of course, restraint also depended on rtive strength; if one was overwhelmingly powerful, then no amount of counterability would matter.


    The others were likewise astonished by Tao Yu''s Grade A "Dynamic Vision."


    "Grade A talent, that''s indeed rare."


    Originally standing behind Lin Chao with a look of modesty, Lin Xue suddenly became animated, continuously examining Tao Yu''s face.


    Under the freshly risen morning Sun, Tao Yu''s attractive features seemed to be more pleasing to the eye the more one looked.


    "So, let''s hear about your request. With Grade B ''Intuition,'' I should give you some credit. Who knows, after the settlement is established, these natives might be one of us."


    Tao Yu naturally wouldn''t mention anything about being a ''Chosen One,'' but even without that factor, these natives were likely to be absorbed into the new settlement''s poption. In the initial stages, when members were needed, none were turned away.


    With a Grade B "Intuition"ing to vouch for them, and given Tao Yu''s favorable first impression, as long as their demand wasn''t too excessive, he didn''t mind throwing in a hand.


    "Actually, we just want to ensure their safe departure. Based on their descriptions, they don''t seem to have caused any destruction. Of course, if they have deceived me, then we''ll proceed as you say."


    Lin Chao spoke calmly, not taking any one side''s words at face value.


    "I''m actually aware of that situation, they indeed didn''t cause any damage. They were just initially trying to coerce the natives into being cannon fodder, to lure away the zombies."


    Tao Yu casually spoke, causing Lin Chao to frown slightly.


    Although the damage caused was indeed limited and it was actually the Pioneers who suffered casualties, the act of proactively stirring up trouble and using the indigenous people as cannon fodder still somewhat went against the principles of the Chaoyang Society.


    Lin Chao had no reason to fully trust Tao Yu''s words, but for now, as the other party had agreed to release the hostages and showed no motive to deceive him, it seemed necessary to find ways to gradually guide and correct these neers in the future.


    However, just when Lin Chao was deep in thought, he and Tao Yu almost simultaneously showed signs of rm and subsequently turned to look in the direction behind the house.


    The Sun had just risen, and Tao Yu, relying on his "Dynamic Vision," could already vaguely see ck dots stealthily jumping and climbing between the roofs.


    Aliens!


    "There''s something over there."


    Lin Xue''s Grade B "Intuition," although not as sharp as her brother''s, was still absolutely a perception ss ability, second only to the two who sensed it first.


    However, their vision was not as good as Tao Yu''s, so they could only vaguely make out the ck dots.


    "It''s the aliens, how did they get here..."


    Tao Yu pondered in his heart, considering whether it was due to his absorption of the fragmented Heart of the World.


    Was the impact of the absorption that great? Had the barrier disappeared?


    Would they suspect that this world holds such a thing?


    If that were the case, it would be somewhat troublesome, but since he had already absorbed it, he couldn''t spit it out¡ªand had no intention to!


    Pushing aside his concerns, Tao Yu also readied his assault rifle again.


    "I don''t know if a Pioneer specifically brought them here, or if there''s a problem with the barrier, but either way, it''s nothing good."


    The members of the Chaoyang Society, who seemed to have already had dealings with the aliens, also picked up their weapons with grave expressions.


    At the same time, Tao Yu also picked up the walkie-talkie and informed Jack''s side,


    "Be on guard, the creatures from the ins I mentioned earlier have arrived. They are quite troublesome. When you get back to the gathering area, make sure the defenses are set up and watch the doors and windows."


    Tao Yu also felt somewhat cursed in his heart; his Corpse Refinement project had just begun.


    The lowest spec version would take seven days, and afterpletion, there would still be opportunities toplete the forty-nine-day and eighty-one-day augmentations. But if even the seven-day process was interrupted, then it would all be for nothing.


    However, if this was due to him absorbing the Heart of the World, then no one else could be med for the urrences.


    "Damn it, it''s all because of these aliens. I''m just an Outsider mudleg, working diligently to finally earn some benefits, and now youe to harm me."


    Tao Yu muttered in his heart, eyeing the aliens that kept drawing closer, and gripped the handle of his gun tightly.


    If the aliens were only looking for meat to eat, they shouldn''t be so picky as to ignore the zombies and seek them out directly. Are they looking for hosts to incubate?


    Because of his concern for Corpse Refinement, Tao Yu temporarily suppressed the idea of hanging an alien on a hook and taking it back to locate its nest. He turned to the members of the Chaoyang Society and said,


    "Will you join us in defending the gathering area, or do you n to leave first?"


    "Let''s do it together. The number of aliens that came over shouldn''t berge, it''s very likely that they were brought here by one of the Pioneers."


    Lin Chao,cking the perspective of Tao Yu having absorbed the Heart of the World, based his conjecture on the information he had, whichrgely pointed to the likelihood of Pioneers bringing the aliens, especially since there was a rewarding task for breeding aliens.


    "Alright, you go first via the cableway, I''m going to try and catch an alien myself," Tao Yu said, recalling his "Riding" skill. After using the walkie-talkie to remind Jack''s side, he quickly headed in the opposite direction, toward the arrival path of the aliens.


    "Then you three go ahead. I''ll go and provide some cover," Lin Chao decided almost without a second thought, causing Lin Xue to pout,


    "It''s just a few of them, there''s no real threat..."


    Butints aside, in a situation like this, she obediently followed her brother''s orders and was the first to use the rope to climb towards the other side.


    Zhang Wei and Tom also followed closely behind her.


    Tao Yu, who had already departed and climbed over a small alley, nced back at Lin Chao who had voluntarily followed. He simply raised an eyebrow and said nothing more.


    Such character traits were exceedingly rare among Pioneers, particrly those from the Development Zone.


    At least so far, this was Tao Yu''s first encounter with such a person.


    Jack used to be part of the CIA''s task force, so while he had a sense of justice, he also had his own subtlety and principles for handling things.


    But Lin Chao, it felt, relied more on the zeal of youth...


    However, people are creatures capable of change, and Tao Yu wouldn''t immediately solidify his initial good impression into a definitive assessment, but at least for now, interacting with him seemed not a bad idea.


    "I hope you can always maintain such a pure heart..."

 Chapter 75: 66 Taming Technique (Six more s for subscription!)

    "Does Brother Tao n to intercept them? It looks like there are a total of five, should we divide them up?"


    Lin Chao, with his "Intuition," had a quite urate judgment of the enemy''s numbers.


    "Kill four, capture one."


    Tao Yu revealed his n.


    "Capture alive?"


    "Alive."


    When Lin Chao heard Tao Yu''s firm response, he was somewhat surprised at the bottom of his heart.


    Ever since Tao Yu had arrived, Lin Chao knew the man was strong, perhaps not any less than himself, but he had not anticipated him to be this bold.


    "We''ve encountered these Aliens before on the ins, ordinary Pioneers equipped with assault rifles can engage them in a head-on fight from a distance.


    "But they''re very good at teamwork and ambushes. In the currentplex cover environment, isn''t trying to capture one alive too risky?"


    Lin Chao only offered his suggestion, but he didn''t slow his pace at all, continuing to follow closely behind Tao Yu as they vaulted over obstacles.


    His physical condition was also approaching the human limit.


    Although he was far inferior to Tao Yu, for a Pioneer from the outer city to reach this level in such a short time without dying was quite remarkable, probably due to a talent investment from their federation''s Angel.


    "You''re not bad, just take out the first four quickly, leave thest one to me."


    Tao Yu leaped to the top of a water tank in a few moves, watching the approaching Alien silhouettes, and blew a sharp whistle.


    This immediately attracted the attention of those Aliens climbing on the rooftops.


    Tao Yu knew that even now, an attack from an Alien could be lethal to him because his endurance was insufficient. Purely being swarmed would actually be somewhat troublesome.


    But the individual performance parameters of a single Alien weren''t too exaggerated. They conformed to their biological size but were a headache to deal with because of their exoskeletons, acidic blood, and various natural weapons.


    As long as their numbers were within manageable limits and he wasn''t ambushed, with enough maneuvering space, Tao Yu wasn''t particrly concerned.


    "Comparatively, I''m still far behind. I''ve got funding from the society, and Young Master Sun has also invested in me. This is the benefit of banding together..."


    Lin Chao said this and looked at Tao Yu with aplex gaze.


    "But it seems like you managed to acquire resources on your own without the need to band together."


    Initially, Lin Chao had wanted to use these points to persuade Tao Yu to join their group, by demonstrating with his own experience.


    Turns out the other guy seemed to be doing even better...


    "Haha, luck. Let''s start."


    Tao Yuughed heartily and then crouched on top of the water tank, setting up his gun as several Aliens charged into a fifty-meter range!


    Rat-tat-tat~


    Tao Yu was crouching on the water tank, and Lin Chao stood by its side, both opening fire simultaneously.


    It must be said, although the Aliens didn''t have extremely exaggerated stats, they could be considered the apex of regr creatures in all aspects: fast, strong, and agile.


    The moment the two men fired, the Aliens started performing evasive maneuvers, using the cover on the rooftops and climbing to the sides of buildings to seek blind spots for their shots.


    But the whole point of waiting until they were within fifty meters before opening fire was to reduce their reaction time.


    The two Aliens targeted by Tao Yu and Lin Chao were hit and tumbled almost simultaneously, their green acidic blood spraying wildly as they struggled in vain.


    The only things left were stters of green blood and the corroding white smoke from the acid blood hitting the ground.


    After these two were taken out, the other three Aliens also used the sides of buildings and overhead cover to encircle the two men from different directions.


    An Alien barely peeked from amon blind spot, attempting to stealthily climb up, but Tao Yu and Lin Chao simultaneously turned and fired, hitting it and causing it to fall from the rooftop heavily onto the street below.


    With theirrade emerging, the remaining two didn''t waste the opportunity and lunged forward at the same time.


    Tao Yu released his empty assault rifle and casually pulled out the "Warlord''s Sidearm," firing continuously at one of the Aliens while rapidly closing in on the other.


    "I''ll leave the injured one to you."


    "Be careful."


    Lin Chao didn''t refuse; watching Tao Yu charge barehanded towards an Alien filled him with a sense of rm.


    Their previous shooting cooperation made taking out the Aliens as risk-free as swatting flies,fortably at ease.


    But they had reached their limit for handling them.


    If there had been a few more Aliens lunging at them at the same time, the situation would have been terrible!


    Compared to dealing with an Alien barehanded and with a gun, the difference was more than a world apart.


    A normal person with a gun might dare to fight a lion or tiger, but without a weapon, against such apex predators, they could only skid away...


    At least Lin Chao himself, even with melee weapons, was not confident in taking on an Alien; he needed a gun to stand a chance.


    But at the moment he didn''t have much mind to worry about Tao Yu, as he switched to his backup gun and started dispatching the Alien injured by Tao Yu.


    After killing it, he''d have to check on the one that fell...


    ...


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu charged straight at thest Alien, which, in turn, took two steps back to observe carefully.


    The cunning predator, realizing that Tao Yu truly hadn''t lifted his sidearm to aim at itself, immediately burst forth, lunging toward Tao Yu in an instant.


    "Heh, refusing to pause even for a moment might have given you some dignity."


    Tao Yu, seeing the alien''s momentary halt and subsequent hasty eleration toward him, couldn''t help but sneer.


    Every living creature has a startup time when they elerate, and in Tao Yu''s Dynamic Vision, the alien''s speed had already plummeted after that pause.


    Bullet Time!


    In an instant, everything around him slowed down, and Tao Yu observed the alien''s trajectory carefully, softly sidestepping to avoid the range of both teeth and ws. Then, as the alien''s tail came flinging at him, he grabbed it with one swift motion!


    Qi-Blood coursed through his entire body, erupting maximum strength from his palm like iron tongs grabbing the tail, and with a flick.


    A vague sense seemed to roar like a giant ape.


    And the alien, who was looking back at Tao Yu with a ferocious face, seemed to be struck by lightning all of a sudden, its body stiff as a board.


    Despite this, the massive force from the pounce still dragged Tao Yu across the ground for a distance.


    "Compared to Wino, that beast who would throw aliens around, I''m stillcking quite a bit in physical strength."


    After sliding a bit and then steadying himself, Tao Yu dexterously flipped over and mounted the alien''s back.


    With the impact of the press down, he pinned the just-recovered alien to the ground, and it seemed like a bear-shaped phantom erupted once again, continuing the mental assault.


    [Riding] that subtle feeling gradually emerged, and Tao Yu, without hesitation, took the alien''s slender tail, looped it around its neck, and grabbed it crosswise in his hands.


    His legs wrapped tightly around the alien''s thorax, like pythons ensnaring their prey.


    Because one end of the alien''s tail was its own rear, after wrapping it around its neck and having a fulcrum to work with, Tao Yu was able to suffocate it with one hand while his waist and legs remained fixed.


    The other hand transformed into a paw-like shape, smacking down on the back of the alien''s head like a bear''s paw.


    Crack~


    The strength burst forth again, directly fracturing the alien''s exoskeleton, causing some acidic blood to ooze out, some of which even stained Tao Yu''s hand.


    But Tao Yu paid it no mind, continuing to smack down on other uncracked areas!


    [Riding] only allowed Tao Yu to control the ''driving'' method and to have ''mutual understanding,'' but it didn''t have any Taming abilities of its own.


    However, with ''mutual understanding,'' Tao Yu was able to actively make the alien understand his intentions while also peering into the alien''s state of mind.


    Training dogs, bears, and so on had their own methods and skills, butpared to Tao Yu''s nearly direct ''conversation,'' there was indeed a gap.


    Tao Yu had no particr skill other than to beat it!


    "Submit or not!"


    "Oh, still ying tough."


    "I''ll beat the hell out of you."


    "Here''s a big one for you."


    "..."


    Because the continued attacker''s vigorous strength came with a psychological assault, Tao Yu was expending both physical and mental energy at an extreme rate.


    But fortunately, he could free one hand; he took a Qi Replenishing Pill from his pocket and popped it in his mouth, then continued with the beating.


    His intention wasn''t to kill; he didn''t use his full strength each time, just inflicting enough pain on the creature beneath him.


    Through ''mutual understanding,'' and after continuous trials, Tao Yu found the spot where the alien felt the most pain when hit.


    It was the area where the long exoskeleton on the back of the head met the neck!


    This nerve cluster seemed to be the densest, like a pair of testicles.


    Thispelled Tao Yu to adopt the form of the Crane''s technique, constantly poking at that spot.


    The poking made the alien howl continuously.


    After consuming two Qi Replenishing Pills, Tao Yu finally sensed the alien''s thoughts of submission.


    It wasn''t true submission or loyalty but teetering on the edge of rebellion at any moment.


    But because of ''mutual understanding,'' Tao Yu could be certain that, for now, the creature wouldn''t dare to defy him.


    "You''re smart to recognize the situation. Look at yourpanions; if you dare to run, I''ll shoot your limbs off, leaving you to wish for life or death in vain."


    Tao Yu added onest threat, and the feedback somehow had some effect, which amused him.


    Subsequently, [Taming] Lv1, a new skill, was born.


    [Taming] Lv1: Through continuous trials, you seem to have discovered some techniques for taming animals.


    These Skills were not data-based, nor were they some kind of newly acquired abilities.


    They were merely summaries of one''s abilities, with Auxiliary Abilities being represented in this way for the convenience of elerating with Yuan Force.


    But that was only for ordinary people...


    Deification!


    Consuming a hundred Yuan Force was not costly, and Tao Yu used it without any hesitancy...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 76: 67: Doesnt Bite People

    ```


    "Taming - Modified": You can administer mental punishment and reward through contact with sessfully tamed species.


    Tao Yu sensed the changes in his newly Deified Skill, not as stunningly transformative as "Riding", but still satisfactory as a bonus gain.


    This ability couldn''t help with things like passively increasing loyalty or add any taming experience.


    The bonus can be described as simple and crude.


    But animal training always relied on measures of reward and punishment.


    This was a great convenience for the implementation of ''reward and punishment''.


    Combined with the ''shared emotions'' of "Riding", these two bargain Skills actually made a decent pair.


    "What a pity, though, it would be overwhelming inrge numbers, and the prerequisite is a sessful taming. It seems I can only tame creatures I''m capable of defeating and not too many at once."


    Because both ''reward and punishment'' required physical contact and consumed mental power to execute, this had always been a drawback of Deification Skills.


    Without hesitation, he reached out and touched the Alien''s massive head.


    This time, Tao Yu didn''t strike or use Fist Intention to reinforce the attack.


    Yet, the Alien suddenlyy on the ground, screeching; through ''shared emotions'', Tao Yu continually felt its fear, pain, and submission, which pleased him.


    "Good. Understand who your master is. If you behave well, there''s no reason you can''t receive some reward. From now on, your name is Little ck."


    Tao Yu petted the Alien''s head like one would stroke a cat, and theforting mental power from the reward made the Alien lie down again, seemingly with limp muscles and drooling disgusting saliva.


    This made Tao Yu feel somewhat disgusted and stop his action. What on earth? How powerful is this?


    As the Alien slowly came back to its senses, Tao Yu finally felt its previously rebellious attitude improve significantly; it even affectionately rubbed its exoskeleton head against his trouser leg.


    Then, due to some acid blood still leaking, it corroded a few holes in Tao Yu''s trousers, prompting him to kick the Alien once more and apply partial punishment, causing the Alien to roll on the ground in pain.


    "Brother Tao has great techniques..."


    Lin Chao, who had just dealt with the injured Alien on the other side, had a somewhat strange expression on his face.


    Looking at the Alien that was once again prostrating at Tao Yu''s feet, daring not to make any moves, he asked curiously,


    "Is this some kind of envement skill? Are there any risks?"


    Upon Lin Chao''s words, the originally prostrating Alien immediately turned its head and bared its teeth at Lin Chao, dribbling clear, viscous saliva continuously, looking quite fierce.


    It wasn''t until Tao Yu kicked it again that it settled down.


    "Animals will be animals. Consider it preliminarily tamed."


    Tao Yu nced at the Alien, then motioned with his mouth towards the edge of the roof,


    "Go down and catch Zombies for yourself to eat. Don''t you dare eat live humans, you know you can''t hide it from me."


    The Alien, upon hearing this, didn''t hesitate and immediately lept out, scaling the side of the building like it was t ground and plunging into the Zombie horde below. Its long tail skewered a Zombie, hauling it to a room nearby for its meal.


    Because of the Alien''s exoskeleton, Tao Yu wasn''t worried that the Zombies could harm it.


    With the ''reward'' mark from earlier, he believed it wouldn''t leave easily; if it really were to run off, he''d consider it a test of his Skills...


    "Let''s go, let''s head back. Since five Aliens appeared, there could be more."


    Tao Yu could gather some information from the Alien through the ability of "Riding."


    But as it was cross-speciesmunication, he could only grasp a rough understanding of the Alien''s intended messages and emotions, not too detailed.


    He only knew that this one had been born in the current world fragment and had seen the Alien Queen; there were also a few Pioneers around.


    Based on the timing, they must have arrived before he absorbed the world fragment, so it wasn''t an issue with his absorption of the fragment.


    It was that there were Pioneers who had taken up the task of cultivating Aliens and were testing the waters here!


    Utterly disregarding the life and death of other surviving natives of this fragment or even the Pioneers exploring this fragment.


    However...


    That was indeed typical of how Pioneers operated...


    ...


    "You killed it? I was actually hoping to get a look and learn a thing or two."


    When Tao Yu and Lin Chao returned to the original rooftop, they saw Jack, fully armed and carrying a gun, keeping watch.


    Seeing Tao Yu, he also let out a sigh of relief and then put on a smug expression.


    "But you really are bold. Weren''t those creatures said to be more troublesome than Zombies? You didn''t even call me."


    Jack nced at Lin Chao and nodded as a form of greeting,


    "Yourpanion has already introduced you. Wee to join our settlement temporarily."


    "Thank you," Lin Chao responded politely, shaking hands with Jack.


    "Those creatures are called Aliens. I''ve captured one, and it''s out eating Zombies now. It should be back soon. Don''t worry, it won''t bite with me around."


    As Tao Yu spoke, he ate his canned beef, puffing his cheeks.


    ```


    "Caught one? You''re standing right there and not biting anyone?"


    At that moment, Jack was also a bit dumbfounded. Then, he imagined Tao Yu holding a zombie as a pet, instructing it, "Bite him."


    "You know, we Pioneers can always conveniently learn some skills," Tao Yu said.


    Jack felt as if he''d been handed a lemon, so he stopped engaging with Tao Yu and led the way to the hotel rooftop.


    "Come on over first, andter, let us see exactly what your pet looks like. I''m now nning to move people to that base, but we stillck suitable vehicles and food, and we need to n the route..."


    Jack and Tao Yu discussed their ns.


    Previously, it was just Jack and Tao Yu going out. With the two of them capable of not holding each other back, everything went smoothly¡ªa round trip in just three days and nights.


    But now, with the addition of other people from the settlement, problems were bound to get much moreplicated.


    Vehicles, route nning, supplies, attracting zombies, and so on¡ªall needed consideration. Given the number of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled in the settlement, if they didn''t n well, inevitably, some would be left behind forever.


    Once the team became bloated, the efficiency would drastically decrease.


    "I''m afraid you''ll need to revise your n. This afternoon, I''ll go with you to look for vehicles, and then we''ll hit the road immediately. It''s okay if we have less food. As long as the main forces are fed, the others won''t die from hunger for two days.


    "It''s best if we can depart today. Otherwise, if you encounter an Alien attack on the way, along with zombies from all around, chances are none of you will survive," Tao Yu warned.


    Looking at the time, Tao Yu decided that after the noon bloodletting was done, he would apany Jack out in the afternoon.


    Actually, his original n was good, helping out nearby for a few days. After seven days, once the zombie was trained, he would return directly.


    But with the sudden arrival of the Aliens, the n had been utterly disrupted.


    At this point, Jack looked gravely at Tao Yu and spoke in a deep voice,


    "Is the threat really that great?"


    Tao Yu, feeling his ''Riding'' creatureing within range, nodded and said,


    "See for yourself."


    No sooner had he spoken than the Alien, following the scent, climbed swiftly up the wall and directly onto the rooftop.


    Suddenly leaping from the eaves, itnded on the ground!


    It then started to bare its ferocious steel teeth at Jack and Lin Chao, grimacing menacingly.


    The sight of this creature with its dark exoskeleton and those grotesque teeth put Jack immediately on guard.


    Fuck!


    You''re keeping this thing as a pet?


    Looking at the Alien''s cherry-sized mouth, Jack thought back to Tao Yu''s mention of not biting, and couldn''t help but think that a bite from it would hurt a lot...


    The next moment, he saw Tao Yu kick the Alien, causing it to shrink away and lie down sullenly on one side.


    "Behave."


    Tao Yu issued a ''punishing'' kick to the Alien and then turned to a gaping Jack,


    "This thing is still somewhat dangerous. It really will bite people when I''m not around, and we''re not yet certain of their numbers."


    While saying this, Tao Yu pointed to the eaves next to him andmanded the Alien,


    "Flick your tail."


    The next moment, the Alien''s slender tail whipped out like a steel whip against the eaves, making a loud bang.


    The outeryer of concrete cracked open, and debris flew, leaving behind a deep mark!


    Previously, Tao Yu had arm-wrestled with the Alien. If it weren''t for his ''Fist Intention'' skill, Tao Yu wouldn''t have been able to ovee the pure strength of the Alien!


    "See why I''m telling you to speed things up?"


    After speaking, he pulled out an ordinary handgun and fired a shot at the Alien''s leg.


    Although it whined pitifully, the bullet seemed to bounce off the shot area, merely splitting open and oozing some green blood. As the blood hit the ground, it emitted corrosive white smoke.


    A regr handgun bullet was almost useless against it!


    "Let''s go down. I''ll exin in detail all of its characteristics in front of everyone. Then, you all need to make a decision fast..."


    Seeing that even the creature''s blood was highly corrosive, Jack''s face turned ashen.


    When Tao Yu had said Aliens were more troublesome than zombies, Jack didn''t quite grasp the concept.


    The creature had just appeared looking hideous and frightening, but Jack had managed to stay calm.


    After all, in terms of size, it was only slightlyrger than a human. As long as there weren''t too many, firearms should have been sufficient to handle them.


    But now that Tao Yu had demonstrated just a few of the Alien''s abilities, he understood that even a single one of these creatures could take him out if he was caught off guard.


    If he felt this way, the others in the settlement would be even less able to defend themselves!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 77: 68 Contradictions

    "What the hell is that!"


    "Does it bite?"


    "That''s terrifying..."


    "It really doesn''t bite?"


    "..."


    When Tao Yu brought the alien Little ck to the hotel''s top floor gathering ce, it also brought a wave of panic.


    At the moment, Little ck just stood in the middle of the crowd, leaving a distance around it as it was scrutinized like a statue.


    Its fearsome mouthparts, sharp tail spike, and sharp ws, along with its exoskeleton with a metallic sheen, all exerted tremendous pressure on the onlookers.


    Even though zombies roamed everywhere and the survivors were ustomed to life and death, Zhang Wei and the others had already briefly exined the situation when they came over.


    But the alien''s repulsive appearance, coupled with its war machine-like build, still made people unavoidably terrified.


    Even Zhang Wei, Lin Xue, and Tom were equally astonished at this time.


    To think it had tamed an alien in such a short time?


    What kind of method was this!


    That aliens could be tamed was evident from the missions posted in the mission hall, but they had not expected it to be this simple.


    "If it can be tamed, is there a way to tame more of them? When the aliense, have them fight each other."


    Tommy, Jack''s subordinate with a head of tattoos, spoke with a heavy tone.


    Tao Yu had previously exined in detail various parameters of the aliens and even pointed out some shooting weaknesses, but the more they understood, the more they felt the power of these creatures!


    Carbon-based lifeform Temor could withstand half a clip; that was just outrageous.


    "This is a Yuan Force skill that I''ve only learned in the past few days. My proficiency isn''t high enough, and ordinary taming isn''t this easy. Besides, if Imand it to attack its fellows right now, it might rebel."


    Tao Yu simply put it.


    Jack and the people from the military base probably wouldn''t all be silenced or anything, so many things weren''t exactly secrets, and Tao Yu didn''t need to deliberately conceal them.


    Being forthright was actually better.


    A zombie and a meteorite could potentially yield skills.


    On the surface, Tao Yu only had a Grade A "Dynamic Vision," at most he could also im to be MAX level.


    Therefore, he needed to demonstrate his genius and his willingness to take risks, so that when he asionally disyed some powerful skills in the future, it would be more consistent and save him some unnecessary trouble.


    Of course, showcasing oneself didn''t mean revealing all one''s cards. It was only necessary to demonstrate enough value to exchange for significant benefits and conveniences.


    No matter what, keeping one''s true capabilities obscure was quite crucial. As examples of being targeted due to information leaks and winning against the odds were plentiful.


    One must hide one''s clumsiness when necessary but also reveal one''s edge when appropriate. The bnce between the two depended on the different situations encountered.


    Not everyone''s informationwork and intelligence circles were mutually essible. You use what matches your level.


    But no matter what, the secret of "Divinity" had to rot in his stomach.


    Aside from Divinity, other things were negotiable, provided they could bring more benefits. If the cost-to-benefit ratio was high enough, even if they brought some trouble, it was worth a try.


    What powerful person didn''t have a few adventures?


    Even exposing the fact that he had gained a ''new talent'' from activating the Shattered World''s Heart was not out of the question if the benefits were sufficient!


    It was already consumed, and seeking revenge against him was not a cost-effective move.


    The will of the world prevented Pioneers from killing each other or third parties from profiting too much through arbitrage. Once you consume the Heart of the World, that''s that.


    If the benefits outweighed the risks, it could be shown at an appropriate time!


    Of course, he had to ensure the benefits were significant enough and after weighing the risks. Tao Yu hadn''t forgotten how Wino had targeted him purely out of jealousy.


    If the Suns siblings were petty, then this secret had to stay buried in his stomach.


    And for the time being, he hadn''t seen any opportunities to trade advantages, so it wasn''t a badpromise to attribute the meteorite as the source of the ''taming'' skill.


    At least for now, the partner status, the mission watch in hand, and some of the sponsorships and goodwill he had received were all conveniences obtained after demonstrating a certain level of talent.


    If your abilities are too poor, you can''t even borrow money, and you might get pped in return.


    "So what do we do now?"


    The usually taciturn ck man Senke also raised this soul-searching question.


    Yeah, what do we do!


    Faced with zombies, they already knew the habits and, given the zombies had limited physical destructive ability and moved rtively slowly, so as long as they found some suitable vehicles, they could take everyone through the zombie crowds and bypass the Gobi Desert.


    But now with these monsters emerging, if they were attacked while crossing through the zombies, it would be a total annihtion!


    "I didn''t expect it would turn out like this, tsk~"


    Jack sucked his teeth, looking solemn, and felt the heavy burden on his shoulders.


    Originally, they werefortably eating hotpot and singing, about to prepare to move to a ce with ample food, with the possibility of Pioneersingter to build a settlement.


    Then suddenly, this happened!


    Afterwards, he looked at Tao Yu with hopeful eyes, but before he could speak, Tao Yu nced at him and said,


    "I have things to do here for the next few days. Helping you find supplies and a vehicle is one thing, but tagging along all the way is out of the question."


    "Alright."


    Jack sighed, knowing he couldn''t say much more.


    ```


    Carrying a group of burdens, indeed the journey was fraught with risks!


    "We had no other choice; there were just too many old, weak, sick, and disabled among you."


    Zhang Wei also proactively spoke up in advance, though it pained him; his Yuan Force was not abundant, and despite the low consumption, every little bit counted.


    However, he did not want Lin Chao to be the one to speak up, lest he impulsively agree to something, which would have been real trouble.


    After saying this, he turned back to whisper to Lin Chao, who was frowning,


    "Brother Chao, we have to consider the circumstances, right? Look, there are just too many burdens."


    Lin Chao was full of passion but was not blind to the situation; if they really forced themselves to help, they would all be dragged down with them!


    After all, he had grown up in the harsh environment of the outer city.


    He had a clear understanding that there were simply too many people to save!


    After looking back at his sister, he nevertheless expressed his intentions to Jack,


    "If it were only healthy adults, perhaps we could offer some help."


    As soon as he said this, many faces at the scene drastically changed, and two olddies immediately came out leaning on their canes, seemingly ready to strike Lin Chao with them,


    "You band of devils forsaking God, you will go to hell!"


    "Are you even men at all? To be able to say such things!"


    However, a few adult males from the settlement loosened up and spoke hesitantly,


    "Hey, there''s no other way, otherwise, we''ll all die."


    "Yeah, that we can help this much is already not bad given the times."


    "Where are there survivors with mobility issues in other settlements? There''s even cannibalism happening."


    The scene then descended into chaos, and those who thought they might be left behind immediately attacked the few men who had spoken up,


    "Oh, so you''ve been like this all along!"


    "Jack, you tell us, do you think the same?"


    "..."


    In the midst of this messy situation, with scolding ringing in his ears and the pressure he already felt, Jack''s head pounded, then he suddenly yelled,


    "Quiet!"


    It must be said that his authority had always stood firm, and after heshed out, the scene quieted down.


    But there was still a ck auntie with tears and snot streaming down her face, who came over and grabbed Jack''s hand to plead,


    "Jack, we''re already in dire straits, you can''t abandon us, can you?"


    Tao Yu watched Jack''s troubled expression and directly provoked with ament,


    "In times like these, make a clean break, dragging it out will only lead to more trouble, and people will die."


    After speaking, Tao Yu waved his hand and then took out a can of beef, showing it off with glee before descending the stairs.


    "Call me if you need anything, I''m heading down."


    The alien Little ck also hurriedly followed Tao Yu.


    Contrary to how they would hurl abuse at others, everyone at the settlement did not even dare to give Tao Yu a look when he turned around,


    As Tao Yu turned, they immediately cleared a path in front of him, with the olddies waving canes moving out of the way as if they could fly.


    Witnessing the alien following behind Tao Yu, the people of the settlement saw only fear in each other''s eyes...


    ...


    As for what specific ns were discussed afterwards, Tao Yu did not know.


    But Lin Chao and his team members made a special trip down to bid farewell to Tao Yu, and they hurriedly left the ce.


    Tao Yu also declined yet another offer from Lin Chao to join their society,


    "You should get going early if you''re leaving, the aliens'' dexterity and ambushes, plus the omnipresent zombies¡ªit''s indeed a headache when you put them all together."


    "Alright, I hope there is a day when we meet again, until next time."


    Lin Chao didn''t dwell; he immediately led his team away.


    Their purpose foring this time had been achieved; at the very least, Jack and his people would no longer attack the three Pioneers who had returned.


    But...


    Landing might bring an ambush by the aliens, for all one knew.


    But that was as far as they could help at the moment; otherwise, they might have doomed themselves too...


    Watching them depart, Tao Yu sighed softly.


    He had a preliminary impression of Lin Chao''s character and was tagged for the moment.


    Since Lin Chao had made a promise earlier, as long as Jack satisfied the condition, it was quite likely that he would not go back on his word.


    So it seemed that Jack might have also made his choice...


    "Such a fool, I''ve already told you about the environment of the Abyss, you''re going to die..."


    Tao Yu turned to look at Little ck with its clueless face and ugliest of mugs, and couldn''t help but kick it again, making it curl up in the corner of the lobby, but not daring to make any further move.


    "Fools die young, tsk~, but being the ''Chosen One,'' you can''t let me down now, can you..."


    Tao Yu went to the hotel''s burial garden, sliced open his wrist with a dagger, and sprinkled the blood on the soil that covered Cao Shaolin''s grave, drip-dropping with a sound...


    ```

 Chapter 78: 69 Riding a Tiger, Hard to Disembark

    That night, the dazzling starry sky, devoid of the light pollution from human cities, looked exceptionally brilliant.


    Although this areay at the junction of three world fragments, the starry sky appeared as a whole; just that the sky above Rainforest 01 fragment had one more moon.


    "Tsk tsk, I wonder if there''s ever a time when three suns appear at once? And what''s the rule for how these fragmentsbine? I''m curious if those spots in the sky are other world fragments..."


    Under the moonlight, Tao Yu continuously leaped from rooftop to rooftop, while Alien Little ck scuttled beside him, rapidly progressing forward together.


    Thews of the Abyss were chaotic and unordered; each world fragment had its distinctions, and thepany could only ssify and organize based on some of the experiences they have had so far, which was far from understanding them.


    "If we''re helpfulter, then there''s a reward in line, otherwise, forget about it forever."


    Tao Yu turned his head to look at Little ck, his tone very calm.


    The rush of air during high-speed movement mingled with the night breeze, whistling past the ears, while Little ck also eagerly growled a few times, as if securing a promise.


    Through the mount''s ''heart-to-heart connection,'' Tao Yu could sense that hint of fear in the depths of Little ck''s heart.


    It wasn''t fear of his asional punishment, but the fear stemmed from the purpose of their journey.


    To ensure that Little ck wouldn''t turn on him at a critical moment, Tao Yu had to put in some effort and cajoled it with a case of canned beef.


    Even so, the fact that Little ck was betraying the Queen and the other guard Aliens from the nest had it sensing danger from all sides.


    Not to mention there were three Pioneers!


    Securing the Queen''s egg and creating the scene before them, it was likely that the three Inner City Pioneers were involved¡ªit was indeed troublesome.


    "Don''t me me for pushing you into this risk, The Chosen One has invested so much, I can''t just let it all be for nothing, right~"


    Tao Yu half-mockingly confided to Little ck


    "What a moron, if it weren''t for the reward, or for not being disturbed during Corpse Refinementter, I couldn''t care less about this."


    Thinking about how Jack had ultimately decided to involve everyone, Tao Yu let out a weary sigh.


    Perhaps, this is what it means to be ''The Chosen One.''


    A hotheaded fool, seems to be the standard for many ''The Chosen Ones''...


    Soon after, Tao Yu and Alien had already reached the outskirts of Henderson City under the cover of night, exactly from the direction Tao Yu had originally entered.


    The zombie hordes down below looked as chaotic as ever.


    After climbing down from the rooftop, Tao Yu also found the motorbike he had ridden over on earlier.


    "Learn from this, putting up a tough backside that also chafes, next time I''ll fit a cushion for you."


    Tao Yu mounted the motorbike, remembering the terrible experience of wanting Alien to carry him only to have his butt nearly jolted off, he felt some indignation towards his ride.


    Then he twisted the throttle and sped off towards the direction of the desert, with Little ck racing along beside the bike, guiding Tao Yu through the ''heart-to-heart connection''!


    Towards the direction of the Alien nest!


    The terrain on the side of the Rainforest fragment was higher than the zombie world by ten meters, and the ground on the Rainforest side was even higher by several meters. In addition, with the towering trees originally present in the Rainforest, that direction looked oppressively dark.


    The Alien Queen''s nest was right inside a cave on the elevated terrain of the Rainforest side.


    It could look after the Rainforest''s wildlife while also expanding its influence into Zombie World, having ample material to conduct their trials.


    The world barrier was likely opened by some kind of Inner City technique, albeit just a small gap.


    After riding for about twenty kilometers, Tao Yu stopped and propped the motorbike against a giant withered cactus.


    Approaching the destination, Tao Yu used his powerful vision in the barren desert to spot Aliens lurking in the distance under the cover of night.


    And even heard the sound of the motorbike, with some responding and heading in this direction.


    "Time to test your abilities, triple threat."


    Tao Yu noticed the three Aliens speeding in his direction, and after ensuring his own scent was masked by the wind, he hid himself behind a cactus nearby.


    Conserve strength if possible, no need to fire a gun from this position...


    Before long, the three Aliens arrived nearby, quickly surrounding their seemingly strandedrade and urgently hissing, saliva flying everywhere.


    And Tao Yu''s own Little ck was also lowly howling in front of itspanions as if exchanging information.


    Every so often, Little ck would brush its tail over the cracked areas on its body, seeminglyining about something.


    Then the three newly arrived Aliens almost simultaneously turned their gaze towards the city.


    Probably Little ck had told them about being attacked over there.


    The three Aliens didn''t suspect anything amiss, being quite simple-minded.


    Then, the next moment, Little ck took the opportunity to get close and burst one Alien''s head with its most powerful secondary mouth, sttering green blood.


    Aliens knew their own weaknesses well, and Little ck''s swift, ferocious, and urate sneak attack caught them off guard.


    In the middle of its stealth attack, Little ck''s tail alsoshed out at anotherpanion, causing it to stagger with a full-force tail whip.


    But it must be said, Aliens are indeed born forbat¡ªthe remaining two reacted quickly to the ambush,unching a counterattack immediately.


    They didn''t understand why their fellow was attacking them, but for such ruthless creatures, fighting was in their bones!


    Before Little ckunched the stealth attack, Tao Yu had already pounced out. As the fight ensued, Little ck absorbed the brunt of the initial damage, protecting its vital spots, but was left oozing green blood from all over under the nking attack.

 Chapter 79: 69 Riding a Tiger, Hard to Dismount - Part 2

    In the time it had grasped, Tao Yu lunged in the form of a tiger, with a roar and Fist Intention mming into one of the aliens, dazing it in an instant.


    Then with a leverage, another bulk, like a giant bear, rammed into another alien.


    After the punch''s impact caused rigidity, he smoothly drew out the Giant Lizard''s Fang and stabbed into the alien''s vital spot, striking and then retreating quickly.


    He then returned to the first alien that had just recovered from the shock and pinned it to the ground.


    "Go get the backpack from the vehicle, be careful not to get blood on it,"


    Tao Yu instructed.


    Little ck, who was busy sealing its wounds with saliva, limped over to the motorcycle, and carefully hooked the backpack full of canned food with its tail before bringing it over.


    "I''ll give you apanion."


    Having the experience of subduing Little ck earlier, he expected this round of consumption to be lower.


    Because of the working mechanism of the Taming Technique, maintaining it consumes a significant amount, which meant creating arge army would greatly drain Tao Yu and be too much to manage.


    But taming a few more cannon fodder in a short period was still achievable!


    ...


    At the edge of the rainforest, the roots of the giant trees were exposed on the ten-plus-meter-high demarcation side, intertwining with each other and mixed with soil, bringing a scent of earthiness.


    In the area wrapped by the tree roots, a profound passage had been dug out between the gaps of the roots, which seemed to fortify the tunnel.


    The mouth of the cave extended inward, where one could see a sticky substance smeared along the sides, solidifying into a white substance simr to spiderwebs.


    Going deeper inside revealed a natural cavern.


    At this moment, the cavern was lit up by severalrge searchlights, illuminating the entire space.


    One could see that nearby there were numerous grotesque eggs densely packed together.


    An Alien Queen, six to seven meters in size, was connected to an incubator, receiving feedings from a rotation of aliens.


    The food was mostly creatures from the rainforest and even included half a zombie.


    The Alien Queen, using her auxiliary hands for feeding, gnawed voraciously at these bloodied meals, appearing quite brutal.


    Besides that, there were several cocoon-like structures within this hatchery, enveloped in that solidified sticky substance.


    "Roar~"


    One alien, having finished feeding the queen, suddenly let out a fierce roar toward the three people standing off to the side, its ws scratching the ground, expressing an eagerness to attack.


    But with a reprimand from the queen, it ultimately backed down and quickly ran out of the tunnel.


    "Fei, we''ve got trouble, these creatures are so hard to control,"


    A-Tu, with taming skills and a half-mechanically modified body, looked somewhat troubled.


    With the Alien Queen under control, they''d thought it would be easy to solve the problems; they even used Yuan Force to elerate her breeding.


    The hatching also speeded up.


    But now, as the alien poption expanded, they started feeling a growing sense of unease in controlling them!


    At first, the aliens were very docile, showing no signs of rebellion, more obedient than well-trained dogs, rolling over onmand, sitting when told.


    They believed they had found the method of cultivation, far more efficient than training aliens individually before.


    However, as the juvenile aliens grew at an incredible rate, shedding their skin and bingrger, and as their numbers increased, things started to feel off...


    Now, none of the three dared to leave the queen''s side, fearing an alien ambush. Moreover, staying here was also a sufficient deterrent to the unruly queen.


    They dreaded the aliens mainly for their numbers and that self-destructive acid.


    It was just about killing the Empress alone; with theirbined strength, they had plenty to spare!


    That''s why, at this point, both sides were maintaining a delicate bnce.


    "It seems I was somewhat negligent. These creatures are indeed cunning, and notoriously untamed, always ready to rebel at the chance. We''ve been fooled," he said.


    Fei Ge was looking at the new data he had acquired, his face somewhat grim.


    He felt like a fool now, remembering how he had excitedly announced that he had found an efficient taming method and epted the adtion of hispanions.


    Now, as he was recording, he turned to A-Tu and said,


    "How much of that drug do you have left? How long will itst if we use it all on the Empress?"


    "There''s still some left, enough for half a month. But if we go back and thene here again, five days would probably be enough to let things spiral out of control. We can only take turns going back and bringing more drugs here," replied A-Tu.


    A-Tu, his face pallid, pulled out an ampoule from his bosom as he looked at the increasingly irritable Empress.


    The formerly restless Empress, who had been screeching, seemed much more docile at the sight of A-Tu''s ampoule, emitting only some urging low growls.


    Approaching the Alien Queen, A-Tu didn''t bother to open the ampoule and just threw it over to her. She swallowed it whole and seemed entirely satisfied.


    The ovipositor behind herid another new alien egg.


    "This won''t work. Taming must involve both carrot and stick; punishment is essential, but the Empress is too sensitive. If I attack her, it would immediately provoke an attack from the guards nearby," he said.


    Even though the Empress had been pacified, A-Tu didn''t look pleased.


    He possessed a Yuan Force-based taming skill.


    He knew all too well that simply dangling sweets in front of someone would inevitably lead to a loss of control over time!


    However, the Empress''s importance to the aliens meant they would always leave three or four to guard the nest, no matter what.


    Compared to the three of them, three or four aliens were no threat, but if more aliens returned and noticed something amiss, it could trigger an unending series of attacks.


    There were plenty of aliens outside already!


    This was a vicious cycle...


    "What do we do? Our strength is indeed sufficient against a small number of these creatures, but if their numbers increase, they could overwhelm us with sheer mass, and in this environment, it''s difficult to find help..." said Xiaomei, the sweet-faced girl, looking rather distressed.


    They thought they had taken on an easy job, and everything had gone smoothly up until now, but they hadn''t expected chaos to erupt here.


    Now, anyoneing to help would surely be attacked by the aliens, and if the three of them left this ce, they probably would too.


    Perhaps they could break out while the aliens were out hunting.


    But by doing so, they''d truly lose the precious Alien Queen!


    "ording to A-Tu, we have to take turns going back first to get more drugs. If that doesn''t work out, we''ll just have to go back and ask for help from the two adults. We''ve been quite useful during the early stage, and with the Alien Queen here, they might personallye over..." suggested Fei Ge with a sigh.


    The bigwigs in the Floating City undoubtedly hadmunication items that worked like modern instant messaging. Given the number of Inner City Pioneers in the new development zone, they were eligible to request contact.


    But by doing so, even if they were ultimately rescued, a cap of ipetence would surely be ced firmly on their heads!


    However,pared to suffering aplete loss of the Alien Queen and a disgraceful escape,


    It was better to wait here, gather more materials and information, and then call for help.


    If they could umte enough intelligence and taming experience, perhaps they could make up for the trouble...

 Chapter 80: 70 Resolute

    ```


    "No more food..."


    The night wind over the Gobi was bone-chilling, carrying with it a bit of sand.


    The giant cacti at night looked like all sorts of bizarre monsters.


    After Tao Yu had recovered, he looked at thest two cans of beef and one bottle of mineral water, but did not stuff them into his mouth, just added another piece of chocte.


    By now, there were already four aliens following him, apart from the most pitiful-looking Little ck, the other three had alsopleted the initial stages of taming.


    To maintain the four aliens over the long term, rewarding and punishing them on time every day was actually quite troublesome for Tao Yu.


    However, he had only intended to use them temporarily; Tao Yu had not thought about the long term.


    "You take them toplete the guard recement. If you seed, rewards will be naturally forting."


    Tao Yu looked back at Little ck, covered in wounds, which made it stand tall and proud.


    Though it was scarred all over and looked miserable, the other three aliens actually acknowledged this temporary leader and quickly sprinted towards the location of the hive.


    Tao Yu looked at the several-meter-high fault line, then rapidly climbed it, and after reaching the rainforest, he continued to stealthily make his way above the nest.


    Without expending extra energy to actively employ Shadow Evasion, but relying on the passive initial effects of his two stealth abilities, plus the insight of Bullet Time, he was confident he could avoid any aliens that might appear in the forest.


    "Still have over three thousand Yuan Force, three Stamina Potions, hope that''ll be enough..."


    Tao Yu''s daily Yuan Force was being rapidly consumed, but since it had only been a few days, he still had over three thousand Yuan Force left.


    His strength now was stronger than when he exterminated the Li family, so the cost of restoring Yuan Force was likely higher, but the boost in strength more thanpensated for the drawbacks of the consumption.


    "Damn it, I was just quietly training corpses, not bothering anyone, why must they always force me..."


    ...


    Four consecutive aliens entered the nest, catching the attention of Fly Brother and his two teammates.


    Fly Brother, standing atop that white sticky substance, frowned slightly as he saw the nest suddenly be more crowded.


    In these cramped conditions, if this pack of beasts suddenly rebelled, it would be troublesome.


    The newly arrived aliens hadn''t brought anything back, and one was obviously injured, so it was unclear what had happened.


    These few new aliens kept growling softly in front of the Queen, as if narrating something.


    The injured alien whimpered pitifully off to the side.


    Then, the injured alien moved to the edge of the grotto and made a few leaps onto a tree root that extended downwards from above, curling up in the corner to lick its wounds.


    And the aliens that were originally guarding the nest seemed to switch shifts as theymunicated with each other and then ran out of the cave, their destination unknown.


    Simrly, the newly arrived aliens were very unfriendly towards the three Pioneers, constantly baring their teeth.


    "We can''t dy any longer, Xiaomei, you go back first. Take the medicine and contact the two seniors to exin our situation, and tell them we have firsthand data on the Alien Queen."


    "Alright, but it''ll take me at least five days to return. Can you two hold on?"


    The petite figure also seemed worried at this moment.


    They couldn''t stay awake forever; the three of them had been taking turns to rest, and now with one less person, the strain would only increase.


    "Just the aliens in the nest? Any of us can deal with them. Given our distance from the Alien Queen, five days shouldn''t be a big problem,"


    Fly Brother spoke with some confidence.


    They were the biggest deterrence to the Alien Queen here!


    The Alien Queen, having witnessed the trio''s strength, was clear about that.


    "Alright, be careful."


    Xiaomei''s face bore a serious expression, and then she closed her eyes and sat down cross-legged to begin meditating.


    As she was in the Alien nest, she couldn''t meditate with full concentration and spent about twenty minutes before, with a twist of her body, she disappeared within the nest.


    And with the disappearance of Xiaomei''s aura, the Alien Queen and the four newly arrived aliens all turned their heads to look over at once.


    Little ck,den with scars, did the same, and then started to climb higher, stretching out a w to dig upwards, erging the hole where the tree root stretched in...


    "Fly Brother, I get the feeling something''s not right."


    Ah Tu looked at the Alien Queen, who seemed restless, and also felt a strange thumping in his heart, unsure what it was.


    "It''s normal for the Alien Queen to have ideas now that Xiaomei has left."


    Fly Brother''s attention was entirely focused on the Alien Queen and those few aliens.


    Aside from the injured alien that kept on digging, the other three aliens asionally moved, seemingly trying to enter the blind spot of his and his teammate''s vision, making him frown.


    Can''t hold back any longer, huh?


    Maintaining vignce and defense was very exhausting.


    "Now that it''s just the two of us taking turns, you rest first, and I''ll wake youter."


    ```


    "Alright."


    Tao Yu suppressed the palpitations in his heart, understanding the importance of conserving energy and nurturing his spirit at such a time.


    He took out an ampoule and offered it to Fei Ge,


    "Fei Ge, if anything happens, just smash this first, it should be able to slow it down."


    However, Fei Ge did not ept the potion, instead he spoke indifferently,


    "No need, if this beast really doesn''t know what''s good for it, then I''ll just ughter it."


    The sudden surging killing intent made even the Alien Queen feel a jolt of fear, and she let out a threatening roar following that.


    The other aliens nearby did the same.


    But faced with Fei Ge''s aura, the outnumbered aliens seemed to be somewhat blusterous but hollow inside.


    "We still have to rely on Fei Ge, huh."


    Admiration showed on Tao Yu''s face.


    "Learn something. If you could master this skill, taming wouldn''t be so much trouble."


    Fei Ge, with his arms crossed, also cracked a smile, the corners of his mouth tilting upwards slightly.


    Still only just eighteen, he felt quite satisfied with achieving the desired effect of the skill he took pride in.


    "Get some sleep, don''t waste time."


    "Okay!"


    At that moment, the pressure in Tao Yu''s heart also greatly decreased. With Fei Ge watching over him, he could rest properly!


    But just as he rxed and closed his eyes, that terrifying heart-pounding feeling reemerged suddenly.


    Apanied by a squelch.


    A sticky liquid had already sprayed onto him.


    When he opened his eyes, what he saw was Fei Ge, who had been standing before him with folded arms, now without a head.


    Blood sprayed unceasingly!


    The fluid he had felt before was indeed Fei Ge''s blood.


    What happened?


    A dream? An hallucination?


    But it was his slight dy that allowed for the bullets, apanied by gunshots, to hit him in the head repeatedly.


    "Ahhhhh!"


    Even though Tao Yu was mechanized and various bones in his head had been reced with metal tes,


    the mental shock that followed, and the armor-piercing effect of the Warlord''s Sidearm, still inflicted heavy damage on him in an instant!


    Tao Yu had no intention of getting close to Tao Yu.


    Yosef''s mouth-gun and self-destruction at the end had left him a bit PTSD.


    As the Warlord''s Sidearm fired, Tao Yu also made a quick retreat, lunging towards the Alien Queen.


    On the other side, except for the injured Little ck, the other three aliens also pounced toward Tao Yu to finish him off.


    Little ck hooked Fei Ge''s body with his tail and quickly dragged it outside.


    And Tao Yu, at that moment, finally faced the massive and ferocious Queen directly.


    Then, just as the Alien Queen''s ws were about to tear into his flesh, he vanished before her eyes like an ink painting dispersed by water.


    The w, carrying the force of a gale, seemed only to cleave through some smoke.


    When Tao Yu''s figure reappeared, he was already behind the gigantic head of the Queen!


    Like a film of spilled ink rewinding, the power of the Shadow Force instantly gathered in the Colossal Lizard''s Fang. His hand rose and the de fell, nearly severing the Alien Queen''s head!


    Tao Yu had never considered subduing the Alien Queen.


    The disparity in size and strength was too vast, and the effect of Taming - Modified required at least initial sessful taming of the creature; the risk was too great, and he didn''t need to gamble!


    A dead Alien Queen, that was a good queen!


    Boom~


    An explosive st suddenly appeared on Tao Yu''s side, its shockwave directly ripping apart the three aliens that had pounced toward him.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu, who had chosen to keep his distance from the start and ensure his own safety, was also blown away by the outer shockwave while using the Alien Queen''s body as a shield.


    The force protecting his vitals, bolstered by his Qi-Blood, was scattered in a mere moment, and the Inner Scale Armor was unable to absorb the entire impact, making him taste blood as he hit the ground heavily.


    Indeed, those mechanical bastards... each and every one was a self-destruct freak...

 Chapter 81: 71 Additions

    Boom~


    Tao Yu''s disheveled figure and the corpse of the Alien Queen both heavily hit the ground.


    The severe impact made Tao Yu hear the sound of his own bones breaking inside his body, and the Yuan Force that protected his vitals alsopletely dissipated.


    However, fortunately, with the Queen''s body in front, absorbing some of the force, along with the enhancement from the bear form and the protection of the Yuan Force over his vitals, Tao Yu''s Inner Scales Armor also protected his chest and back.


    The injuries weren''t too severe.


    Combined with the Yuan Force that poured into him as if money were no object, he quickly repaired a few internal bleeds that could have worsened.


    "Not too bad..."


    Looking at the reserve of two thousand units of Yuan Force left, Tao Yu managed to prop himself up and stand.


    He had been quite economical¡ªonly using Yuan Force to heal potentially severe bleeds, then going all out to kill that troublesome Pioneer, after which he used Yuan Force to regain stamina and counterattack the Alien Queen.


    In fact, all the changes took ce within a few seconds, maximizing all his advantages.


    Compared to the continuousbat required back with the Lis, the consumption was much better.


    "The protective Yuan Force and Inner Scales Armor did a great job, otherwise, I reckon all the remaining Yuan Force would have been ''whooshed'' away."


    Directly using a Stamina Potion that he had initially gotten from a lizard-chimera, Tao Yu also began to slowly heal the rest of his injuries with his physical strength.


    There were also two cans of beef and a bottle of water left, enough to replenish a bit more...


    Looking back at the corpse that Little ck dragged back, Tao Yu barely reached out to pet Little ck, giving it some reward.


    "You did well this time."


    But aside from Little ck, the other three Aliens had already been taken by the self-destruction, with their acidic blood sttered everywhere.


    If the Alien Queen hadn''t blocked it, Tao Yu would have been sshed too.


    Regarding this, Tao Yu wasn''t too distressed.


    The three were just disposables, with a much lower level of Taming Techniquepared to Little ck.


    Touching the cave ceiling, Tao Yu could already faintly sense them bing unstable under the influence of the Queen''s pheromones at this distance.


    Initially, Tao Yu''s n was to have one of them finish off the wounded, just to check for self-destructs, while the other two were mainly to act as meat shields for him.


    But the Queen''s pheromones made Tao Yu unsure whether ordering them to attack the Queen would result in rebellion.


    In contrast, Little ck''s mood was much more stable. The box of beef cans'' consumption hadn''t gone to waste, as it waspletely unmoved by the Queen''s pheromones.


    "Good thing we dragged back a body; otherwise, if this fe had been blown away too, that would have been a real loss."


    Tao Yu tore open a can of beef to continue replenishing his strength and healing his injuries.


    Only then did he begin to remotely instruct Little ck to check the bag, to make sure nothing dangerous was inside.


    However, Tao Yu soon felt movements outside the cave. It seemed like other Aliens sensing the explosion of their nest were crazily approaching, causing Tao Yu to sigh.


    "I''m going up first, remember to bring the stuff from the corpse over, and then tell them the killer ran toward the ins."


    Afterward, Tao Yu grabbed the remnants of Yuan Force condensed from the Alien Queen''s death, absorbed it without a nce, and yet again slipped into the shadows.


    Through the massive crack cut above by the tree roots, he entered the rainforest above the cave...


    ...


    "What the hell..."


    Crouching behind a tree trunk in the rainforest, Tao Yu felt some info from the Alien Queen''s Yuan Force remnants and was left somewhat speechless.


    The Skill wasn''tplete, but that was fine¡ªso far, Tao Yu had only obtained aplete one from the Zombies.


    But pieces of information about a Skill that enhances breeding capabilities, what kind of joke is that?


    And it''s specifically for the maternal side...


    "Screw that."


    Tao Yu immediately erased all the information. The two hundred and something, almost three hundred units of Yuan Force, was merely passable¡ªroughly a month''s ie for his parents.


    Getting this amount from a Yuan Force creature was already quite good.


    But if it was only the ie from the Queen, it would have been a real loss for him.


    "Things from the Abyss really are luck-based."


    Tao Yu thought about his previous haul at the military base; small investment, rich returns, indeed like an unintentional windfall.


    The Xi Lin that was almost robbed on the road also had considerable gains.


    In fact, whether it''s the Xi Lin, the former Yosef, or the two Inner City Pioneers this time, if we talk aboutprehensive strength, they''re definitely stronger than that zombie.


    Butpared to the zombie''s defense and hit points, they didn''t have the ability to withstand a lethal blow from Tao Yu, nor did they have Cao Shaolin''s kind of perception ability, so the ambush was almost an instant kill.


    Easy andfortable!


    "Man, am I like some kind of civil war illusion god..."


    Tao Yu also felt a bit powerless toin, some monsters with thick skin and muscles, or some with arge number of group members, would be awkward to handle by himself, but it seems like he had a special advantage over Pioneers.


    He previously attacked the Alien Queen, and barely missed killing her in one hit. Her head was just too big, making it a bit of a stretch.


    However, soon after, he felt Little ck enter the ''heart-to-heart'' distance, and quickly came up with that body in its mouth, ced it down in front of him, and also hissed a sound of seeking praise.


    Tao Yu could also sense its general meaning.


    The Aliens that had rushed back because of the nest''s explosion were deceived by the information that the attacker had fled to the ins, disseminated by Little ck, and they insanely rushed out there to kill.


    It seems that ordinary Aliens may be cunning, but they''re not that smart after all, easily believing Little ck, and not considering how Little ck knew the attackers had fled to the ins.


    In any case, they went out in anger.


    And since the Zombie World already had barriers against Yuan Force beings, it was only because these three Pioneers had used Yuan Force to open a hole in the nest that they coulde and go freely.


    With their deaths, the passage gradually healed.


    Now that they have left for the ins from the Zombie World, they most likely won''t be able to return.


    Although it wasn''t aplete solution to the problem, it did buy some time for the Zombie World.


    "You really did a good job."


    Tao Yu didn''t offer any real rewards this time since he hadn''t fully recovered himself; he looked to see if there were any goods on this fellow.


    I wonder if anything could make up for my own losses.


    [Strength Belt]: Enhances the core strength of the human body, increases the explosive power in many areas, reduces the likelihood of spraining waist muscles, can absorb three hundred Yuan Force.


    [Concentration Ne]: Increases the mental recovery speed to a certain extent, can be actively activated for a one-time recovery, the activation cool-down period is ten hours, can absorb one thousand Yuan Force.


    [Owlskin Gloves]: Enhances the defense strength of the palms, has the effect of fitting the skin, increases palm strength to a certain extent, can absorb five hundred Yuan Force.


    Three pieces of quite nice equipment, especially the [Concentration Ne], which might beparable in value to the [Warlord''s Sidearm] for Tao Yu, who needs to consume a lot of mental power for many skills.


    It can save a lot of emergency Yuan Force recovery consumption.


    He put on the ne and fastened the belt.


    Because he was in a bad state already, Tao Yu immediately focused and used the [Concentration Ne], feeling a coolness like mint rushing to his forehead, and then a clear head.


    The previous dullness dispersed into nothingness, quite nice.


    Tao Yu, feeling refreshed, was also satisfied with the [Owlskin Gloves] thatpletely fitted his skin after putting them on.


    It looked the same as not wearing any gloves at all, which could be misleading.


    Although the various enhancements themselves weren''t strong, one could almost regard it as carrying a weapon while also providing the effect of armor.


    "It''s just a pity that the mechanical augmentation exploded again, I need to find some explosion-proof stuff."


    The harvest this time was quite good, but Tao Yu still felt a tiny bit of regret.


    The [Inner Scales Armor] had very good shock resistance, the chest and abdomen were obviously better than other areas, not in vain that I resorted to using thisdy''s product.


    It''s just a pity that the sheltered area is too small; it would be great if there was one for the whole body.


    Tao Yu involuntarily thought of the tight-fittingbat suits of the young master and young mistress from the Suns; they''re sure to have off-the-charts defense.


    "Let''s go, back home."


    After his injuries had almost recovered, Tao Yu''s stomach began to growl again.


    He directly took out a tube of Nutrient Paste and squeezed it into his mouth.


    Fueled by the digestion ability of the Swallow Essence Technique - Modified, he quickly recovered his strength.


    These one-time-use tubes of Nutrient Paste, found on the corpse, must be for replenishing strength.


    The effect was not as good as the two remaining Stamina Potions, but it was a bit better than the Qi Replenishing Pill.


    Considered an in-between, there were more than a dozen tubes in total.


    It counted as some extra perks...

 Chapter 82: 72: Idiot

    The morning sun spilled across the garden, and Tao Yu continued to water Cao Shaolin''s preserved corpse with his blood for today''s portion. He then ate a new can of beef.


    Nutrient Paste and Stamina Potion were rare and hard toe by for Tao Yu, who could almost use them instead of Yuan Force with the help of Swallowing Essence Skill, even effective in battle, much more cost-effective.


    The reason the Yuan Force consumption was so much less during the surprise attack on the Alien nest was not only because of the short burst of time but also due to the significant effect of that Stamina Potion.


    In times when one could recover through ordinary food, it was still good to be a little sparing.


    The Alien, Little ck,y on one side of the garden, continuously smearing saliva on its wounds, which had formed a white film over them.


    After eating some Zombies, the Alien, though not having Tao Yu''s healing abilities, healed much faster than normal creatures.


    However, the scars made by its exoskeleton made the originally metallic and smooth exoskeleton look pitted and uneven, making the already ugly creature even uglier.


    "Wow, what did you dost night? Roll around in a pile of Zombies?"


    Jack''s voice came from behind, startled by the sight of Tao Yu''sbat uniform, tattered and scorched.


    How had this guy be so wretched overnight?


    His hair seemed to bear some signs of being singed.


    "None of your business."


    Tao Yu gave a sideward nce to this bbermouth.


    "I''m about to leave, just came to say goodbye, haha, hope it''s not thest time."


    Because the future was uncertain, Jack''s expression was somewhat mncholic.


    "What, still taking that bunch of dead weight with you?"


    Tao Yu''s words carried a hint of sarcasm.


    "Well, man does what he can; the rest is up to fate."


    Jack sighed, not denying that there were many burdens in his group.


    He was a former CIA task force member and had done his fair share of dirty work. His profession wasn''t exactly noble.


    But as someone with the protagonist''s temte and character, even in these morally copsed end times, he still had a strong personal will and stuck to his principles.


    "You''ll be dragged down to death by them sooner orter."


    "I''ve decided, after I get them to the base, I''ve done my part. I won''t care anymore after that, haha, if yourpany sets up a haven, I''ll leave it to you guys."


    Jack did not argue with Tao Yu''s words; since he had built this haven and taken on the responsibility, he would continue to fulfill it until he could hand it over.


    He was aware of the risks and difficulties; he just wanted to stand hisst post well.


    "What the hell did you do? Was it an explosion or a fire? Did you go outst night?"


    Jack changed the subject, but it seemed more like a casual pivot. He still noticed some more details.


    It wasn''t just Tao Yu; the Alien also had many new wounds on its body.


    Clearly, they had gone outst night, and it had been intense.


    Zombies definitely couldn''t have caused those injuries.


    "It''s none of your damn business, if you''re leaving then get on with it."


    Tao Yu waved his hand impatiently.


    "Alright, I''ll get ready then, but be careful on your own."


    It seemed Jack had thought of something. He pursed his lips and said no more.


    "Go ahead."


    ...


    By noon, watching the people from the havening out one by one, Jack drove a pickup to divert some Zombies, then Tommy came with a container truck. Tao Yu knew they shouldn''t have much trouble on the road.


    The Alien probably didn''t have to worry for the time being; ordinary Zombies had a limited effect on a big truck, though the conditions along the way were harsh, and once in the desert, the truck''s container would be stiflingly hot, possibly even fatal to some.


    But that had nothing to do with Tao Yu, who was always watching silently with the Alien by his side.


    The people from the haven, frightened by the sight of Tao Yu squatting next to an Alien, dared not even give him a direct look and hurried onto the truck.


    "We''re off."


    In the end, Jack drove by the hotel lobby, rolled down the window, and honked the horn twice.


    "Safe travels."


    "Till we meet again. Next time, teach me your Fist Technique."


    The engine roared as the pickup followed closely behind the container truck and then overtook it, leading the way.


    Tao Yu watched those zombies chasing after the car and, listening to the scraping sounds of their movement, let out a lightugh.


    No wonder the will of those fragments chose a "Chosen One", but it''s a pity that his strength is too weak to save the world...


    "Go find me some canned food and take a bag for yourself."


    Tao Yu kicked at Little ck, who was lying beside him, sending thetter scurrying up the stairs with two backpacks in tow, then squeezing through the window and climbing swiftly across the building''s exterior like a gecko.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu leisurely picked up a chair and ced it in the garden, leaning back and rxing for a rare moment; he charged his watch and listened to music from a Las Vegas radio station.


    Abyss, you truly know how to mess with people...


    ...


    On the other side, Senke, the ck man in the pickup truck, couldn''t help but say to Jack, who was driving,


    "Boss, is brother Tao Yu going to stay there by himself? What the heck does he n to do?"


    "A Pioneer always has some skills, who knows what he''s up to."


    Jack had indeed heard from Tao Yu about corpse refinement, but he certainly wasn''t going to spread the word.


    After the visit from Zhang Wei and his group, Tao Yu''s name had naturally been corrected.


    "Man, it would have been good if he came with us; he''s got incredible mobility."


    "I would hope so too, but he''s already given us a hand."


    "Ah? How did he help?"


    "Who knows..."


    Jack nced at the zombies outside the window; the convoy was almost out of the city now and hadn''t encountered an attack from any aliens, which led Jack, who had been on edge, to specte.


    He had experienced Tao Yu''sbat capabilities firsthand.


    The source zombies had been killed, he didn''t know what was donest night, he returned looking disheveled, and that alien was covered in wounds.


    And, as a former CIA agent, Jack could tell that the alien had w marks on its body.


    Leaving w marks on such an exoskeleton likely meant that it was also dealt by another alien.


    That guy went out overnight to hunt down nearby aliens, alleviating a lot of pressure off of himself.


    If he doesn''t want to talk about it, then so be it; what a temperamental, fussy fool...


    ...


    Roar~


    Like a tiger''s bellow, the power of his blows stirred the air in the hotel lobby as Tao Yu practiced continuously.


    With the bonus from the new talent "Fist Intention", his training efficiency had skyrocketed.


    It''s just a pity that he didn''t have much Yuan Force left.


    Even though he had a stamina potion and nutrient paste, Tao Yu only kept five hundred units of Yuan Force in reserve for emergencies.


    But the Yuan Force he could use for training was merely enough for daily consumption, given his current strength.


    It helped him to fully adapt his own skills to the "Fist Intention" over the past few days.


    "Soon, I''ll head back after raising the corpses today, then I canplete a batch of tasks and exchange them for rewards."


    Afterpleting the set of exercises, Tao Yu slowly performed the closing move.


    However, at that moment, Tao Yu raised his head and looked upwards, his ears twitching slightly.


    He had just heard some faint noises from above, which caused him to raise an eyebrow.


    ncing toward the garden, Tao Yu signaled Little ck with his eyes, and then they both stealthily made their way toward the upper floors of the hotel.


    The aliens had strong concealment skills, but Tao Yu''s own stealth abilities were even stronger. Even without using Shadow Evasion, he moved in utter silence, quickly approaching the upper floor where he heard some low voices talking,


    "Brother Lin Chao said that type of alien is good at sneak attacks, we must be careful."


    "I heard they went crazy killing everywhere in the grasnds; a lot of people have fled back here."


    "Hope they haven''te over here yet."


    Hearing the voices, Tao Yu knew who these guys were; turns out they were the three unlucky ones.


    They wanted to coerce the locals into being cannon fodder but ended up being captured, and then they pleaded with Chaoyang Society to have Lin Chaoe and mediate.


    Knowing it was these three harmless guys, Tao Yu deliberately coughed loudly.


    It scared the three of them significantly,


    "Who''s there?"

 Chapter 83: 73: The Big Boss

    Tao Yu slowly emerged from the gloomy stairwell and appeared in front of the three men.


    "Pioneer?"


    Looking at Tao Yu''s tatteredbat suit, the three men seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.


    "Have Lin Chao and the others gone back?"


    Tao Yu asked. Given that they had chosen this time toe, they must have received some news, and it was highly likely that Lin Chao and his group had decided to return.


    "You know Brother Chao?"


    Hearing this, the three men rxed a bit further.


    Besides recognizing a mutual acquaintance, the key point was that this information confirmed that this person was indeed an outsider Pioneer.


    Then, among the three, a man who looked quite experienced, clearly only about eighteen, but appeared to be in his thirties, spoke earnestly


    "Little bro, since you know Brother Chao, let me give you a friendly warning. Don''t make careless noises in the wilderness to scare people. It can get you killed."


    Almost immediately, another member of the team, a tall and thin man, also spoke up


    "Exactly. You suddenly coughed, and I almost swept this way. If you died, it would have been for nothing."


    Thest one, short and skinny, not even reaching one and a half meters, also pulled at his cor, showing part of a tattoo, and spoke


    "We''re the West City Trio. We should have a bit of a reputation in the Development Zone. Not sure if you''ve heard of us."


    However, no sooner had he finished than the experienced-looking guy hit him on the head


    "Idiot, the third brother is already dead."


    "Oh, right, right, we''re the West City Trio."


    Tao Yu had originallye to check out the situation and then send these people on their way, but the scene in front of him made the corner of his mouth twitch.


    Where did these three clownse from?


    Perhaps their somewhat arrogant words had caused Little ck to feel that his master was being offended, as he too emerged from the dark stairwell behind Tao Yu.


    The Alien, being primarily ck in color, presented a rather unsettling image as it came out against the backdrop of the pitch-ck stairwell.


    The sharp teeth in its mouth, the viscous saliva, and the low growling with twitching lips genuinely made the West City Trio instantly lose their bravado, unconsciously wanting to raise their guns.


    "Don''t worry, it doesn''t bite."


    Tao Yu reached out and patted Little ck''s head, and just like a dog, the creature rubbed against him and then paused by Tao Yu''s side.


    This left the West City Trio gaping in disbelief.


    Why can he have such a cool skill when we''re all just country bumpkins from the Development Zone? Aren''t outsiders supposed to show off just with Basic Breathing Technique?


    "Sorry, we were a bit loud just now."


    The eldest among them, already looking prematurely aged, immediately adopted a humble and submissive demeanor, suddenly transforming into the image of an honest old farmer.


    The other two also assumed a meek and subservient appearance.


    "West City Trio?"


    Tao Yu raised an eyebrow.


    "You''ve misunderstood. We just gave ourselves that title, fearing that others would look down on us. After all, there is a three-quarters chance that the people are from other districts."


    The eldest''s expression was somewhat embarrassed, and both the second and the youngest were also smiling apologetically.


    However, Tao Yu found their words to be probably true as his Spirit Perception had not detected any unusual emotions. They likely weren''t lying; these three couldn''t possibly have deceived him, could they¡­


    "Okay, since you''ve returned safely, hurry on your way, and don''t make a noise when you leave to avoid trouble."


    Tao Yu couldn''t be bothered to interact much with the three, casually waving his hand.


    "Yes, we''ll follow your instructions."


    The eldest agreed quickly, but then asked urgently,


    "But may we inquire, sir, have any Aliense after you?"


    While speaking, he also kept ncing at the Alien by Tao Yu''s feet.


    They had not yet encountered an Alien face to face, but they were well aware of what Aliens generally looked like and it seemed to match up.


    ```


    In their eyes, Tao Yu must have taken on the task of breeding Aliens and learning their habits, which meant they themselves should hurry up and leave, not to disturb him. That was the most normal course of action.


    "Not many for now, but who knows if you drag on."


    "Thank you."


    The three didn''t dally, thanked him with a bow, and then directly entered the stairwell to climb towards the rooftop.


    As they passed by Little ck, all three seemed a bit nervous, but still managed to get past one after another.


    Tao Yu watched the three leave, not wanting anyplications on thest day before the bodies rise.


    However, just as he saw the three ascending the dark staircase to the rooftop and heard the creaking sound of the iron door opening, and was about to go down.


    Suddenly, he heard exmations from above.


    "Oh my god."


    "What is that..."


    "Someone ising."


    Tao Yu frowned upon hearing this, wondering what was going on.


    Then he gave Little ck a look, and Little ck immediately started climbing towards the rooftop.


    After Little ck scouted ahead, Tao Yu followed and went up to the rooftop as well.


    Although he didn''t think these three guys could do anything to him, it was always good to be cautious.


    When Tao Yu got to the rooftop and followed the astonished gazes of the three men, his pupils constricted slightly, realizing why they were so startled!


    At the end of his sightline, on the horizon, two figures resembling motorcycles flew rapidly toward the city.


    They were truly flying!


    They must have been about a hundred meters off the ground, the ck shapes of the motorcycles exuding a streamlining effect, appearing somewhat simr to jet skis, but capable of hovering and moving at high speed.


    Tao Yu''s exceptional vision allowed him to see that atop each hoverbike was a striking figure.


    Familiar ck-tightbat suits, handsome and delicate features with a cool detachment.


    It was the two notable young masters and miss from the Floating City!


    Tao Yu had not anticipated that after they had investigated the world fragment of Pandora to the south, they would turn around and head this way!


    Although Tao Yu could municate'' with Little ck, Little ck couldn''t understand human speech, so he wasn''t aware that one of the three from the nest had gone back for reinforcements.


    Now, suddenly seeing these two individuals with the most prominent identities and strengths in the current Development Zone, Tao Yu felt some pressure in his heart.


    As soon as Tao Yu recognized their faces, the two nced over almost simultaneously and, after a slight adjustment of their trajectory, elerated directly towards him.


    "They''reing, they''reing."


    "What is it?"


    "Big brother, do you know what''s going on?"


    The West City Trio was also very tense.


    "The two from the Floating City."


    As the figures approached, Tao Yu casually informed them, shocking the trio to the point they started trembling uncontrobly.


    As the two got closer, and they could see more clearly, they held their breath and stood to the side with heads bowed in a submissive manner, appearing very humble.


    Whoosh whoosh~


    Apanied by the sound of tearing through the air and a burst of violent airflow, the two hoverbikes had already reached above the rooftop, reducing their speed in a graceful manner to stop above the group.


    Then the curvaceous miss, with a swift somersault,nded on the rooftop.


    What caused Tao Yu''s pupils to constrict was that, aside from the waves of vibrations from hernding, seven strangely shaped and unique weapons also followed behind her!


    Once she stood firmly on the ground, those seven unique weapons spread out like a fan, hovering behind her, leaving Tao Yu utterly baffled.


    He had thought that the gear of these siblings would be like thosebat suits from the murder cities, but you''re telling me it''s Ionia?


    Looking at the figure delineated by the tightbat suit, which seemed somewhat sensual, and seeing that top-level beauty, Tao Yu eyed the ruby-like eyes of the other party and defined her preliminarily in his mind.


    Rich, beautiful, young, powerful...


    ```

 Chapter 84: 74 Hungry Hungry

    Sun Shiyu nced at Tao Yu and then at the scrutinizing gaze that traveled up and down his form; her ruby-like eyes flickered momentarily.


    "Tao Yu, right? I remember your profile."


    Sun Shiyu''s voice was pleasing to the ear but carried a coldness, which, paired with those crimson pupils, held a unique charm.


    Despite her aloof demeanor and speech, she somehow evoked risqu¨¦ imagery upon first nce.


    Tao Yu tensed, realizing it might be some Skill or Talent, and quicklyposed himself, lowering his head in gratitude, he said with thanks,


    "I haven''t had the chance to thank you, Miss Sun, for your sponsorship and this mission terminal; they''ve been of great help to me."


    The wristwatch Tao Yu wore was a gift from her, along with a startup fund, and there were perks like free slots worth over ten thousand Yuan Force at Wan Liu Dojo as well as half-price discounts.


    At least for now, Tao Yu had indeed benefited greatly from them.


    Thepany''s exploitative nature was one thing, but these two individuals had, for the time being, made a favorable impression on Tao Yu.


    Of course, their high attractiveness was a bonus.


    The West City Trio, witnessing such high-profile individuals remembering someone like the man beside them, couldn''t help but feel utter respect.


    Sun Shiyu was beautiful, yet they dared not even steal an extra nce, much less strike up a conversation.


    The disparity in status was simply too vast.


    "It''s nothing, you''ve earned it. It doesn''t even count as an investment," said Sun Shiyu.


    She nced at Little ck who was on guard and praised in amendable tone,


    "You''ve controlled it very well. Among the tamed Aliens so far, this one is the most outstanding; a Yuan Force Skill?"


    "Yes, but the Skill consumes quite a bit, so I can''t train too many at the same time," said Tao Yu, a bit wary of being conscripted, and quickly added.


    This made Sun Shiyu look at him thoughtfully, and then a slight, attractive curve formed at the corner of her mouth,


    "I know you. Despite having excellent Talent, you choose a partner to avoid trouble. In fact, you don''t have to worry too much. If you''re unwilling, we won''t force you to train."


    "Ah, you''ve seen right through me, but I''m telling the truth," Tao Yu replied, not overly embarrassed. After all, from what these two had done thus far, they indeed seemed to be more inclined toward enticing with rewards, showing a much broader vision than people like Joseph and his group.


    Stimting initiative with money.


    As for the Inner City Pioneers, they exerted some pressure.


    "Well now, since you''ve also tamed an Alien, I''d like to ask you something. If your information is valuable, there will be a reward," she said.


    "Please go ahead," responded Tao Yu.


    "An Alien Queen has died nearby, has your Alien had any reaction?"


    At this, Tao Yu understood what had brought the two of them here.


    Even though he was wearing ratty battle clothes that were dirty and ragged, hiding Fei Ge''s equipment underneath, Tao Yu maintained hisposure as he said,


    "No reaction. I''ve fought ordinary Aliens a few times, but I haven''t encountered anytely. Lately, I''ve been gathering information on a ''Chosen One''."


    While diverting the topic, Tao Yu also began to "sell out" Jack.


    This was always his n to sell to them, and running into them was even better; it was a direct transaction, with no fear of middlemen taking a cut!


    "The Chosen One?"


    Indeed, Tao Yu''s words immediately captured their attention.


    Even Sun Shiqing, who had been hovering on her floating motorcycle seemingly ready to leave right after the inquiry, also descended gracefully to the ground. She had a set of equipment simr to her sister''s but with some differences in style.


    Afternding, she said nothing, just stood aside.


    "Uh, yes, a Chosen One," Tao Yu continued.


    "How do you know about the ''Chosen One''?"


    Tao Yu had intended to steer the conversation toward this topic, but Sun Shiyu''s casual question sent a chill down Tao Yu''s spine, knowing that the seemingly innocent query might not be easy to deflect.


    "When I first entered, I was with Brother Joseph and his group," Tao Yu reasoned that the truth would serve best in such situations.


    If the Chilin could so easily tell him, it probably wasn''t much of a secret among Inner City people, nor had there been any instruction to maintain secrecy.


    Indeed, he had also asked Joseph many questions.


    "Joseph?"


    Sun Shiyu''s pretty face showed a nuanced expression, as if she too remembered the unlucky one who died on their first mission return. She then gazed at Tao Yu with those gorgeous red pupils for a moment longer,


    "You''ve done well, with good Talent and decent abilities, and it appears your luck is also in your favor. I like dealing with people who have good luck."


    After finishing, she didn''t rush to ask about the ''Chosen One'' but said in an even tone,


    "We like clear rewards and punishments in our dealings, preferring to incentivize through rewards rather thanpulsion. The ''Chosen One'' is a crucial part of the new settlements. You can state your desired reward and demands first."


    Tao Yu really liked their way of doing things!


    Of course, being so direct was the best.


    Simrly, Tao Yu didn''t bring up the matter of rewards first; instead, he slowly exined Jack''s situation and said with a tone of regret,


    "...I didn''t realize how important a ''Chosen One'' was, so feeling that he was carrying too many burdens, I didn''t dare follow him. I don''t even know if something might happen to him on the way..."


    "A military base with a water source? Very good."


    Sun Shiyu then picked up on another piece of intelligence from Tao Yu, her slender fingers lightly stroking her delicate chin, pondering for a moment before she chuckled,


    "A ''Chosen One'' is not so easily troubled in their world. We''ll go there now. Alright, you little slicker, say your demands. Tch, it really isn''t quite enough to give less."


    Although Sun Shiyu was only eighteen years old, an age that should be characterized by innocence and cheerfulness.


    But as a scion of a great family in the Floating City, she had to learn more than justbat skills.


    From their current interactions, even with the experience of being a corporate drone in his past life, Tao Yu could feel a certain pressure.


    And although they were the same age, even sharing the same year, month, and day of birth, she still called him a little slicker in a somewhat condescending manner, which left Tao Yu somewhat speechless.


    But since he couldn''t fight against a greater power, especially when he needed favors, Tao Yu could only speak meekly,


    "I''m in great need of Yuan Force, lots of Yuan Force, uh, and it would be even better if there were some skills..."


    For ordinary Pioneers, Yuan Forces actually have a limit to their use. Of course, the best were excellent skills that matched one''s talents and could form a system with extraordinary effects, followed by special-effect Yuan Force items which were also very practical.


    Like the collection of odds and ends Tao Yu currently had in his clothes.


    Prioritizing Yuan Force was somewhat unexpected to Sun Shiyu.


    If it were an Inner City person, they definitely wouldn''t negotiate for rewards like this.


    "Alright, you Outsiders really have less insight after all."


    Sun Shiyu thought for a moment, casually pulled out a maic card, then tossed it to Tao Yu.


    "Is one hundred thousand enough? You probably wouldn''t digest more."


    Taking the obviously high-quality Yuan Force maic card and feeling the amount within, Tao Yu''s heart also thumped wildly.


    It felt as if someone was pping his face with a wad of cash.


    Jack could actually sell for so much? I''ve struck it rich!


    Not personally escorting him was my mistake!


    However, even though one hundred thousand Yuan Force was more wealth than Tao Yu had ever possessed, he still spoke softly, seizing this rare opportunity,


    "It would be even better if there were a bit more."


    "You really don''t know how to make demands, even after I''ve reminded you."


    Sun Shiyu wasn''t annoyed but instead almost couldn''t keep a straight face, andughed,


    "Yuan Force will be one hundred thousand. If the ''Chosen One'' and the base are as you describe, then I can grant you one small request. Let''s go."


    After saying that, Sun Shiyu agilely leapt up, and the floating motorbike automatically sped over andnded beneath her. She mounted it, waved her hand, and then sped away.


    Sun Shiqing, who had been standing there with her arms crossed, now allowed a faint smile to appear on her previously expressionless face.


    She nced at Tao Yu and shook her head,


    "My sister is right, you really are a fool."


    Having said that, she too mounted her floating motorcycle.


    "For us, even moving your entire family into the Inner City is just a matter of a few words. Think it over carefully and make your request again; the opportunity is rare."


    Though Sun Shiqing wasn''t very talkative, she actually offered Tao Yu a kind reminder before she followed her sister.


    Tao Yu absorbed the Yuan Force from the card like crazy and couldn''t help but purse his lips as he watched them leave.


    For him, the use of Yuan Force was indeed no less important than skills.


    If he had enough Yuan Force, deifying a couple of skills would bring everything together...


    But since they had already pointed it out, he couldn''t be too obvious about it.


    A normal Outsider indeed could not rapidly use up arge amount of Yuan Force in a short time ¡ª were they all to strengthen the Basic Breathing Technique?


    Eventually, it would lead to diminishing returns.


    As for moving into the Inner City, Tao Yu thought that with his own abilities, it would eventually be possible, so he wasn''t in a hurry.


    Forcing his way there without sufficient strength seemed like puffing up his face to look imposing. Or should he ask for another skill?


    "Ah, what a rich and beautiful woman..."


    After fully absorbing the Yuan Force from the card and contemting the unprecedented amount of Yuan Force, Tao Yu suddenly found Sun Shiyu to be the most beautiful woman in the world, the number one rich woman, beyond argument...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 85: 75: Second Deification (Fifth Update, Please Subscribe~)

    "Still hanging around here, looking to rob me?"


    Tao Yu looked at the West City Trio, whose drool was almost dripping out, and countered directly, even flicking the now Yuan Force-depleted maic card.


    It must be said that it deserved to be called a hundred thousand Yuan Force; even though it was pure and contained no chaotic information, and a dedicated card was used, it still took some time for Tao Yu to absorb it.


    However, considering that this was the card the wealthy woman had casually drawn out, and she hadn''t even deliberately infused it with Yuan Force, it was probably something she carried with her, maybe even just for the convenience of giving out rewards.


    "No, no, we, the West City Trio, would like to congratte big brother on gaining the favor of a VIP. Additionally, we wanted to ask if the journey to that base is difficult."


    The West City Trio quickly showed their empty hands, signaling they had no ill intentions, and then the eldest brother ingratiatingly posed his query.


    For Outer City Pioneers, survival during this period was quite difficult.


    The rainforest was filled with giant snakes and Aliens, the prairies were infested with Aliens and there was the risk of being infected by ck water; when counting everything, the Zombie World seemed a bit more friendly to Outer City Pioneers.


    Yet without a gathering spot, considering the average strength of an Outer City Pioneer, the pressure to survive was truly immense.


    They now just wanted to get there early to im a spot.


    Moreover, getting there ahead of time might mean some simple tasks were avable to take on, such as ferrying goods between the two realms!


    "It shouldn''t be difficult right now, but once the Aliens arrive, that''s a different story."


    Tao Yu''s smirk made the three men''s faces change, and after thanking him with a bow, they headed off without looking back in the direction Tao Yu had earlier pointed them.


    Tao Yu had exined to Sun Shiyu with the trio listening nearby, so they had a rough idea of the location.


    But relying on just their legs meant they would still need to spend more time to possibly arrive there.


    Tao Yu watched the trio begin to scramble over rooftops to distance themselves, then he walked back to the stairwell and locked the roof ess door.


    Once the dead rose, he would also head there to check in, first to see if that fool Jack had been snagged on the way, and then to look for any suitable tasks.


    The arrival of a hundred thousand Yuan Force into his ount massively motivated Tao Yu.


    "If they gave so much, it''s probably mainly because I''m the first ''Chosen One'';ter earnings may not be as much," Tao Yu pondered.


    Now with a hundred thousand, he could focus on sustaining high-intensity training while considering his next steps.


    "Currently, both talents offer extremely cost-effective benefits. If my Yuan Force is sufficient, prioritizing talents would actually be better. However, talents are more about growth; the stronger I am, the better I can utilize them. My immediatebat capabilities still have some ws..."


    Tao Yu hesitated for a moment.


    Although having already dealt with several Inner City Pioneers including Cao Shaolin, Zombies, and the Alien Queen, making him quite experienced.


    But Tao Yu hadn''t be arrogant; his shorings and weaknesses were still obvious.


    So, he didn''t continue to hoard the hundred thousand Yuan Force, hoping to upgrade his talents with a second Deification.


    Any investment in his own strength was never a loss!


    While returning to the lobby on the first floor, Tao Yu said to Little ck,


    "Keep on bringing me more food."


    Little ck nuzzled Tao Yu, then climbed up the stairs with its backpack.


    After Little ck left, Tao Yu slowly exhaled and immediately concentrated his mental energy on the "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified"!


    Discounting talents, considering only the investment in a skill''s second Deification, this one had the highest cost-effectiveness!


    Even the much cheaper "Basic Breathing Technique" still saw nearly thirty thousand Yuan Force poured into it.


    The originally slightly golden-colored skill orb of "Basic Breathing Technique - Modified" was instantly rendered even more dazzling.


    It wasn''t long before Tao Yu felt that each breath he took seemed to have changed.


    There was a spicy sensation in his lungs, as if breathing fire just by opening his mouth.


    Even though the weather wasn''t cold, Tao Yu discovered his breath formed a white mist.


    And it was getting thicker and thicker!


    Sweat was pouring from his body, as if a white mist was emanating from him!


    It was as though every pore on his body had begun to open and breathe!


    At the same time, there was a sour and numb feelinging from his chest and abdomen.


    [Basic Breathing Technique - Modified II]: Your breathing has undergone an essential change, allowing you to absorb minute amounts of free energy from the air to sustain your life. Breathing is no longer confined to the nose and mouth; you possess a strong resistance to toxins.


    Significantly increases physical limits, significantly increases chest and abdomen limits, can increase Qi-blood to strengthen the efficiency of the chest and abdomen. As the level of the breathing technique increases, additional limits can be further increased.


    Tao Yu felt that his entire perception seemed to have changed.


    With every breath he took, the pores all over his body seemed to be absorbing and expelling, tiny specks from the pores converging in his chest and abdomen with his breath, then forming a warm current that spread throughout his body again!


    "It''s just a pity that the quantity is too small..."


    While experiencing this unique breathing technique, this distinctive method filled Tao Yu with joy but also a hint of regret.


    He was delighted that he had found another way to absorb energy, in addition to eating and the infusion of Yuan Force!


    Ugh, but the term ''minute amount'' is indeed very ''minute!''


    At most, it ensured that he wouldn''t starve to death if he didn''t eat, drink, or have Yuan Force¡ªit was literally just to sustain life.


    It could only be said that it provided him with a new channel for energy. The main benefit of a second Deification was the increase in various limits.


    The additional limit increases that came with skill level upgrades were indeed quite nice.


    Spending thirty thousand Yuan Force to learn a stronger breathing technique might not be possible, but a second Deification was achievable!


    "It might also have something to do with the energy present in the world itself, but ''minute'' truly means minute. If I continue to strengthen it, there might be a qualitative change, but the next requirements are too much..."


    Feeling the consumption of millions of Yuan Force for the third Deification, Tao Yu couldn''t help but feel speechless.


    The second Deification consumed about two hundred times more than the first, while the third skyrocketed to a thousand times that of the second.


    However, when considering the original gradient of Yuan Force consumption, this seemed normal again.


    In terms of cost-effectiveness, the second Deification certainly wasn''t as cost-effective as the first. Still, it was undeniable that the second Deification once again caused a ''qualitative change'' in the skill!


    Although the free energy absorbed was only ''minute,'' it also represented a pathid out in front of him.


    Beyond that, the strong resistance to toxins and the ability to sustain life through ''breathing'' in water or even airless ces greatly enhanced his survival and adaptability.


    However, it was a bit of a pity that these extreme environments, although life-sustaining, couldn''t support his high-intensity physical exertions.


    After that, significantly increasing physical limits and chest and abdomen limits, as well as increasing Qi-blood to strengthen the chest and abdomen efficiency, were indeed helpful for the current situation.


    Now that the Yuan Force had reached his ount! Moreover, with the support of the new talent [Fist Intent], it was a great opportunity for improvement.


    He urgently needed to increase his limits.


    Looking at his more than seventy thousand Yuan Force, Tao Yu hesitated for a moment and then turned his attention to [Ambush - Modified].


    This was a skill obtained from the Alien, the cost of Deification was cheaper than the two Stealth skills, but itbined the Shadow Force born from both Stealth skills, allowing the first strike after entering shadows to have an extremely powerful effect.


    "Sigh, it''s a pity that this skill itself doesn''t produce ''Shadow Force.'' Judging by the Basic Breathing Technique, it''s likely that a second Deification won''t increase it either."


    Although Tao Yu felt a little regretful, if he chose [Stealth], his Yuan Force for daily training would seem poor. It was a true loss not to convert potential into strength by raising the limits.


    And if he chose [Ambush], he would still have thirty thousand Yuan Force left over for eleration.


    After some hesitation, he decided to go for a second Deification of [Ambush]!


    The next moment, Tao Yu felt a chilling sensation, somewhat simr to the feeling when he used Shadow Evasion. Most importantly, his shadow started shaking violently, eventually calming down after a while.


    It seemed to have be deeper...


    [Ambush - Modified II]: You can store overflowing Shadow Force in your shadow and exercise a degree of autonomous control over it.

 Chapter 86: 76: Unexpected Joy

    "A bit surprising, actually more practical than I imagined..."


    Tao Yu looked at the wisp of ck mist floating around his fingertip, flicked it casually, and then dissipated the sliver of Shadow Force.


    On the nearby wall was a scratch, its edges tinged with some ck mist that seemed to slowly erode the notch, only to gradually disappear after a moment.


    The secondary Deification of [Ambush] indeed didn''t result in a new way of creating Shadow Force, but it brought Tao Yu the ability to store and control it!


    Before the secondary Deification, [Ambush¡¤Improved] allowed attacks executed from within one''s own shadow to be supplemented with the Shadow Force that had been umted while using Shadow Evasion.


    Whether it was shing zombies, Inner City Pioneers, or even the Alien Queen, it had yed a tremendous role for Tao Yu.


    That was also the reason why, once he had satisfied the requirements for the Breathing Technique, it was the first ability he thought of.


    After all, the secondary Deification of a Skill like Five Forms as One was even more expensive than a talent; it was definitely something to save forter.


    As a result, Tao Yu felt that the enhancement of this ability turned out to be even better than the highly valued [Basic Breathing Technique] at the beginning.


    In the past, if he didn''t attack while using Shadow Evasion, the umted Shadow Force would simply dissipate, but now he could store this force within his own shadow!


    And he could use it at any time and even control it!


    Although there was a limit to how much Shadow Force he could store, which depended on his mental strength and the level of the Skill,


    this without doubt significantly increased his flexibility.


    And even though the Shadow Force would rapidly decay once it left his body, this new ability still provided the bonus of acting as a projectile, even if its effect was not as strong as that of closebat.


    Besides that, it also came with a slight increase in the upper limit of mental power as an extra bonus.


    "Ah, there''s still not enough Yuan Force. Now that I''ve stacked two Deified Stealth Skills, it''s like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The creation of Shadow Force is still too little."


    Although very satisfied with the pleasant surprise that [Ambush] brought, Tao Yu directly renamed it to [Shadow Maniption].


    He still felt the inadequacy of Yuan Force within him.


    However, as someone from the outer city who had only awakened for two months yet managed to gain such rewards, Tao Yu knew he was quite lucky.


    Under normal circumstances, with his own strength, it would take a very long time to earn a hundred thousand Yuan Force, which he nearly stumbled upon for nothing this time.


    "Now it seems like all the good opportunities in the vicinity are gone. If I want more Yuan Force, aside from hugging the thigh of a wealthydy for quests, I probably have to continue hunting Aliens..."


    Tao Yu did some calctions and sighed.


    Taking into ount the time for traveling and searching, even if on average he could gather a set of Alien Skills every ten days, including the subsidies for hunting Aliens,


    it would still take him half a year to save enough. And that''s assuming that the Skill prices in the new Development Zone don''t plummet too severely, and the wealthydy''s Alien breeding business doesn''t take off.


    Otherwise, the bounty from hunting Aliens would soon be dirt cheap.


    "The real ie still depends on quests, and on pioneering new territories, but right now my strength is not quite secure."


    Tao Yu made an evaluation within his heart: through pioneering, he had obtained a Fragmented Heart of the World and the Corpse Refinement Skill,


    Completed a quest, found the ''Chosen One'' and the right base location, all in exchange for a hundred thousand Yuan Force.


    All of these were more solid than the painful process of grinding for Aliens.


    It''s windfalls that pave the way to wealth, but windfalls are not easily found.


    Having digested the changes in his own Skills, Little ck came back carrying a bundle of food.


    And when Tao Yu saw Little ck carrying the food back, his eyes suddenly lit up, spotting a new business opportunity.


    "Wait a minute, looking at their intent to use that military base as a hub, the hub will need a lot to get started and probablycks a lot of supplies.


    "How many Pioneers are there? Even if they transport supplies back and forth every five days, that''s nowhere near enough..."


    Transportation!


    Making money by using trucks for transportation could initially far exceed the ie from hunting Aliens!


    "A regr handgun in the current world can sell for a hundred Yuan Force. If I could transport a truckload over, even at deeply discounted prices I could make a killing. Hmm, but I also have to consider supply and demand; I need to find goods that won''t depreciate too much even if I transport them by truck."


    With the [Riding] Skill, he was fully capable of drivingrge trucks himself.


    "Relying on transportation to build up my foundation Skills and talents to secondary Deification should give me enough survivability to pioneer newnds."


    Tao Yu thought to himself, actually, he could go pioneering right now, but since he had the talent and potential, there was no need to rush if there was a more stable way to make money.


    "The opportunity is now, once more people gather and transportation bes moremon, it won''t be as valuable, and there are Hendry and Las Vegas nearby, enough to flood the market with supplies."


    After that, Tao Yu patted Little ck with a smile and gave him some rewards.


    The sudden surprise made Little ck copse on the ground, rubbing his head continuously.


    Tao Yu tore open two more cans to replenish the energy he had expended testing his skills, and he headed to the hotel''s garden as the setting sun descended.


    Listening to the low growls and shuffling of some zombies outside, and observing the crows perched on the garden fence, Tao Yu began the final step of the corpse refinement process.


    As the sun finally set and stars emerged in the sky, Tao Yu poured out his own blood.


    And this time, he also plunged two fingers into the earth, tracing bizarre patterns upon the mud soaked with his blood.


    "Rise!"


    With a softmand, Tao Yu pulled his fingers from the ground, bringing up bits of soil with them.


    Immediately following, the ground churned more violently as Cao Shaolin''s body broke through the earth, standing erect!


    Still smelling of soil, the bedsheets were now torn, revealing a pale body with one eye socket oozing blood, presenting a deeply unsettling sight.


    Tao Yu, however, seemed quite satisfied with Cao Shaolin''s corpse.


    He first checked the fingernails which had grown to half an inch long and were purple-ck in color; flicking them emitted a metallic sound.


    He pried open the mouth to check, and the canines had grown significantly as well.


    Then, Tao Yu took out a dagger and made a cut on the skin of Cao Shaolin''s body.


    "Pity it''s just a hastily made product of seven days; its defense is obviously much weaker than the other one''s. Now it''s relying on material quality alone. Although it doesn''t have the weakness to sunlight anymore, its adaptability has greatly increased."


    Tao Yu realized that under a seven-day crash course, the strength of this zombie body might not even be as high as Cao Shaolin''s was when he was alive.


    Compared to the ''intuitivemunication'' brought by Little ck''s [Riding], this zombie, cultivated using Tao Yu''s own essence blood, gave him a feeling of being an extension of his own body.


    Even though it upied part of his mental capacity, this control was quite convenient.


    "Shadowfy."


    Tao Yu intensified his mental energy expenditure, and in the next moment, ck tendrils that resembled tentacles emerged from shadowy areas such as the mouth, nose, and armpits of the previously stiff Cao Shaolin. They rapidly enveloped his body and, like melting putty, dragged him into the shadows.


    "Huh?"


    After pulling Cao Shaolin into the shadows, Tao Yu''s eyes lit up with a slight surprise.


    He discovered that the effect of shadowfication from [Corpse Refinement ¡¤ Improved] actually allowed the zombie to continuously absorb Shadow Force.


    Especially at night, Tao Yu could feel a flow equal to about one-thousandth of the Shadow Force he absorbed while using [Stealth], steadily filling his shadow reserves.


    Although one-thousandth might seem minuscule, it was the constant umtion that mattered.


    At full strength,yering two Stealths could drain all of his energy in just over a dozen seconds.


    Ordinarily, it would take Tao Yu four or five exhaustive efforts to fully store Shadow Force in his shadow, which was not only cumbersome but also required constant eating to replenish his energy.


    It felt like a horse pulling a heavy cart.


    Now, it meant he could automatically fill up each day without doing anything, significantly reducing some of the tedium for him.


    And this was an unexpected delight he hadn''t anticipated, a little surprise that made Tao Yu very happy.


    "If I were to refine for forty-nine or eighty-one days, I wonder if this absorption effect would be enhanced. With just one instance of Deification skill, who needs anything else?"


    Tao Yu felt an itch of anticipation.


    However, since this seven-day experiment had already turned out like this, he nned to carefully map out the forty-nine-day upgrade.


    He needed tomunicate well with his family and also find an even better Land of Extreme Yin, as well as prepare ample materials.


    "The Shadow Force absorbed by the zombie is probably just for its own recovery and nurturing, and is most effective at night and during a full moon," Tao Yu judged using his expertise from [Ambush], the second Deification of [Shadow Maniption], and the knowledge gained when absorbing with [Corpse Refinement].


    "Recovery? One-eyed isn''t so bad. Let it restore functionalityter," Tao Yu unceremoniously redirected the Shadow Force absorbed by the zombie into his own shadow reserves without a care for how much the zombie absorbed, since it all belonged to him anyway.


    Once the shadow was full, he''d then consider using it for nurturing.


    The next moment, he brought Cao Shaolin out again to find him some clothes.


    Otherwise, if he really needed to use him, having a naked man leap out of the shadows to fight every day would be a bit too much for the eyes.


    Even if his looks were only slightly less impressive than Tao Yu''s own, it was still the case.


    "As an upbeat and sunny youth, I can''t bebeled as a pervert..." Tao Yu muttered, tightening his slightly loose [Inner Scales Armor] andining that it didn''t fit snugly enough.

 Chapter 87: 77 Procurement

    The Alien''s slender tail whipped across a zombie like a steelsh, instantly bursting its head.


    After Little ck cleared the remaining scattered zombies on the third floor of the mall, it even courteously stood on its hind legs and used its ws to help Tao Yu open the doors of the shops ahead.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu was stocking up like a shopper on a spree, his backpack bulging on his back.


    Besides himself, Cao Shaolin, who hopped along behind him, also carried arge pack, as did the Alien, Little ck.


    "Zero-cost shopping can be addictive."


    Tao Yu began to pick and choose as he entered the store.


    The shops he selected were mostly still in order.


    Even though a few months had passed and gathered some dust, it wasn''t too much.


    At this moment, Tao Yu had changed out of hisbat suit with burn marks to a set of climbing gear, while Cao Shaolin trailing bouncily behind was now wearing a loose set of sportswear,plete with an eyepatch over one eye.


    Beyond that, they also packed a good amount of daily necessities, like toothpaste and toothbrushes, among other misceneous items.


    After returning to the settlement, he nned to add some items to his family''s home supplies.


    "That should be about enough."


    After picking out a set for his mother and sister-inw, Tao Yu stuffed everything into his backpack.


    Then, looking at Cao Shaolin with an eyepatch covering his face, he felt somewhat regretful.


    Zombies could shadow-fuse and blend into shadows, but only their carried personal equipment would merge, while anything like a backpack would fall off.


    Traveling between the Abyss and the real world, one could bring ''followers,'' but the requirements were strict.


    One must achieve plete control'' to travel back and forth, and there was only one spot allowed, with size limits too; huge beasts couldn''t be taken, and if there were multiple, one would have to bring them back in separate trips.


    ''Complete control'' essentially meant that if ordered tomit suicide, the ''follower'' wouldply immediately.


    Furthermore, if one couldn''t meet this requirement and any changes urred, even if the ''follower'' had been brought back, it could not be taken again.


    Currently, even Little ck had not met this criterion, but Cao Shaolin did.


    However, Tao Yu usually stashed Cao Shaolin into his shadow, which likely wouldn''t take up the spot, nor did he wish to reveal him carelessly.


    Now, letting him out was more about getting ustomed to control and, incidentally, to have him carry some things.


    "Next, we''ll collect goods to sell at the new settlement, the big transport n starts now, we need to get a truck, preferably one that''s ready to go, to save time..."


    They hadn''t received an update on the two siblings via radio yet, but that didn''t stop Tao Yu from getting into position early.


    Afterpleting the second Deification of the two Skills, Tao Yu, who had originally had a fortune of a hundred thousand Yuan Force, dwindled down to less than thirty thousand.


    Although this was enough to sustain his training eleration for a while, he needed to find opportunities to replenish it at any time.


    "There are too few survivors, thepetition should not be fierce yet, goods should be easy to find."


    Tao Yu contemted.


    For Outsider Pioneers, collecting supplies in a ce infested with zombies probably meant moving cautiously in teams like ants carrying food.


    If it had been the former Tao Yu, he would have had to do the same because his personal endurance wasn''t enough, and cleaning up zombies while also finding food was quite troublesome.


    After all, it was for the sake of earning task money, so it was definitely not worth using Yuan Force to replenish his strength.


    But now, with Little ck and Cao Shaolin at his side, Tao Yu''s pressure from zombies had greatly reduced.


    Zombies could hardly breach the defenses of these two creatures, so as long as he was cautious and didn''t venture intorge hordes of zombies, there would be no major issues.


    ```


    Carrying a backpack and walking down the stairs along the halted esctor, Little ck charged ahead, its agile figure and that deadly tail enabling it to deal with zombies without making much noise.


    Cao Shaolin was yfully hopping along behind, providing the rear guard.


    This gave Tao Yu, who was walking in the middle, a rare sense of ease.


    He could even practice the "Basic Breathing Method - Modified II" using Yuan Force while walking.


    Feeling the tumult of Qi-Blood in his body and the tingling sensation in his muscles and organs, Tao Yu took out a can of food and started eating.


    The corpses strewn all over the ground, some things that required censorship, and the stench in the air, none of these stopped Tao Yu from eating.


    "That military base has many advantages, but in the long run, it also has its drawbacks. The Gobi''s environment likely doesn''t have enough groundwater for irrigation."


    Tao Yu tried his best to think like a manager, then considered what the base urgently needed so that he could conveniently transport those items when needed.


    There was no need to worry about food at the base in the short term; they had already stockpiled quite a bit, and with the initially sparse poption, it would be enough for a long time.


    But as more Pioneers slowly arrived, along with survivors of this world, there would definitely be a deficit.


    There was production in the current world, but transportation was inherently troublesome, and it wasn''t possible for Starshine City to keep subsidizing it.


    "Las Vegas is the only oasis nearby, forty kilometers to the southeast is Hoover Dam, they can even supply electricity, but these are still a bit too far from the military base, so what is most needed now..."


    Tao Yu did not consider himself to be exceptionally intelligent. Apart from being fortunate, he felt that his worldly experience from his past life simply gave him a little more knowledge than the Outsiders.


    Essentially, he still considered himself an honest, simple, hardworking, and loyal person from the outskirts.


    p, p~


    With two whip-likeshes of its tail and a couple of ps with its upright stance, Alien Little ck cleared the zombies that had wandered to the entrance, and Tao Yu stepped out of the shopping mall''s main door.


    A dozen meters outside the door, there were still some zombies wandering around.


    But Little ck, already familiar with the habits of zombies, was very cautious and made no noise.


    Upon reaching the door, Tao Yu took the backpack from Cao Shaolin and hung it on Little ck''s tail.


    As Yuan Force flowed in, the ck tendrils that emerged from Cao Shaolin''s mouth, nose, and armpits merged back into Tao Yu''s shadow the next moment.


    Then, one man and one Alien started heading to a nearby alley and climbed upwards.


    The most convenient way to avoid the zombie horde was still through the rooftops.


    After a few leaps, they arrived at an area where zombies were not densely packed.


    There, a ck Jeep Wrangler was parked.


    Beside the Wranglery the bodies of a dozen zombies, which Tao Yu had found for temporary transport.


    "I remember the West City Trio, those three guys, seemed to have found a good spot, which is why they were looking for cannon fodder..."


    Tao Yu climbed into the vehicle, let Little ck into the spacious backseat, and threw the backpack onto the seat.


    The initial rift between the West City Trio and Jack was over using some native cannon fodder to lure away zombies from a gas station.


    It seemed there were some trucks used for hauling goods there.


    Since he didn''t know how to pick goods, it made sense to just take what was already loaded, saving time on both procurement and loading...


    With the Skill "Riding" at his disposal, Tao Yu stepped on the gas pedal, immediately roaring off in the general direction.


    The gas station should still be quite visible...


    ```

 Chapter 88: 78: Liberation

    A ck Jeep Wrangler was weaving through the zombie horde with rather tricky maneuvers.


    Tao Yu was steering with one hand, driving just as well as the veteran driver Jack thanks to the "Riding" skill.


    Although this Jeep didn''t have the modifications like a pickup truck, nor was it welded with any extra equipment.


    But under Tao Yu''s efforts to minimize collisions, it was still a smooth ride in a retirement city like Henderson.


    "Oh ho, gas stations sure do stand out."


    Through the windshield smeared with blood and flesh, Tao Yu glimpsed the gas station the trio from West City had discovered.


    It appeared that a truck convoy was queuing for fuel here, with no less than five semis, each over a dozen meters long, lined up at this spot.


    One of the semis had its cargo door busted open, revealing mountains of boxed goods inside.


    At a quick nce, Tao Yu noticed that the boxes in the opened truck werebeled ''tissues''.


    Yet at the gas station, arge horde of zombies indeed blocked the ce, seemingly drawing even the street''s zombies over.


    From the opened cargo container, it was likely that survivors had tried toe here for supplies and then made some noise, attracting the zombies.


    That''s what had caused the zombified crowd.


    "It can''t all just be tissues, gotta gamble with the rest of these mystery boxes."


    Tao Yu quickly reduced the speed, and as he passed the entrance to the gas station, he incessantly honked the horn, immediately drawing the zombies'' attention from inside.


    Even the other nearby zombies were lured over.


    But Tao Yu didn''t seem concerned, nor did he increase his speed. He kept driving forward at a low gear, calmly letting the zombies slowly encircle the vehicle.


    If these had been normal survivors, getting surrounded by zombies would mean there was no escape, eventually leading to their death trapped inside the car.


    But Tao Yu was far from tense. He scanned the surroundings, preemptively parking the car in front of a store on the street, then casually got out with his backpack.


    Little ck didn''t even need Tao Yu to take action; it quickly took down a few nearby zombies.


    Watching the zombies approaching from a distance, Tao Yu and Little ck climbed onto the car roof, then, backpack in tow, leaped to grab the shop''s sign next door. Amidst the creaking sounds of the supports, they quickly mbered over.


    Leaving the abandoned Wrangler to be slowly surrounded by zombies¡­


    ...


    Meanwhile, inside the gas station''s convenience store, several figures were stealthily observing the outside through the ss window.


    A tall, dreadlocked ck man was also speaking in a hushed voice to a tattooed Hispanic man next to him,


    "Someone''s drawing the zombies away, now''s our chance!"


    On the other side, another Hispanic man suggested to the tattooed man,


    "Big bro, must be others after these truck resources, and since they''re taking such big risks, there''s likely a teaming soon. We need to act decisively."


    "Yeah, been trapped here for months. Those two chicks are almost yed out, and the food is getting scarce. I can''t take it anymore."


    The tall ck manined again and took a nce towards a storage room, which was slightly ajar, revealing two more figures inside.


    "Shut up! You want to deal with the remaining zombies outside? Or shoot and draw them back again?" the tattooed Hispanic leader hissed in a low voice.


    The reprimand made the tall ck man and the other Hispanic subordinate shiver.


    Then they both lowered their heads in silence.


    "Get those two chicks out; I''m bored of them anyway. Let them run, then we''ll take our own car."


    The Hispanic leader''s tone was calm¡ªthey had trucks and even better vehicles here.


    But searching for the keys would be a waste of time.


    Better to stick with their own familiar vehicle, for which they had the keys.


    "Boss is smart. Where do we go next? Surely it can''t be these things all over the world now, can it?"


    "We..."


    Just as they were getting ready, and the Hispanic subordinate was getting up to drag out the two human baits,


    they all suddenly fell silent.


    Because they saw a figure with a backpack climbing over from the side of the shop''s sign, then sliding down the waterspout.


    The movement was so quiet it didn''t attract the attention of the less dense zombie crowd!


    "That direction, isn''t it where the car just went? Is it the one who led away the zombies? Just one person?"


    The three were surprised.


    "Impressive, to get out of that many zombies and carrying a gun, a big gun at that."


    The tall ck man noted the assault rifle on Tao Yu''s back and raised an eyebrow.


    "You think it''s still like before? Nowadays, carrying a big gun is normal. Be careful and don''t make a sound."


    "What do we do now? He didn''t take his car; does he want one from here? He''s not nning to drive away in a truck, is he?"


    "Make sure the noise isn''t too muchter, find a way to do him in without shooting."


    The Mexican boss made the decision without a second thought.


    And his underlings didn''t have any objections either.


    They had done this sort of thing plenty of times before; did they need a reason to take someone out now?


    Better to cut through the mess quickly than to negotiate patiently and exin!


    And so, the Mexican underling stopped what he was doing and, at his boss''s gesture, went to the window and started waving his hands, apparently trying to attract the attention of someone outside.


    The tall ck man had already hidden a dagger at his waist where he could easily reach it and moved toward the door.


    Wait for the right moment, and he couldplete the task cleanly.


    And the figure outside in the climbing gear saw their signals and headed straight over without suspicion.


    He treated the few remaining zombies as if they were non-existent, skirting them with ease.


    The tall ck man too had a smile on his face as he pushed the door open, ready to step out.


    "Hey, brother..."


    But his words, uttered in a low voice, had barelye out, and his hand hadn''t even touched the dagger behind his back when he was surprised to see the other man pull out a dagger first.


    What the heck?


    Pfft~


    With an elerated step, Tao Yu casually slit the ck man''s throat.


    Avoiding the spray of blood, he then kicked the man back toward the zombies following him and walked through the door naturally.


    At this point, the two Mexican men inside were finally on high alert and ready to draw their guns.


    They''d act without a word¡ªwas this guy a psychopathic killer? They hadn''t even made a move yet!


    Now they didn''t care about the noise from the guns; they had to deal with the target first!


    The other party had a gun, too!


    But Tao Yu gave them no chance to react; one man had his throat slit by Tao Yu up close, and another had a thrown dagger embedded in his eye socket, all in one breath.


    Tao Yu even had the presence of mind to step over and grab the cor of a falling corpse to prevent it from hitting a shelf and making a noise.


    Within seven steps, a gun is fast and urate, sure, but that assumes you''re ready and the opponent has reaction time.


    "Scum."


    Extracting the dagger from the corpse''s eye socket, Tao Yu shook off the blood on it and wiped it on his wrist before sheathing it again.


    Little ck had been arranged to handle nearby zombies, and Tao Yu had juste down when he sensed the malice here.


    He had walked over, pretending not to know, simply because firing a gun would make too much noise.


    With the skill "Bullet Time," Tao Yu wasn''t afraid of a quick reaction contest.


    With exceptional vision, he had glimpsed the situation inside the storeroom with just a casual nce.


    There were two raggedly dressed women, both looking in very bad shape right now; it was a scene that would need mosaic censorship.


    That''s why he was so decisive in his actions.


    The two women inside, who seemed to have been waiting for death, became aware of the situation outside onlyter, and began to whimper, seemingly trying to say something.


    But they couldn''t speak with dirty underpants stuffed in their mouths.


    Because the assault didn''t make much noise, the zombies outside were rtively calm, and Tao Yu simply went over, then again drew his dagger and said in a calm tone


    "I''ve avenged you, you can rest now. I''ll bring you relief; may there be no..."


    "Mmm~ wait, wait a moment."


    A woman with originally golden hair, now a sticky mess clumped together, with a dirty face, struggled with all her might, managing a difficult yoga move to free her mouth from the gag.


    She had tapped into the full potential of life.


    "That, I don''t want to die yet, please don''t relieve me..."


    After removing the gag, she spoke with a slightly hoarse voice, then turned her head to help remove the gag from herpanion''s mouth.


    "I, I don''t either..."


    The other woman, presumably Eurasian, weakly spoke up after removing the mouth gag.


    No matter how beautiful a woman is, the strange odor and clumps of hair from not grooming for months, as well as the terrible ordeal of those months, would make her look more exaggerated than a beggar.


    To Tao Yu, these two were just two blurs of mosaic, and they even smelled bad.


    "Tsk~, so what do you want to do now?"


    Tao Yu put away the dagger; he wasn''t any devil. Seeing they didn''t want relief, he couldn''t force it; that wouldn''t be right...

 Chapter 89: 79: Reciprocation

    Sizzling~


    The high-pressure water jet for washing cars hissed as it sprayed against the silhouettes of two women, and although their skins turned red from the force, neither of them made a sound. Instead, they continuously applied soap, leaving foam in ces the water hadn''t reached.


    This guy is truly a killer!


    Whatever happens, they must not show any sign of being troublesome!


    Those three beasts were killed off like chickens by him, not to mention, had Judy not managed to remove the gag from her mouth in time, they would probably have been ''liberated'' as well.


    Although the past few months had been hellish, the bullies were finally dead; being alive was still better.


    Tao Yu yawned as he held the water gun, and he also noticed Little ck stealthily dealing with the remaining zombies nearby.


    Then he turned off the switch and tossed two sets of clothes over.


    The women gratefully epted the clothes and quickly changed in broad daylight.


    The worst had been seen, so they really had no other concerns right now.


    As for Tao Yu, he was unphased by their nakedness; although the women were not ugly, having seen them in their filthy state, he already had a filter in ce.


    These were two female adventurers rescued from a Goblin''s nest.


    "Thank you for giving us a new life, we don''t know how to repay you," they said.


    "I¡ªI''ve cosyed, I can be a maid," one of them offered.


    Still with damp hair, they dressed in the casual clothes Tao Yu had thrown at them and looked somewhat more human.


    Tao Yu was indifferent to their words.


    They were saying nice things, but it was all pretense; what they really wanted was to cling to a powerful figure.


    But since he was already heading to a gathering point, taking them along didn''t really matter.


    "Ourpany is setting up a gathering point at a military base in the desert, and I happen to be going there. I''ll give you a lift, but once we arrive, earning your keep is up to you," Tao Yu casually stated.


    Thepany''s policy wasn''t to support idlers; the women would have to work for food, but like Tao Yu had said before, a basic order would be maintained.


    Even the worst order was better than no order at all.


    The base was in dire need of people at the moment, and times were rtively better.


    With an average of two hundred neers each day, divided evenly between the old and new Development Zones, the survival rate in the new Development Zone was still below fifty percent.


    Even though the call for Pioneers to gather via the radio had begun, the numbers wouldn''t berge for quite some time; incorporating the indigenous poption was a necessity.


    The two women, once tormented by hell, nodded eagerly like chicks pecking at grains.


    In such a world, being alive and able to fill their stomachs through work was enough!


    "I¡ªI know the warehouse code, If you need to transport anything, I could try to unlock it," said the freckled, mixed-race girl, timidly raising her hand.


    "I can drive a truck and fix minor issues," dered Judy, who had showcased her ability by managing to spit out the object in her mouth. She was quick to demonstrate her value.


    This genuinely piqued Tao Yu''s interest; his eyes lit up slightly.


    "You can drive a truck? Can you handle one like these?" he asked, gesturing to the heavy trucks parked nearby.


    All were Peterbilts, same model as Optimus Prime, with cargo boxes stretching over fifteen meters.


    "One of them I drove here," Judy replied with a bitter smile.


    Her convoy hade to refuel, she went into the store to buy some things, and suddenly chaos broke out, ending in their current predicament.


    "Good, I''ll drive one and you follow me in another. That won''t be a problem, will it?" Tao Yu''s expression, previously a bit impatient, became much more pleasant.


    She wasn''t that unattractive, after all¡ªfemale truck drivers were indeed rare.


    Tao Yu had been nning to start a transportation business soon, and now he''d have an extra driver¡ªeffectively doubling the transport capacity!


    This meant that the profits would nearly double as well!


    Escorting one truck was just that, but having two wouldn''t really add much trouble.


    "I can do it. On a truck, I''m not afraid of zombies," Judy said, as if to pep herself up.


    "No worries, I''ll arrange for my pet to follow you, it will protect you."


    Tao Yu beckoned to Little ck.


    Even though the two of them had seen Little ck before, the sight of it running over quickly still made them unable to suppress their fear.


    The first time they met, if they hadn''t already crawled out of hell, they would have screamed.


    But having survived such inhuman experiences, the mentality of the two women was indeed quite resilient.


    Watching Little ck acting obediently by Tao Yu''s side, Judy even managed to force a smile.


    "I used to take my dog with me on deliveries too, a German Shepherd, but unfortunately..."


    After finishing her sentence, she even braved her fear to ask,


    "Can I touch it?"


    "Sure."


    Tao Yu indeed started to see these two in a different light, their strength after suffering was truly rare.


    At leastpared to the survivors Jack took good care of, they exceeded most...


    ...


    Bang~


    A heavy truck forcefully plowed through a broken-down car on the highway and continued steadily forward.


    Following this heavy truck was a tanker.


    The asional zombies appearing on the road posed no threat whatsoever to these massive vehicles.


    Driving the leading heavy truck, Tao Yu even honked the horn, emitting a low rumble.


    "Feels powerful."


    With [Riding], Tao Yu picked up the handling of this Optimus Prime model truck quite fast.


    Behind him were Judy and Jesse in the tanker, with Little ck lying on the roof of their vehicle.


    This tanker was something Jesse had managed to get from a gas station garage, and the sudden switch to a truck and tanker was mainly because Judy, as a former member of the cargo team, knew there was one truck loaded with twenty off-road motorcycles.


    After finding out the variety of cargoes, Tao Yu decisively chose the tanker and the truck with the off-road motorcycles.


    The motorcycles were already loaded, which saved a lot of loading and unloading time. Noticing there were some empty spaces left, Tao Yu also packed various other daily necessities, filling up every usable space.


    Plus the fully loaded tanker behind, these should be exactly what the current settlement needed!


    "Good deeds result in good karma."


    Tao Yu held the steering wheel with one hand, feeling very satisfied with the haul this time.


    Of course, the primary reason was the strong will to survive and self-save in the two women who had just crawled out from hell.


    Soon, Tao Yu could see the outlines of Las Vegas in front.


    The previous time, Tao Yu and Jack had taken the route through the Gobi to the military base.


    They took a detour around the city, avoiding the horde of zombies in Las Vegas.


    But this time, the tworge vehicles might face some trouble.


    "Jack had a cargo truck before, but it only carried a few people, almost the weight of an empty vehicle. With proper tire protection, they probably took the Gobi route."


    Tao Yu nced at the side of the desert road, pondering for a moment.


    Now, with his two nearly fully loaded vehicles, taking the Gobi might indeed be troublesome.


    While driving, he unfolded a paper map, on which Judy, the experienced driver, had drawn a red line.


    "Hope there won''t be any trouble on the road. We''ll have to get used to this kind of distance for future deliveries."


    Las Vegas is a city on the edge of the desert, famous as an entertainment capital, but its total area is not big, only three hundred forty square kilometers, with a poption of just over two million.


    The roads inside form a grid pattern, and the city itself is divided into distinctly separated zones, making it an artificial oasis thanks to nearby water sources.


    Therefore, in theory, by taking the furthest ring road, the density of zombies they encounter should not be too high.


    "Now with the new settlement needing development, these two truckloads of goods are worth at least a few thousand Yuan Force, maybe even tens of thousands. After establishing a transport route, directly using the resources from Las Vegas..."


    Tao Yu tossed the map aside and continued driving along the highway without hesitation.


    Ordinarily, the value of goods from two trucks might not be so high, but a truck of off-road motorcycles and a truck of gas are crucial resources in the early stages.


    Not every scavenging run would yield such finds!


    Isn''t this more profitable than hunting Aliens on the grasnds? And a lot safer too. This could be a good business, running back and forth in the short term.


    With their current strength, hunting Aliens on the grasnds could lead to being ambushed, with the resulting use of Yuan Force leading to a loss...

 Chapter 90: 80: Hidden Danger

    "Didn''t raise it for nothing..."


    Driving the truck at around 25 yards per minute on the outer ring road of Las Vegas, Tao Yu watched Little ck asionally dive down to distract the zombies and couldn''t help but smile with satisfaction.


    So far, this route was quite good, with fewer zombies than expected, just many broken-down vehicles on the highway.


    Some could be rammed open, others circled around by the sidewalk, relying on his superb driving skills to navigate around them.


    Although the speed wasn''t fast, the two vehicles were still bumping along, making their way on this outer ring road.


    "But aren''t there too few zombies..."


    With the height of the truck and his own eyesight, Tao Yu could easily n the road ahead.


    The steering wheel in his hands was incredibly flexible.


    He handled the ten-meter-long vehicle with ease.


    "Las Vegas is getting closer, and there''s definitely a lot of good stuff in there. If we include the time for stocking up, we couldplete a round trip every three days, and the ie would be quite substantial."


    Tao Yu thought cheerfully in the cab of the truck.


    He then checked the time and, realizing it was past noon, turned on his watch radio, waiting for today''s updates.


    Sun Shiqing''s voice starteding through the radio.


    "We''ve preliminarily determined the location for the settlement, choosing the Zombie 01 fragment. The specific location is..."


    Although Tao Yu also felt there was a great possibility it would be chosen here, when he got the official response, he still let out a sigh of relief.


    At least the goods from these two trips weren''t in vain!


    "...Now, whether you''re new or already a Pioneer in the Abyss, you can head to the settlement. Meanwhile, we will also issue some new tasks. First, for indigenous survivors, you can receive one hundred units of Yuan Force for every indigenous survivor brought to the settlement..."


    There in the radio, Sun Shiqing, the beautiful youth, updated each of the tasks one by one.


    And indeed, they followed the path of rewarding with money.


    Since there were not many people now, they were also concerned that the Pioneers toe might not choose the new Development Zone. That''s why they hadn''t enforced any conscription, and it was foreseeable that they probably wouldn''t until the new settlement was properly established.


    It was all about spending money to willingly get people toplete tasks.


    A hundred units of Yuan Force were quite a tempting reward for each indigenous survivor.


    Bringing just three would equal the monthly ie of Tao Yu''s parentsbined.


    Although the risks were indeed greater, normally saving the indigenous residents would be incidental, and it was possible to concurrently transport some demanded goods¡ªthe opportunities in the new Development Zone were indeed greater.


    "Right now, most of the greenhorns'' strength doesn''tpare to dad''s."


    As Tao Yu listened to the broadcast on the radio, he also contemted.


    Now with two vehicles at his disposal, and his own strengthbined with Little ck''s cooperation.


    He could carry out such actions alone, monopolizing the team task rewards. Persuading Judy to stay and help wouldn''t cost much in wages either.


    He could keep transporting the high-price goods as long as possible.


    "Pandora actually has potential too, it''s just a pity that the flying mounts there probably won''t adapt to the air of other worlds..."


    Tao Yu was quite envious of the motorcycles flying around the Floating City twins.


    He didn''t have the money for such things, but with his "Riding" and "Taming" Skills, getting his own flying mount should be possible, right? He might not be able to be a Phantom Knight from Pandora, but perhaps he could capture a young one?


    Thinking about the general physique of Avatars, along with the sheer strength of the creatures from Pandora, Tao Yu fell silent for a moment.


    When he''d fully tapped into the potential of his second-stage Deification Breathing Technique, he should be able to handle it.


    As he thought about this, he also flipped another can of beef into his mouth and chewed continuously.


    The canned beef wasn''t the best for nutrition, but it was the most cost-effective for him right now...


    "Hm?"


    As Tao Yu was driving around a corner, he suddenly paused, then picked up the nearby walkie-talkie and said,


    "Slow down, there''s something up ahead."


    While speaking, he also began to decelerate, and Judy, the female truck driver, followed suit, slowing down behind Tao Yu''s vehicle.


    Right around the bend, just at the next intersection ahead, a mountain of corpses was piled high, like a pyramid, blocking more than half of the entire crossroads!


    Tao Yu slowed down, not because the road was impassable; in fact, it wouldn''t be difficult for him to get through given his driving ability¡ªthe gap left was sufficient.


    "Man-made¡­"


    Tao Yu discerned the origins of the corpse mountain that resembled the Imperial View Garden and then furrowed his brows.


    Pioneers?


    That didn''t seem right. The Inner City Pioneers like the Lizard Kirin shouldn''t have arrived much earlier than himself.


    Those who reared aliens should not have the spare time to engage in such showy acts.


    Was there a pervert among the pioneers?


    It was likely that it wasn''t the pioneers at all!


    In an instant, Tao Yu thought of Cao Shaolin, who lurked in his shadow, and then picked up the walkie-talkie to say,


    "I''ll have Little ck stay to protect you. Wait for me for a bit."


    Having said that, he squeezed through the truck''s window and climbed onto the roof. With one stride, he covered the three-meter distance, grabbed the edge of a nearby roof, and began his increasingly proficient climbing.


    He swiftly ascended to the rooftop, then ran a few steps towards the direction of the Imperial View, continuouslyparing his thumb to objects as he went.


    "There''s no mistake, someone is purposely creating a corpse breeding ground?"


    With his Corpse Refining Skill and after his Deification, Tao Yu was adept and quickly formed his judgment, then he stopped, swiftly mbered back down the rooftop, dove into the truck, and took out the paper map.


    He saw the somewhat square distribution of Las Vegas city.


    Then he pointed at the spot where the Imperial View was located¡­


    "If this is true, then I should encounter another one on my route, and I can confirm it on the way."


    Tao Yu didn''t n to spend too much time digging to the bottom of things. If it really was someone''s grand scheme, it wasn''t something he could handle at the moment.


    But verifying it on his way was not a problem!


    If he couldn''t handle it, he would just report it as a task for the two from the Floating City, pretending he had learned a zombie skill and knew some geomancy.


    "If it''s the skill I''ve learned, there''s actually a limit. Even if they used an entire city or even the whole world to breed zombies, it wouldn''t be too exaggerated, thew of diminishing returns would be obvious. The person behind this is truly mad¡­"


    Tao Yu had the Corpse Refining Art himself and had even undergone Deification. He was very precise with the details of the skill, so he knew that zombies had a limit!


    The person was simply stacking materials and corpse breeding grounds, trying to forcibly raise that limit, reaping minimal gains for maximum effort.


    As long as they could achieve the slightest improvement, they wouldn''t care no matter how many people died!


    "Fortune Thief¡­"


    Tao Yu thought of Cao Shaolin''s twisted character and then thought of the tragic world, realizing that the Fortune Thieves were truly a bunch of maniacs!


    "The Abyss favors madmen¡­ Temor makes sense!"


    While pondering, Tao Yu took up the walkie-talkie to tell the others to keep following, then he resumed his skilful driving to bypass the Imperial View up ahead.


    Judy and Jesse, trailing behind, although they had wed their way out of hell and were mentally strong, still couldn''t help feeling a bit of fear at such a sight.


    The only thing they could do was to nervously drive and follow Tao Yu around the area.


    No wonder the zombies had decreased on the road¡ªthey were all concentrated here¡­


    ¡­


    "Sure enough, it''s a man-made corpse breeding ground, tsk¡­"


    As night fell and the darkness set in, driving the truck back onto the desert highway with the headlights on, Tao Yu didn''t feel much excitement despite having left the Las Vegas urban area.


    He had intended to keeping back to Las Vegas for supplies recently. Now, it seemed there might be some trouble.


    He wondered if the two from the Floating City could resolve this issue.


    Thinking this, Tao Yu shifted gears to elerate and picked up the walkie-talkie to say,


    "We''ve left the city. Find a spot with fewer zombies to rest, and try to stay in the truck. If you need to leave the vehicle for a break, go to Little ck."


    "Okay, thank you, Boss."


    Judy and herpanion were sensible, with noints throughout the journey.


    After Little ck had cleared the zombies, it woulde back and perch on their rooftop.


    Over time, the ferocious-looking alien became their guardian in the women''s eyes, and oddly enough, it offered them a sense of security.


    Then the two trucks stopped on the edge of the highway, a road that, in this new world, scarcely saw any traffic, so parking on the roadside was inconsequential¡­

 Chapter 91: 81: Humiliation

    Roar~


    Like a tiger''s roar resounding next to one''s ears, it was apanied by gusts of strong wind sweeping through.


    Tao Yu, who could only practice his Breathing Technique while driving, started to train relentlessly in the Myriad Streams Five Forms on the Gobi desert beside the highway at night.


    The vigorous energy inside his body, with the enhancement of Qi-Blood from the second Deification of the Breathing Technique, also received better improvement and transfer,plementing each other.


    Every pass through the forms induced a tingling sensation throughout the body, making it addictive and hard to stop.


    Even to prevent his strength from tearing apart his clothes, and since it was already dark, Tao Yu simply practiced shirtless under the starlight, wearing only a pair of sports pants.


    The strength belt and the Inner Scales Armor, along with other equipment, were stuffed onto Cao Shaolin, who had been summoned for guard duty.


    "Hoo~"


    Slowly exhaling a breath of warm air, Tao Yu felt like every pore in his body was breathing in and out, with white sweat steaming off him continuously.


    "Who knows who created Myriad Streams Five Forms, it''s indeed profound. It''s possible that it came from a skill passed down from some world fragment in the old Development Zone."


    Now Tao Yu''s Myriad Streams Five Forms had undergone Deification and he had his own unique understanding of it.


    With every practice, and with every bit of improvement, he experienced a novel and different sensation.


    He checked the skill levels.


    Subtly, each of the Five Forms had officially reached level 3, and even [Five Forms as One] had been lifted to level 2, clearly augmenting the Qi-Blood-induced vigor significantly.


    "The [Fist Intention] talent truly adds an excellent boost to this kind of training; otherwise, even continuous investment of Yuan Force wouldn''t have achieved such speed."


    Now, the bodily enhancements that came with Tao Yu''s [Five Forms as One] hadn''t been fully assimted yet, and together with the second Deification of the foundation Breathing Technique, he had truly entered another period of rapid physical quality advancement!


    "However, the human physique is ultimatelycking somehow. Right now, my absolute strength isparable to that of Little ck."


    Tao Yu had already stacked up quite a few abilities that increased his upper limits, but even so, without digesting his potential, he was only barely equal to a typical Alien.


    Seeding in suppressing Little ck was mainly due to the mental shock mingled with [Fist Intention].


    When he grabbed Little ck''s tail and was dragged around, it actually reflected his inferior strength, and now, to rapidly go from being inferior to equal in such a short time was terrifying.


    Even now, if he didn''t use Deified skills and relied solely on his physical condition to face Little ck''s type ofbat weapon head-on, he would indeed lose in a physical sh.


    All the sophisticated techniques would be useless because the creature would simplye at him with its ws, mouth, and tail all at once, impossible to defend against.


    But if he really wanted to kill it, it would just be a matter of one strike, to use a second would mean he had slipped up.


    "Alien imntation and mechanical augmentation sure are shortcuts..."


    Tao Yu thought again about the deceased Jesse and the now missing Wino.


    After taking drugs, Wino used to lift an Alien by its tail and swing it around like a meteor hammer.


    That was just a rookie who had just entered the Abyss, and even his awakened talent was rather ordinary.


    But relying on Alien imnts and a massive initial investment of Yuan Force, he had formed such strongbat power in a short span of time.


    This made Tao Yu involuntarily turn his eyes to Cao Shaolin who was by his side.


    "I wonder if this guy could be modified..."


    Tao Yu himself was definitely not interested in mechanical augments and Alien transformations, but a zombie wouldn''t mind.


    However, it''s a pity...


    It''s too expensive...


    "I don''t have enough Yuan Force for myself. Next time, if Ie across some extra materials that are hard to deal with, I could give it a try."


    Tao Yu thought of the self-destructing Jesse, the Lizard Scales full of poison, and the one from the Alien nest that self-destructed.


    Tsk, finding a way to control self-detonation is pressing; they really are a bunch of bomb maniacs.


    His breathing gradually steadied, and Tao Yu also felt a recovery of physical strength.


    "The lung and organ enhancement from the second Deification of the Breathing Technique is truly aprehensive strength boost; the recovery speed of my physical stamina is much faster."


    While wiping the sweat from his body with the white towel taken from Cao Shaolin, Tao Yu was also quite satisfied with the robust feeling of his body at the moment.


    Physical strength was recovering in between breaths; since all his Deified skills were major energy consumers, this was undoubtedly apensation.


    "Looking at the Breathing Technique, all aspects of it seem mundane, but that hexagonal bucket strengthening method really does bring small surprises from time to time."


    Under the night''s starlight, Tao Yu''s sweaty silhouette and the streamline of well-proportioned muscles seemed to reflect the starlight, looking quite stylish.


    Hum Hum~


    However, just then, a vague rumbling sound came their way.


    Tao Yu tossed the towel back onto Cao Shaolin''s face and ate beef from a can while drinking a sports beverage. He grabbed his clothes and looked toward the source of the sound.


    Several beams of light came from the direction of Las Vegas, and Tao Yu''s night vision clearly saw the situation ahead.


    It was a group of bikers.


    All riding heavy motorcycles, many of which had anti-zombie modifications with a lot of metal spikes welded on. Although they were two-wheelers, as long as the riders were skilled, shing with zombies wouldn''t be a problem, provided there weren''t too many...


    ```


    "Huh, a survivor?"


    After swallowing the beef in his mouth, Tao Yu began to methodically don his equipment before pulling on his clothes.


    By the time he had finished and returned to the side of the truck, the motorcycle gang was already close to the two vehicles.


    Little ck had already jumped beneath the shadow of the tanker, utilizing its Alien instinct to lurk, while Judy and Jesse in the cab had nervously taken out the handguns Tao Yu had given them for self-defense.


    Witnessing the roaring approach of the bikes and hearing the asional strange cries, the two of them were reminded of some unpleasant memories.


    The tworge vehicles stood one behind the other on the roadside, and although they didn''t have their lights on, their intact appearance and standard parking still caught the attention of the motorcycle gang.


    Someone shone a shlight towards the cab and spotted the two women inside.


    "Oh snap, boss, there are women."


    "Goods in two vehicles? There should be people in the front one too, right?"


    "Are they making deliveries after receiving a radio message?"


    "..."


    The chaotic conversation filled with heavy ents continued as the flickering lights of the bikes added to the confusion.


    Tao Yu, now fully clothed, stepped out from behind the truck.


    "Oh? Radio? Did your radio also receive a message?"


    Judging by the ent, they must be native survivors who used to live in Las Vegas.


    Tao Yu had already confirmed two Jing-Guan, but ording to his ''Corpse Refinement'' knowledge, forming that kind of dead zone would require twenty-four simr sites.


    Therefore, the zombie density in many areas of Las Vegas was likely even lower than in Henderson, it''s just that many people outside of Las Vegas were wary of the zombies within the city and dared not enter rashly.


    This group of guys might be living quitefortably.


    However, Tao Yu suddenly speaking up gave the bike gang a scare, and immediately someone was ready to draw a gun on him.


    But just as they were lifting their weapons,


    Bang~


    Tao Yu fired first, knocking the opponent''s gun away.


    The sound of the gunshot spurred more members of the gang to think about firing back.


    But without exception, with Tao Yu prepared in advance and reacting much faster than them, those who were attempting to draw their guns didn''t pose any threat whatsoever.


    If it weren''t for the fact that each person represented a hundred Yuan Force, and the motorcycles beneath them, as well as their weapons, could probably sell for a good price, Tao Yu would have chosen to shoot them in the head.


    Bang bang bang~


    The continuous gunfire was quite leisurely; Tao Yu even had time to reload his magazine in between shots.


    The enhancements to his shooting ability from [Bullet Time],bined with [One Proof Forever Proof] ensuring he wasn''t bothered by any unfamiliarity, made his Basic Shooting - Modified, despite practicing very little, reach level 3.


    Now, Tao Yu casually reloading, along with the pained cries of those who attempted to retaliate and got their hands shot, instantly quelled any thoughts of resistance.


    Tao Yu was quite urate with shooting, but knocking guns away and injuring hands wasn''t something he could guarantee uniformity in. Those who were shot in the hands just had to ept their bad luck.


    He wasn''t about to waste his mental energy correcting the trajectory for these little Karamis.


    "I don''t really like it when people point guns at me."


    Tao Yu methodically finished reloading, even taking the time to refill an empty magazine round by round, all the while wearing a smile on his face.


    However, the rhythmic sound of bullets being pressed into the magazine made the bikers break out in a cold sweat.


    "Understood, we, we were in the wrong just now."


    It seemed to be the head of the biker gang, a burly man wearing a denim jacket with metal studs, who was nodding like a pecking chicken.


    What is this!


    Just like in the movies, this is so exaggerated!


    We have over a dozen people here!


    "Boss, boss! It''s us! Save us!"


    After Tao Yu had directly suppressed the entire scene, a somewhat familiar voice called out, taking Tao Yu by surprise.


    After all, with over a dozen motorcycles, Tao Yu hadn''t inspected each one. Now he noticed that attached behind thest three bikes wererge dog cages, with actual people locked inside.


    The West City Trio...


    Tao Yu was a bit bewildered when he saw them.


    What the heck? Caught again? What''s going on? Why didn''t they run?


    But it quickly dawned on Tao Yu that these three had only just recently arrived, then set off the same day attempting to make some money at the gathering spot. And now, not even five days had passed, not enough time to go back to reality.


    Man, this was even worse¡ªlocked in dog cages.


    Truly a disgrace for Pioneers...


    ```

 Chapter 92: 82: Another Local Person

    ```


    "Thank you, big brother, thank you. Just order us around if you need anything in the future. We, the three heroes of West City, may not be strong, but we can certainly run errands."


    The biggest hero, who had just crawled out of the dog cage, was also overflowing with gratitude. He still reeked of an indescribable stench, which made Tao Yu keep his distance.


    "Take watch tonight, and keep a close eye on them."


    Tao Yu had the three men pick up their guns, then confiscated the weapons of the Motorbike Gang and whistled for Little ck to make an appearance.


    The sight of the Alien''s terrifying appearance immediately filled the dozen or so motorcyclists with dread.


    Even though they had been baptized by the zombies and were quite adaptable, the sight of Little ck still let them feel its power.


    "Anyone who tries to sneak away will die. We leave first thing tomorrow morning; I''m also going to the base."


    "Yes, yes, we''ll go with you!"


    "Thene over, two at a time, I''ll take turns asking questions. If anyone lies, I''ll just shoot a limb off first."


    The words that followed from Tao Yu made the biker gang''s leather-jacketed boss shudder, nodding over and over.


    "Understood, understood!"


    "Youe here first. What''s been going on with your radio?"


    Tao Yu issued the inquiry and gradually came to understand the situation.


    It seemed that the survivors in the military base or someone among Jack''s group had helped to broadcast messages.


    The two from the Floating City had hijacked the original frequency band of the Las Vegas radio station and informed the survivors about the existence of the base.


    Safe, with food, restoring order.


    Each of these promises was enough to stir the hearts of any survivor who received the message!


    Therefore, this Motorbike Gang, which had always operated on the outskirts of Las Vegas, decided to head there directly.


    "Actually, we went to that military base before, but the zombies were too dense and we eventually gave up. To have cleaned it up, someone must have really strongbat power, and safety is indeed assured."


    The leader of the Motorbike Gang honestly recounted his thought process.


    "You seem to be thriving; is there any danger in Las Vegas? What''s the deal with those capitals?"


    Tao Yu asked about the things he was keenly interested in.


    "Inside the city of Las Vegas, it''s actually not bad. There are more than twenty capitals, so the zombie density is still manageable..."


    At this point, he hesitated slightly before continuing.


    "We''ve always operated in Las Vegas, so we know those capitals were built at the start of the outbreak, with the zombies piling up on their own..."


    As he spoke, his face showed fear, that bizarre imagery still vivid in his memory!


    Had it not been for the abundant food inside the city and a water source nearby, they really would not want to stay there!


    "Moreover, through our interactions with other survivors within the city, we know that although the overall environment of Las Vegas is good, people actually disappear every night. In the past few months, three from my team vanished without a trace...


    Hearing this, Tao Yu fell into contemtion.


    People disappearing every day?


    Then, information about Corpse Refinement surfaced in his mind; the zombies in this man-made hell had awakened and were hunting every day!


    It was only because they were still in the process of cultivating the zombies that they hadn''t annihted all the survivors in the city.


    Every survivor in Las Vegas was actually their blood meal!


    How long did they n to cultivate?


    The upper limit of Tao Yu''s own Corpse Refining Technique was roughly eighty-one days, and now here it''s been seven or eight months and they''re still cultivating...


    "Even if there''s indeed a limit to this Corpse Refining Technique, continually piling on like this is troublesome..."


    Tao Yu gazed towards the pitch-ck area of Las Vegas, his heart somewhat heavy.


    Perhaps not just Las Vegas, but this infection that has impacted the current state of the entire world, it''s uncertain how many such areas will emerge.


    Blindly using a single zombie for cultivation bes less and less efficient; it would be better to spread out and create more zombies!


    ```


    Just as the kill radius only doubles with every tenfold increase in a nuclear bomb''s yield, the destructive power of multiple warheads far exceeds the sum of their yield.


    "For the person behind the scenes, the zombies in the city are already like multiple warheads, but how is he controlling so many zombies at the same time? The mental burden should be overwhelming..."


    Each zombie requires a portion of mental capacity, and this is precisely why Tao Yu wanted to refine premium ones, at most one or two.


    However, there are quite a number of cities on a global scale simr to Las Vegas, so there must be some other method unknown to him at y.


    Using a tool to control them?


    ...


    The morning sun rose slowly, shedding its light upon the Gobi Desert.


    The highways, strewn with sand by the winds, asionally had an abandoned vehicle anchored at the roadside, but overall the road conditions were much better than inside the city.


    At this moment, a convoy centered around a truck and a tanker was steadily moving along the highway.


    Due to the sand and gravel on the road, the truck''s speed was not increased to prevent skidding, while the motorcycles nked it like guardians.


    The dozen or so members of the Motorbike Gang that Tao Yu had ''captured'' on the spot were now obediently following along without any thoughts of fleeing.


    The mental shadow that Tao Yu left them by suppressing them single-handedly with a gun the previous night was too profound.


    To flee would mean getting sniped from a distance and they''d only have themselves to me, right?


    Since they were heading to the base anyway, they might as well follow...


    Because the base was not far, even with the slow speed of the vehicles, they could already see the situation at the base before noon.


    From afar, ck smoke could be seen rising from the base, and a burnt stench filled the air.


    Using the height advantage of the truck, Tao Yu had already made out the situation over there.


    Several piles of corpses were being burned.


    Although the smell would be terrible in the short term, it definitely needed to be dealt with, better than the long-term stench of decay.


    "I waited for the corpses to rise, spent time shopping, added the dy from taking the truck through Las Vegas and a night outside, so it''s normal if other Pioneers from around here arrived earlier..."


    Tao Yu went over the timeline in his mind; undoubtedly, there weren''t many Pioneers at the base now; the main force should be the locals.


    He even saw the olddy who had brandished a cane to hit someone in Jack''s team, now trembling as she toiled in front of the pile of corpses.


    Thepany doesn''t keep idle people around, and they certainly aren''t as easygoing as Jack...


    Beep beep~


    Tao Yu honked the horn, and therge convoy immediately drew attention from the base, everyone there involuntarily looked up.


    Then Tao Yu saw three motorcycles speeding towards them.


    One of the motorcycles was distinctly different in style from those on Earth, having a punk feel to it, probably brought over from the present world, which seemed to be close to the limit in terms of size that could be transported.


    Inner City Pioneers...


    Tao Yu quickly made his judgment.


    Having the Suns siblings'' ''little request'' on him, Tao Yu was not intimidated upon seeing the Inner City Pioneers now.


    After having killed several of them, beheading was still a death sentence, so there was nothing to fear.


    "Are you survivors? Coming to the base?"


    Immediately upon arrival, one of the riders on the Earth-style motorcycle, wearing a helmet, loudly inquired in English.


    Tao Yu also sensed that the Pioneer had chosen Willpower Trantion, for he could understand English, so that''s how it sounded to him.


    Seeing the excitement on the other person''s face, Tao Yu guessed the fellow must have thought that this was an unimed group. So he honked again and poked his head out the window to say in themon tongue,


    "Big brother, local, Pioneer."


    As soon as Tao Yu revealed himself, the helmeted man with the excited tone stiffened in his movements.


    Though wearing a helmet, Tao Yu had the vague impression that the man muttered a few swear words under his breath...

 Chapter 93: 83 Business

    "Bro Panda, bad luck, it''s a Pioneer."


    The motorcyclist who came over with a helmet to ask questions pulled a sharp turn and returned to the punk-style heavy motorcycle, his words alsoden with some gloom andint.


    The heavy motorcycle had rather wide and thick tires, which meant it didn''t need a stand or foot support even when stopped.


    By now, a hulking man over two meters tall had casually stopped his motorbike to the side and was leaning on it while smoking a cigarette, disinterestedly.


    He didn''t need his underling to reply because he had already heard Tao Yu''s somewhat dopey voice and then chuckled.


    "Are you dumb? How many of us Pioneers havee in total? Could we possibly form such arge group?"


    This made the helmet-wearing underling pause, and then he looked back at the cargo trucks and motorcycle brigade that began to slow down.


    He saw that many of the motorcyclists'' hands were wrapped in blood-soaked bandages; lots of them were riding one-handed, with others seated behind theirrades.


    This, captured natives?


    Still, being able to capture more than a dozen adult males, the overall strength of the Pioneers wasn''t weak, though it was unclear exactly how it was distributed.


    It was only then that Panda, the man from the Inner City with a height of two meters and thirty, flicked away his cigarette butt and got off his bike, taking the initiative to walk towards Tao Yu.


    After seeing a fuel tanker at the back, he raised his eyebrows and said to Tao Yu, who was leaning out of the driver''s cabin,


    "Is that in the back carrying oil?"


    "Yeah, I''ve got also got more than twenty off-road motorcycles in this haul, along with plenty of daily supplies, and about twenty guns, plus the motorcycles they were sitting on."


    Tao Yu, while talking to the outside group of the Motorbike Gang, rubbed his mouth without much concealment.


    The base was in dire need of development now; it''s entirely possible that those two from the Floating City were looking for an opportunity to make an example of someone. Tao Yu didn''t think anyone would be foolish enough to rob them at the gate of the base.


    After all, he had registered with the Suns siblings; even if they wouldn''t show favoritism, he still had a ce to speak.


    If his judgment were wrong and he did encounter a robbery...


    Tao Yu''s gaze began to assess the equipment on this burly man; it wasn''t the kind of mechanical modification that would explode, and it was uncertain which pieces were Yuan Force equipment.


    Causing a bloody mess at the gate of the base wouldn''t be too pleasant, right...


    "Well now, you got lucky; I don''t recognize your face, bro. From the outer city?"


    Panda didn''t mind that Tao Yu hadn''te down, using one hand to prop himself against the side of the truck while his gaze lingered on the injured Motorbike Gang members, as though he was evaluating something.


    "From the outer city, Grade A ''Dynamic Vision.'' I''m the one who found this ce and reported it to Miss Sun."


    As Tao Yu spoke, he also rested his hand on the window, revealing the mission watch on his wrist.


    You can''t hesitate when it''s time to show your strength; it''s best to nip some thoughts in the bud and that can save a lot of trouble.


    Once the other party entertains the idea, and even acts upon it, the effect of pulling out these cardster would be much less, after they''ve invested andmitted to their course.


    Even if the other party decides to back off, a feud would have been established, and it wouldn''t be worth it.


    As a former corporate drone in his past life, Tao Yu was very clear about these things.


    Now, with his current utility value and demonstrated abilities, he shouldn''t make an Inner City Pioneer do anything undignified.


    And Tao Yu''s hints indeed made Panda''s expression stiffen slightly, followed by a somewhat dissatisfied response,


    "The way you talk, bro, makes it seem like I''m the type to steal other''s prize."


    "Big bro misunderstood; I just like to show off a bit, my apologies."


    Tao Yu wore a smile full of cheerfulness.


    As for whether he wanted to cut in, only the other party knew. If they really had no intentions, they wouldn''t havee over specifically. Got nothing better to do, huh...


    "Hey, kid, you''re quite interesting. Grade A ''Dynamic Vision,'' right? You might being into the cityter. Let''s get to know each other in advance, I''m Panda."


    Panda shed a grin, looking up at Tao Yu in the driver''s cabin and stretched out his hand upwards.


    With a towering height of two meters and thirty, even with Tao Yu sitting in the elevated position of the truck''s cabin, Panda''s hand could reach directly up to him.


    Tao Yu also reached out the window and shook hands with him, with no sign of getting out of the truck.


    "You tter me, Big Bro Panda. It''s all thanks to the reward from Miss Sun forpleting a mission in advance. There''s still a long way to go before I can enter the city."


    "Sell me these goods, all together for twenty thousand Yuan Force, I''m not letting you suffer a loss."


    Panda''s offer immediately brought a smile to Tao Yu''s face.


    He then opened the vehicle''s door, jumped down, and ended up looking up at Panda.


    "How can I not sell when Big Bro Panda wants to buy? Not including the two big trucks in the price, of course."


    Panda''s eyelids twitched, but he still nodded and said


    "If you''re willing to sell the goods and these people, including both vehicles, for a bit more money, we can agree on that, but you have to teach us how to drive."


    "I''m not selling the big truck for now, but you''ll be the first one I consider when I do."


    In reality, Tao Yu had made some estimates, having just plundered this group of the Motorbike Gang. Each living person was worth a hundred Yuan Force, plus more than twenty guns averaging a hundred each.


    The dozen or so motorcycles could also be averaged at over a hundred each, and packaging them together could amount to around seven thousand Yuan Force.


    The goods in both his vehiclesbined, considering the current shortage, should be estimated at about ten thousand Yuan Force as well.


    The other party was willing to offer a total of twenty thousand, which was a bit of a premium.


    This was the opportunity of a new Development Zone, a new gathering ce!


    Danger and reward coexisted!


    Tao Yu knew that if the other side was willing to pay a higher price, they would certainly have ways like credits, goodwill, or retailing the items individually to make a return and certainly profit from it.


    But for Tao Yu himself, quick mization with a premium was a clear gain!


    The time wasted retailing by himself was better spent making another trip!


    "How do you want to handle the payment? Just to let you know, there are two indigenous women that I''m keeping."


    Now that Tao Yu had grown a bit taller, he still appeared ''petite'' in front of Panda''s towering stature of two meters and thirty centimeters.


    Upon hearing Tao Yu''s words, Panda nced at the two indigenous women, who in his view were only moderately attractive, and couldn''t help but feel amused.


    Those bumpkins from the outer city had no experience, but if they werescivious, future deals could cater to their tastes.


    "Alright."


    As he spoke, Panda took out a maic card and began to imbue it with Yuan Force with his eyes closed.


    He clearly didn''t have the wealth of the Suns'' siblings to carry pre-loaded maic cards, and twenty thousand Yuan Force was still a significant amount to him!


    It was only because his talent was decent, and his family saw the potential for development here, that they provided additional sponsorship.


    However, he knew that this investment and transaction would not result in a loss.


    Leaving other considerations aside, the group of able-bodied men, with some training, could start to create value.


    Regarding the goods, sorting out the useless for credits and distributing the useful ones, plus selling some easy-to-sell items separately, would certainly yield more.


    In a new gathering ce where everything was yet to be built, for him, the importance of materials far outweighed Yuan Force!


    With these materials, it would be convenient to set up his own crew.


    A win-win situation!


    "Thanks, Brother Panda. Where should I unload the merchandise?"


    Tao Yu took the maic card and absorbed all the Yuan Force, then handed the empty card back to Panda.


    He had a maic card with a maximum limit of a hundred thousand, so there was no need to keep taking so much.


    "Let''s go into the base first. I''ll get some oil drums, and you can just put the goods on the ground for now, as the warehouse has been requisitioned by the two big shots," Panda said while motioning his underlings to make way and then turned back to Tao Yu,


    "What do you think, little brother? Interested in joining my team? You can drive, and we could work together transporting goods to grow stronger."


    "I''m used to being wild on my own, I''ll try my luck solo first, and I''lle find you if things don''t pan out."


    Tao Yu listened to Panda''s untechnical pie-in-the-sky talk with no intention of engaging further.


    If he needed to transport goods, he could do it himself; why involve someone else without a tangible benefit?


    Perhaps ordinary Pioneers from the outer city would get excited about connecting with the Inner City, but having already encountered the Suns'' siblings, Tao Yu was indifferent to it.


    If he truly needed to seek a ''patron,'' it had better be a worthy one...


    Strapping on the seat belt in the truck''s cab again, Tao Yu watched Panda leading the way on his motorbike, a wave of emotion stirred within him.


    The first time he encountered Joseph and Wino from the Inner City, he was practically grovelling. Even his assassination of Joseph was a matter of opportune timing.


    Now, even openly, he could deal with people from the Inner City in broad daylight.


    In secret, he had already taken out several of them.


    The Abyss was indeed a miraculous ce...

 Chapter 94: 84: Interest Demands

    "If you get more good stuff, remember toe to me first."


    After spending half a day, Tao Yu''s goods were also sessfully handed over.


    Actually, the main task was filling oil drums, and although the military base had plenty of thoserge cylindrical oil drums, filling them was still somewhat troublesome.


    "Sure thing, it''s been a pleasure working together."


    Tao Yu and Panda shook hands.


    "Pleasure''s mine."


    As Panda shook hands, he also cast another nce at Jack standing beside Tao Yu, his estimation of Tao Yu''s importance rising once again!


    Jack''s identity hadn''t been made public, but as one of the few Inner City Pioneers present, Panda had received special instructions.


    This was about a ''Chosen One'' extremely important to the settlement; judging by how the other party interacted with this person, perhaps the ''Chosen One'' had been found by Tao Yu.


    Considering the magnanimity of the Suns, the reward was likely to be substantial.


    Having both a Grade A talent and such a hefty reward, plus being under the wing of the Sun siblings, it''s no wonder he had the confidence to face off against me, different from the other outer city bumpkins.


    With onest look at Tao Yu and Jack, Panda turned and left.


    Having taken in all these goods, it was time to trante them into greater benefits and to perfect his own team...


    ...


    "Kid, you''ve gotten your hands on quite a haul, nice work. With such a reward, you should treat me."


    Jack waggled his eyebrows at Tao Yu.


    Seeing Tao Yu arrive at the base made Jack feel a lot more rxed.


    Although the Sun siblings who flew over directly had been kind to him and even given him some protective gear, Jack still felt more at ease in Tao Yu''spany.


    "Sure, I''ll treat you to a can of beef."


    Tao Yu tossed over a can he had on him.


    "Forget it, I''m sick of it already."


    Jack made a long face, making the scar on hisrge nose even more prominent.


    "You seem to be a lot more rxed, what, you dropped the burden?"


    Seeing Jack refuse the can, Tao Yu didn''t hesitate to rip it open and started munching away.


    "I said I''d bring them here to end things on a good note, what happens next is up to yourpany."


    Jack then turned his head toward several piles of zombie corpses, where at this moment, many of Jack''s former team members were bustling about.


    Both the weak and the women were no exception!


    If you don''t work, there''s no food to eat, and that''s literally no food; in this regard, thepany was truly impartial.


    "Now it''s just Tommy and Senke who are still with me, and your two Pioneer big shots are definitely strong. They arrived before I even managed to lure the zombies away..."


    When Jack said this, his face showed his amazement; he couldn''t believe these were fellow humans.


    The ughter of zombies was as simple as mowing grass!


    "Big shots from the Floating City should be strong, yes. Do you know where they are now? I have something to discuss with them."


    Tao Yu casually inquired.


    He mainly wanted to discuss some issues rted to Las Vegas, and also bring up his own ''little request.'' After all, the stronger these two were, the better for him.


    "They went out for a bit, probably nning to have a look around nearby, said they''d be back in a couple of days."


    Jack said offhandedly.


    "Eh? You seem to be quite informed."


    "They asked me to temporarily manage the base, so of course I''m informed."


    Jack gave Tao Yu a look, which actually took Tao Yu by surprise.


    But he soon understood.


    ''Chosen Ones'' were critical after all; special treatment was the norm.


    Moreover, given the ''Chosen One''s'' rtively positive character and reputation, they indeed were more likely to be trusted and given responsibilities.


    Besides, the indigenous people themselves did not have strong exploration capabilities, but entrusting them with logistics and construction was far more cost-effective than using Pioneers.


    Plus, even ''Chosen Ones'' couldn''t secretly absorb Yuan Force items or fill their own pockets with them.


    "You''re the manager and still letting your former people do these tasks? They don''t haveints?"


    Tao Yu raised his eyebrows in curiosity.


    "I''m just acting as the manager, the supplies aren''t mine. The survivors at the barracks have exchanged food and shelter at the barracks for some clerical work."


    Jack spoke calmly, then continued,


    "The tasks that need to be done areid out here, and the number of supplies distributed forpletion is limited. If they don''t do it, others will have to help, or else everyone goes hungry, so there''s no choice."


    Ultimately, Jack was ex-CIA and not some blind idealist; he''d taken the risk to bring everyone here merely to fulfill the duty he had as their leader. With his responsibility now shifted, he''d focus only on his current role.


    He had his principles of conduct, but he wasn''t one to make unnecessary concessions.


    "When are you going to teach me the Fist Technique? I think my Stance Skill is about there, they crippled a bunch of zombies for me to set fire to a lot of them."


    Jack then turned back to Tao Yu with an inquiry.


    As a ''Chosen One,'' he could strengthen himself through Yuan Force, and by killing Yuan Force creatures, he could gather Yuan Force more efficiently without the need to dig up Yuan Force items.


    However, the downside was that he couldn''t actively absorb Yuan Force items or skills, nor could he selectively enhance anything; it was a general improvement across the board.


    "Sure, if there''s time we can learn now. I could do with some practice myself. They won''t be back for a while, so I''ll go and haul a load of cargo. When the timees, lend me Tommy, he knows how to drive a truck, right?"


    Tao Yu was unfazed and simply agreed, after all, he had promised to do so.


    He then remembered Tommy who knew how to drive trucks.


    "I''ll talk to him, but not today, I need to go give a hand; otherwise, they really won''t have anything to eat."


    Jack waved his hand to indicate he didn''t have time that day, and then walked toward the corpse-burning teamposed of the frail and the sick.


    Tao Yu was startled momentarily, then revealed a hint of a smile.


    This guy, although he was harsh and merciless, and certainly stuck to his principles, was indeed willing to help within his capabilities in his own way.


    Everyone had to work to earn their food and had toplete tasks to receive their corresponding shares. He wouldn''t unfairly reduce anyone''s workload, but he would take the initiative to help out and do whatever he could.


    "However, it''s a pity, I don''t know if he''ll appreciate your kindness."


    Tao Yu shook his head but didn''t mind it, as it seemed that Jack''s personality didn''t really care about these things either.


    Just like Tao Yu himself hadunched an overnight raid on the Alien hive without expecting anyone''s gratitude. He simply wanted to do it, his thoughts were clear.


    I save you, what''s it to you...


    ...


    "Boss Tao, Boss Jack asked us to follow you on the job."


    Tommy and Senke, having changed into a set of base''s individualbat gear, greeted Tao Yu with big grins on their faces.


    They had considerable respect for Tao Yu''s abilities and considered him one of the most familiar Pioneers.


    "We''re transporting cargo to Las Vegas, but we won''t stay overnight in the city."


    Tao Yu smiled when he saw the two of them.


    With the situation in Las Vegas still unresolved, Tao Yu wouldn''t stay overnight there¡ªwho knew if he would hit the jackpot?


    However, with the control provided by the Corpse Refining Technique, Tao Yu could determine that even if the Zombies could withstand sunlight, they would definitely despise it and wouldn''te out during the daytime.


    The drawbacks of the ordinary Corpse Refining Technique were quite obvious; only after his own Deification had he erased this defect.


    Now, just casually hauling some cargo around the outskirts without wasting time waiting was reasonable.


    The two truckloads of cargost timeted twenty thousand Yuan Force!


    Although the quality of the goods and the Motorbike Gang selling in bulk yed a part, now with three trucks, wouldn''t it be easy to mix in and make seven or eight thousand at once?


    Just loading up some supermarket supplies should be enough!


    With hardly anyone scavenging for goods right now, one could just load them up indiscriminately¡ªno time should be wasted...


    ...


    Beep beep~


    Tao Yu''s two cargo trucks, along with the one Tommy had initially driven over, left the base one after the other, attracting quite a bit of attention.


    Panda, who was in the midst of training the Motorbike Gang he wanted to recruit, also eyed the three departing trucks with envy.


    "Three trucks now, good lord, cargo''s everywhere, and each run''s a bloody fortune."


    After grumbling, he turned his fierce gaze back to the gang,


    "You bunch of good-for-nothings, are you even worse than a woman? Can''t you even drive a damn truck?"


    Panda had initially thought there would be plenty of drivers for such trucks, but to his surprise, not one of these Motorbike Gang members knew how to drive them. Some could drive standard cars, yes.


    But an ordinary driver managing to handle a truck underplex road conditions wasn''t something that could be achieved in a day or two.


    Now, he could only watch longingly as Tao Yu cheerfully drove off with three trucks loaded with cargo.


    "Boss Panda, he''s just a bumpkin from the Outer City, just got lucky with a little reward. You think he''s really caught the eyes of the big shots from the Inner City?"


    At this moment, one of Panda''s subordinates, a burly man who stood around six-foot-tall, hurried over and spoke in a hushed tone.


    The prior transaction of the two truckloads of cargo had cost Boss Panda two thousand Yuan Force, and this guy, watching enviously, wished he could just rob them and take it all for himself.


    The Development Zone was way too lucrative!


    But now, without trucks and relying solely on manpower, even if they drafted all the Motorbike Gang members from the Outer City, it wouldn''t match up to what one truckload could bring. And Panda had let such a deal go, which was beyond this man''sprehension.


    Panda gave the man a mockingly amused look,


    "Heh, idiot, stop following me from now on, you''re an annoyance."


    This remark instantly paused the strong man''s expression, his face then flushing red in no time.


    But seeing Panda''s hulking figure dwarfing his own, he didn''t dare to speak out.


    He continually apologized while bowing his head, then hastily left.


    "Look sharp, and if you can''t grasp the current situation, get lost right now! Don''t stay here causing me trouble," Panda used the man as an example to assert his authority, dousing the other underlings with his scolding.


    As one of the few Inner City Pioneers that had arrived at the base, just by putting out the call, he could recruit a bunch of Outer City underlings. However, it could also lead to a mixed bag of recruits, and this was a good time to purge and reorganize...


    ...


    Meanwhile, the man who was kicked out couldn''t help but curse under his breath,


    "Damn it, just lucked out being born in the Inner City, a freaking moron. Leaves the meat right before his eyes uneaten¡ªwhat a timid softie, what a waste of that big frame! Fuck!"


    Thinking of his own bootlicking over the past while only to end up with this oue, Peng Xiong''s face turned a dark shade of green. At a height of six-foot-tall anding from a not-too-bad family in the Outer City, he couldn''t take being slighted like this.


    "Hmph, he''s not the only big shot from the Inner City, he just had a head start, that''s all."


    Peng Xiong pondered with a calcting gaze.


    But why look to the big shots of the Inner City for arger slice of the pie?


    The kid was alone, at most with a few native locals¡ªhow much of a threat could he possibly be?


    "So what if he''s got a Grade A talent? How long has it been, and how many Skills could he have absorbed the Yuan Force for? Even if he''s lucky and gets a reward from a mission, in such a short period, how much could he really improve..."


    A calcting flicker passed through Peng Xiong''s eyes¡ªif he let this chance slip, there would be no other opportunity.


    If he let that kid digest the rewards he had received, he really might be hard to handle!


    "If you won''t do it, I will. Three trucks, hey, if he can haul, why can''t I?"


    Having thought this, Peng Xiong nced at the sky and quickly started to rally his brothers from the gang.


    "Bring him down!"

 Chapter 95: 85 Tough Life

    ```


    "Peng bro, are you sure about the intel? Really from the Outsiders?"


    A rooster-crowned dude on a motorcycle, who was never far from his beloved ride, questioned Peng Xiong.


    "Positive. I''ve heard of this guy; he''s one of our own from the Southern District, a Grade A Dynamic Vision talent, seems like he evennded himself a partnership role."


    "Grade A talent and he''s settling for a partnership? The new Development Zone is desperate for people now!"


    Another blond kid sneered at that.


    "A Grade A talent and he''s too chicken topete? Doesn''t dare to fight for it and instead of joining apany division, goes for a partnership? What a wuss."


    "Right, it''s even better if he''s one of our Southern District people."


    "Got any background info on him?"


    "I''ve only heard a bit, but what kind of background can he have? If he had any, why would he choose to be a partner? Idiot."


    Peng Xiong was utterly dismissive.


    "Should we go back and do some digging first?"


    "Dig what? Back and forth takes five days. What if someone else snags him? Use your brain."


    "Heh, why bother digging? So what if a few die in the Abyss? So what if he has Grade A talent? Even the big shots from the Inner City die!"


    The rooster-haired guy gave a cold chuckle.


    "If we recruit a Grade A talent into the gang, that''d be quite the merit, wouldn''t it?"


    "Merit? Waiting for him to rise and kill your whole family?"


    Grade A talent? Even more reason for a Grade A talent to die! Otherwise, what, wait around for revenge?


    "Let''s just be us brothers; too many people make it hard to share."


    "Alright, y it safe. I''ll go say hi in the open, you guys get ready to take him out with a sneak shot. He wouldn''t dare attack us first."


    "It''s getting close to evening now, I reckon they won''t be entering the city. We can totally keep up if we leave now..."


    ...


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu was humming a little tune, singing along as he, alongside three cargo trucks, arrived outside Las Vegas.


    It was already afternoon when they left, and the afterglow was about to fade when they reached this point.


    They could actually have driven into the city and rested there since the trucks were safe enough.


    But upon seeing the city gates, Tao Yu still chose to slow down ahead of time and picked up the walkie-talkie.


    "We''ll handle it outside tonight, sweep for goods early tomorrow morning. Let''s start with what''s nearby, grab anything useful, focus on speed."


    "OK, we all follow Boss Tao''s orders."


    "There are fewer folks topete with now; loading up should be easy. I wonder if there''s an arms store around, those goods should be worth more."


    The group chatted idly over the walkie-talkie for a bit.


    Besides the team of Judy and Jesse, another truck had Tommy and Senke, and in addition to those two, they had brought a few adult men from their previous gathering spot to serve asborers.


    They didn''t ask for wages; payment in canned goods was fine, just has to be better than what you''d get for cremating bodies.


    Driving trucks and just moving goods around the outskirts with highly capable individuals leading the operation, this was still doable.


    But just as the three trucks parked to the side, Tao Yu, through the rearview mirror, noticed several motorcycles approaching from a distance.


    This made Tao Yu''s eyebrows lift involuntarily.


    "Is that kid Panda ying dirty? Well, can''t me me then."


    Tao Yu rubbed his hands together. The foreign imnt wouldn''t explode on its own, but he wondered if it could yield something good.


    "You guys stay in the truck; I''ll go check things out."


    He didn''t want the folks in the truck to suffer any losses, so he hopped out of the vehicle after opening the door.


    Using ''symbiotic instinct,'' he had Little ck lie t under the truck, waiting for hismand.


    But after taking a closer look once he got out, Tao Yu was somewhat surprised to see no trace of Panda in the approaching group¡ªonly one was a little brother who had followed Panda before; the other faces were unfamiliar.


    "They look down on me that much? Or did this little brother have his own agenda?"


    Seeing no Inner City Pioneers, Tao Yu''s interest waned by more than half.


    All these Outsiders, dirty pockets if not dirty faces.


    Tao Yu''s expression went sour.


    "Shouldn''t wrong people, eh? That malicious intent ain''t mistaken, though. I''ll ask them if Panda was involved."


    Tao Yu didn''t immediately go on a shooting spree.


    Just Outsiders, with Instinct + Bullet Time + stealthbo, he had enough margin for error.


    Nevertheless, Tao Yu still put on his tactical helmet afterwards.


    ```


    Strategy may be despised, but tactics must still be given serious consideration.


    On the other side, Peng Xiong''s face broke into a smile as he watched Tao Yue down alone.


    Just as expected!


    This kid has no backup!


    An outsider without any backing, daring to swallow such a huge profit all alone?


    He''s not afraid of biting off more than he can chew!


    Peng Xiong rode up on his motorcycle, stopping directly in front of Tao Yu, and sat on it audaciously, looking at Tao Yu with augh and said,


    "Kid, I know you. You''re the partner from the Southern District with Grade A Dynamic Vision, right?"


    "Yes, I didn''t expect to be so famous already."


    Tao Yu grinned with a smile.


    "Heh, an outsider with Grade A battle talents does have some value, just like that lone wolf from the Wild Wolf Gang who rose up the ranks."


    Peng Xiong spoke with a natural air of pointing out they of thend.


    "Oh? The Wild Wolf Gang reigns supreme in South City. Brother, you look down upon them so casually, it seems you must have an impressive backing¡ªis it Lord Panda?"


    Tao Yu asked indirectly.


    "Hmph, don''t pry into things that aren''t your business. I don''t mind telling you, I''m from the Skull Gang. Our gang is even older than the Wild Wolf Gang, and my father holds an office in the Skull Gang. Since you''re a South City local, you should understand what that means."


    "Lord Panda isn''t involved?"


    Tao Yu asked persistently.


    He also knew about the Skull Gang, considered one of the cancers of South City. The public security forces of the Outskirts only took care of certain red lines and didn''t have the energy to handle every little detail; in many areas, gangs maintained a different kind of order.


    However, owing to some connections with Uncle Hu, his own family usually wasn''t harassed by gang members. These guysing after him now probably didn''t have the time to investigate him, or perhaps they couldn''t be bothered to.


    They had already made up their minds to silence him by killing him¡­


    "Panda, Panda, is that all you know? Did you not understand what I just told you?"


    Peng Xiong, recalling the humiliating way he was chased off by Panda, felt a surge of annoyance.


    Seeing the slight break in his demeanor, Tao Yu couldn''t help but smirk; goddamn, it wasn''t that guy after all.


    "If you''re from the Skull Gang, we can still be friends. How about I sell you the fleet for three thousand Yuan Force? Not too expensive, right? It''s tough to find truck drivers, you know."


    Tao Yu was growing increasingly impatient.


    The price did indeed tempt Peng Xiong, three thousand was doable!


    He might not have that much Yuan Force on him, but pooling resources with others might just make it possible¡­


    However, Peng Xiong immediately grew furiously embarrassed


    "After I take you down, all of this will be mine! I don''t believe they aren''t afraid of death!"


    As he spoke, Peng Xiong drew his gun and signaled his people to start moving.


    So what if he has Grade A talents?


    A man gunned down by our random fire is worthless!


    "Damn it, still aiming for a free meal, how rude."


    Tao Yu''s gaze grew deeper, and the scenery before him suddenly slowed down.


    Bang, bang, bang~


    Several preemptive shots, along with dodging bullets by tilting his head, Tao Yu re-holstered his gun, walking past the bodies as they fell one by one with headshots.


    Moving toward thest one, who was pinned down by Little ck and being continuously bitten amidst screams,


    "Hey, brother, really no instructions from Panda? Not even a hint?"


    "Ahh! Save me! Let me go! I really don''t know anything, ah! Peng Xiong misspoke and was chased off by Panda, save me..."


    The words from the man being torn viciously by Little ck caused Tao Yu to click his tongue; goddamn, this guy sure had a tough life.


    Afterward, he didn''t bother further and turned to get into the car.


    "Clean up and arrange the motorcycles properly. Then pick up all the weapons and such."


    With his back to Little ck, he casually gave the order. Little ck whipped its tail and pierced through the screaming man''s skull, then tossed the body aside.


    It''s not just a few deaths in the Abyss that go unnoticed¡ªin this apocalyptic world, death is an everyday urrence, just some extra food for the stray dogs at the roadside¡­


    ...


    Back at the base, by the bonfire, Panda was cooking a hot pot for himself, eating and sneezing at the same time,


    "This vor is really strong, but delicious..."


    After another sneeze, he pinched his nose and then scooped up a few slices of tripe and stuffed them into his mouth...

 Chapter 96: 86 Requirements

    ```


    "Bro, this batch isn''t up to snuff, I can only give you eight thousand at most, I gotta make a profit too, right? Or you could try handing it over to the mission hall, but they definitely won''t offer as much as I do."


    ```


    Panda was inspecting the three carts of goods that Tao Yu had hurriedly pulled in, apparently making an estimate.


    ```


    "Eight thousand it is then, bro. Didn''t you have a little brother before? Why isn''t he with you anymore?"


    ```


    Tao Yu watched as Panda handed him the maic card to infuse with Yuan Force and asked casually.


    ```


    "Just an idiot, don''t bother with him, and don''t give me face if you see him again."


    ```


    Panda infused the Yuan Force into the card as he spoke, then handed it back to Tao Yu.


    ```


    "Fair enough, it''s been a pleasure doing business."


    ```


    Taking back the maic card, Tao Yu began to arrange the unloading of the goods. Then he looked around; although just one day had passed, there were some noticeable changes to the base.


    The zombie corpses had been cleared out quite a bit, but there was still that charred stench in the air.


    At the same time, he also saw Jack helping to burn the bodies, so he walked over.


    ```


    "Hey, do you have time to learn today? If not, I''ll be off moving goods again."


    ```


    "I''ll learn. They should have enough to eat by now."


    ```


    Jack patted his hands, covered in stench.


    ```


    And at this moment, an aunt who was resting nearby hurried over again.


    ```


    "Jack, you can''t just leave me in the lurch. How am I supposed to finish the rest of the work?"


    ```


    After speaking, she looked towards Tao Yu.


    ```


    "And you, boy, young people should be diligent. Help your aunt out with some burning..."


    ```


    Although Tao Yu had anticipated this, it still made him roll his eyes internally. A little sunshine does indeed make things brighter.


    But Jack wasn''t the type of person to please others by helping mindlessly; his help was for his own reasons and didn''t have much to do with the aunt.


    ```


    "Just do as much as you did yesterday, and you''ll finish. Today''s thest time I''m helping; if you can''t adapt, you''ll starve."


    ```


    Jack was blunt, then he left the aunt''s reaction behind and followed Tao Yu away from there...


    ...


    "Crane form is mainly about lightness; your movements are too forceful..."


    ```


    By now, the military base had been swept clean of zombies, leaving plenty of open space, yet the air was still thick with that burnt smell.


    Meanwhile, besides Jack, Tommy and Senke were also practicing their stance skills nearby.


    They might not be able to harness Yuan Force, but practicing to improve physical fitness was still beneficial.


    ```


    "It''s gotten much harder, definitely not that simple."


    ```


    Jack was already familiar with the stance skill and had killed quite a few zombies, so he had the basics down. Plus, he had a natural talent for movement.


    But even so, mastering just the entry-level crane form was somewhat bumpy.


    ```


    "The movements are almost there; just need to work on getting the feel for it."


    ```


    Tao Yu demonstrated the crane form with Yuan Force eleration once again in ce and then slowly exhaled.


    Just then, a whooshing sound from the sky drew his attention, and he looked up to see the Sun siblings descending on a floating motorbike.


    ```


    "I''ve got something to discuss with them; you guys keep practicing."


    ```


    "Go ahead,e backter to check on me, would you?"


    ```


    Jack was still trying to get the feel for the crane form.


    ```


    The noise of Tao Yu jogging over had also caught Sun Shiyu''s attention, who stopped the motorbike and waited for a moment.


    ```


    "Have you decided what you''re going to ask for?"


    ```


    Sun Shiyu was quite pleased with Tao Yu¡ªthe ''Chosen One'' and his choice of location weremendable.


    The ce was a bit deste at the moment, but what mattered was safety!


    The Gobi Desert served as a natural barrier, which was an essential element against the Abyss. The existing water source underground and the base''s defense measures would save a lot of trouble.


    The neighboring city could serve as a supply point once it was cleaned up, and the oasis could be turned into farnd. There was still a lot of preparatory work needed.


    Even with the resource support from Starshine City, it might take years to establish a sizeable operation.


    Pioneers needed time to umte, and there weren''t many natives for now.


    ```


    "If there''s anything systematic involving supernatural skills, that would be ideal."


    ```


    Tao Yu presented his ''small request,'' which made Sun Shiqing, who was curiously observing, couldn''t help butugh.


    ```


    "From one extreme to another, huh? There aren''t many ready-to-use supernatural skills, and many have severe mental contamination. Some even have prerequisites¡ªwithout a suitable foundation, they might be too much to handle."


    ```


    Tao Yu really wanted to say he was willing to take the risk, but he still suppressed the urge. After all, such things required cautiousness¡ªwho knew the extent of the mental contamination? If it was too severe and he couldn''t convincingly act the part, that could be problematic.


    As for his core secrets, he definitely needed to keep them secure.


    "Teaching is fine too. I''ve mastered the Myriad Streams Dojo''s Myriad Streams Five Forms, and after investing some Yuan Force, I''ve achieved Five Forms as One. It''s just a pity I don''t have the corresponding Breathing Technique. I''m not even sure if there''s a conflict between the Basic Breathing Method and the Myriad Streams Breathing Technique."


    Tao Yu wasn''t picky¡ªif he could trulyplete the set with a matching Breathing Technique, that would be great. The cost-effectiveness of the first Deification of a skill was extremely high.


    Having already acquired the other skills, only this one was missing, which would certainly have aplementary effect. It was better than simply learning a mismatched one.


    "The Basic Breathing Method is almost universallypatible with any Breathing Technique. It can even provide a certain enhancement. I''ve practiced it, and there''s no problem."


    Sun Shiqing said with a smile, waving her hand dismissively.


    This beautiful young man wasn''t as aloof in private as he was on the radio. To Tao Yu, Sun Shiqing seemed quite approachable.


    "Myriad Streams Five Forms... I have some impression of it."


    Although the Myriad Streams Five Forms were incredibly powerful in the Outer City, to Sun Shiyu, they were just vaguely familiar.


    "Alright, if you want to learn that Breathing Technique, I''ll make a request for you. I also have ess to superhuman abilities that can be learned.


    "However, I don''t have much time. If you''re patient and willing to extend the learning period, you cane to me and choose for yourself."


    Sun Shiyu tilted her head, pondering for a moment, and then gave Tao Yu two options.


    If convenience was the priority, then continuing to learn the Myriad Streams Breathing Technique was the obvious choice, and it would be aplete set.


    But without any hesitation, Tao Yu said,


    "I want to learn from you."


    Why hesitate when there''s an opportunity to get closer to an important person?


    After all, it was all about Deifying skills!


    "Fine, let''s do it now. I''ll teach you the Meditation Technique to focus your spiritual power.


    "For someone with Dynamic Vision like you, this can improve your reflexes and reaction, allow your brain to keep up with your eyes, and it won''t conflict with abilities from other bodily systems. It will also enhance your learning capabilities."


    Sun Shiyu''s proposed solutions were quite suitable for Tao Yu. There was no need to say much about the Breathing Technique¡ªit was systematic.


    And she also suggested the Meditation Technique, presumably considering that Tao Yu''s physical condition was already decent, butcking the mental capacity to fully utilize his Grade A Dynamic Vision.


    Sun Shiyu''s intention was to focus on Tao Yu''s Grade A talent of Dynamic Vision and, given the current need for people who could stand on their own, Tao Yu did have potential to be cultivated.


    With a straightforward background, exceptional talent, good fortune and ability, and handsomeness, Tao Yu indeed had value for cultivation.


    But upon hearing what she nned to teach, Tao Yu''s eyes lit up even brighter!


    He had plenty of abilities to raise his physical limits, but most that enhanced the mental aspect were incidental, such as Shadow Maniption, and his new talent, Fist Intention.


    There wasn''t anything systematic like the Breathing Technique that integrated Qi-Blood to marshal spiritual power.


    Now, the Meditation Technique was perfect!


    It would fully leverage the advantages of Fist Intention.


    Then Sun Shiyu slightly turned her head toward Tao Yu and sniffed in front of his face before wafting her hand in front of her nose.


    "How long since you''ve bathed? There''s a sour smell. Go take a bath first thene find me."


    With that, she turned and walked toward the interior of the military camp, even stretching her arm while walking, which drew Tao Yu''s gaze involuntarily a few times more.


    When she had leaned in to sniff earlier, Tao Yu''s heart had indeed sped up a few beats, catching a hint of a subtle fragrance from her nose.


    "Well, I guess having a good body can also be a problem," Tao Yu murmured, pinching his nose and exhaling.


    That must be youthful vigor. Actually, the feeling of youth was quite nice.


    Moreover, he always felt that the youngdy seemed to have some talent or skill that enhanced charm.


    Although his Mental Immunity allowed him to ignore some mental influences, natural reactions, like pain, were unavoidable.


    However, Tao Yu found it a bit odd that Sun Shiyu had decided to teach him personally instead of having her brother do it for her.


    Either her brother wasn''t skilled at it,


    Or... well, she probably didn''t see him as a potential suitor at all.


    The Inner City residents looked down on Outsiders, and this Floating City bigwig probably saw no difference in gender when it came to him¡ªa suitable tool person?


    Shaking his head, Tao Yu then turned back and headed towards Jack''s ce.


    After a continuous stretch of hauling goods, he hadn''t settled down yet, so he''d borrow Jack''s dormitory to take a shower.


    The military camp had its own underground water well, which was one of the important reasons for its value.

 Chapter 97: 87 Visualization Diagram

    "An actual bath for the first time in eighteen years..."


    Tao Yu scrubbed the soap, wishing he could crush the entire bar and smear it all over his body.


    The past eighteen years were hard to put into words; everyday he dealt with farming and wouldn''t dream of having these toiletries.


    If he ever got too dirty, he''d just resort to using charcoal powder.


    It was cold water all year round, and those who weren''t physically strong just wouldn''t bathe in the winter.


    Last time I returned, I was stinky and rusty and just had a cold rinse.


    I was almost pickled in my own sweat.


    But the Outer City smelled even worse, and after I arrived there, I was walking through streets full of zombies, with rotting smells everywhere, so it didn''t matter much.


    Now that I finally had a ce to temporarily settle down and some daily necessities, Tao Yu wouldn''t mistreat himself anymore and scrubbed vigourously, using all his strength when it came to exfoliating.


    The refreshing feeling made him almost want to call Jack in to scrub his back.


    "Refreshing!"


    After thoroughly washing himself inside and out, Tao Yu truly felt like he scrubbed off several pounds of dirt.


    "The environment at the base isn''t great either, but it should get better after all the bodies are burned and we continue cleaning up slowly; it''ll at least be better than the Outer City."


    After dressing himself, Tao Yu pondered a bit.


    At least the base had aplete sewage system, much better than the Outer City which didn''t have any sewers at all.


    "Cleaned up, it''s time to find the wealthydy, and while learning, I''ll also mention the Floating City matter¡ªthey must have noticed by now, and there will surely be corresponding task rewards..."


    Tao Yu looked at his savings of over fifty thousand Yuan Force and felt a bit inted.


    The ''Chosen One'' and the site selection rewards could be considered windfalls, but the rewards for transporting goods were hard-earned!


    "Although I can''t guarantee that the profits will be as high in the future, it seems like moving stuff for a month could earn me sixty to seventy thousand Yuan Force. If I miss this chance, there won''t be another..."


    The goods from Las Vegas hadn''t been moved much yet, and there were fewpetitors¡ªit was practically like picking up money.


    Sixty to seventy thousand Yuan Force a month, I couldn''t even dare to dream of that before.


    But that''s assuming I can solve the hidden dangers in Las Vegas; otherwise, I wouldn''t dare stay in the city overnight, unable to go deeper.


    After changing into fresh clothes and tidying up, Tao Yu spontaneously dabbed on some cologne.


    It must have belonged to some soldier who stayed in this dorm. When going to see a wealthydy, one should make sure to smell nice...


    ...


    "What did you put on, it''s so strong."


    Tao Yu found the temporary residence of the Suns, themander''s suite in the barracks, which thanks to the sr panels during the day, could still keep the lights on, one of the few ces in the barracks where this was possible.


    But as he knocked on the door with a smile, he was greeted by Sun Shiyu''s voice tinged with a hint of disdain.


    Sun Shiyu frowned her prominent nose, waved her hand in front of it, leaving Tao Yu speechless and choked up.


    "Maybe the shampoo is expired, I''m really sorry. Jack, that guy, really, he picks up everything and tosses it into the house, sigh."


    Tao Yu didn''t even blink, directly passing the me onto the expired shampoo and Jack.


    "It''s fine, much better than before."


    Sun Shiyu could stay in ces overrun with corpses, so it wasn''t unbearable for her, she just preferred a nicer environment when resting.


    "Come in, change your shoes."


    At that time, Tao Yu also nced at Sun Shiyu''s home attire¡ªan oversized T-shirt that was stretched out by her voluptuous figure, even distorting the cartoon image on the chest.


    The shorts were covered by the long shirt, revealing only a pair of indescribable beautiful legs, and below that, a pair of brown puppy slippers.


    Inside the house, Tao Yu could also see Sun Shiqing in a simr outfit, slouched on the sofa like a sloth; the room must have been specially cleaned, looking very tidy.


    However, Sun Shiqing didn''t have the same figure as his sister, wearing the T-shirt too loosely. Because of his looks, at first nce, he resembled a t-chested girl, quite a pleasant visual effect.


    Tao Yu switched to a pair of disposable slippers and followed Sun Shiyu inside.


    Sun Shiqing seemed to be flipping through aic book, with an opened bag of chips beside him, asionally crunching on a chip.


    Noticing Tao Yu''s entry, he casually raised his hand in greeting,


    "Tao bro is here, my sister''s got meditation down, I won''t be of help."


    "Mr. Sun, you tter me. Having the guidance of both of you is my privilege."


    Although the Suns seemed much more approachable than the Inner City nobles, Tao Yu wasn''t about to get carried away just because of their friendly attitudes.


    They had only met a few times, all thanks to the grace of being a ''Chosen One''.


    But he could use this opportunity to further consolidate his knowledge.


    "''Chosen One'' and this base are very important, saving us a lot of effort. You deserve this."


    Sun Shiyu walked ahead, flip-flops cking, then pulled out a yoga mat from a cab andid it out on the floor.


    "Let''s start now, first memorize some positions for me."


    Sun Shiyu pulled out a stack of A4 paper with abstract stick figure drawings on them, which seemed to have been freshly drawn.


    Tao Yu''s mouth twitched, and then he sat on the side with a straight posture, listening seriously as Sun Shiyu earnestly pointed out the numbers of the designs, exining some of the principles.


    The scent of his own cologne mixing with the fresh fragrance from Sun Shiyu made it slightly difficult for Tao Yu to concentrate fully, and his eyes uncontrobly slid downward from time to time.


    "...The essentials of the Meditation Technique are these, you have a foundation in Breathing Technique and have also learned some boxing moves, mastered your Qi-Blood, so this shouldn''t be difficult for you," she said.


    While Sun Shiyu exined, she maintained a steady and unhurried tone, and Tao Yu quickly nodded and said,


    "I''ve already memorized it."


    Indeed, just as Sun Shiyu had said, even though Tao Yu hadn''t been able to focus entirely, he had already memorized these essentials.


    "However, if it were only these, the Meditation Technique would have already spread to your Outer City long ago. The reason it hasn''t is that itcks the most core step, the Visualization Diagram."


    As Sun Shiyu said this, her expression suddenly became stern and serious.


    "We haven''t restricted the spread of the Breathing Technique; even those advanced Breathing Techniques in your Outer City that have remained limited are due to your own cherishing. But the Meditation Technique is different; we''ve truly implemented restrictions, and you can''t teach it carelessly either."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu also refocused, pulling back the evil glint from the corner of his eyes and looked up with a hint of surprise, asking,


    "Are there any hidden dangers in this? What should I pay attention to after learning it?"


    "Indeed, there are serious dangers, mainly concerning the object of visualization. Remember, you can only visualize the Visualization Diagrams I have taught you. If you encounter anyone promoting other visualization content to you, you must report them no matter who they are."


    "May I know why?"


    Tao Yu, realizing the severity of the consequences, also tensed and cautiously confirmed.


    If she didn''t speak up, he would not question further, as it seemed the topic was sensitive.


    "Because our orthodox Meditation Technique involves visualizing a Visualization Diagram split from the World Will''s orthodox Divine Spirits, which shelters our world from being eroded by the Abyss, whereas there are also Heretic God Followers born from the corruption of Demon Gods from the Abyss."


    Sun Shiyu didn''t conceal the truth, but her expression grew grave.


    "Divine Spirits?! Heretic God Followers?!"


    Tao Yu was beginning to glimpse the hidden secrets of this world, as expected of someone of stature from the Floating City ¨C they knew so much.


    "Indeed, they can be considered Divine Spirits, but those protecting us might not have a physical form, perhaps not even a distinct image or self-awareness, likely formed from the Yuan Force we''ve gathered."


    Sun Shiyu didn''t resort to mysticism or disy much piety, simply stating bluntly as if our Divine Spirits were merely tools.


    "There''s no need to borate on the Demon Gods of the Abyss. Those Heretic God Followers have extinguished the me of Civilization and caused the destruction of cities ¨C they are enemies of all."


    After absorbing this information, Tao Yu formed a mental outline.


    The so-called Divine Spirits must be incarnations of the World Will, dedicated to the protection of all beings, and there might be more than one, categorizing the collected Yuan Force?


    Yet, as these matters involved the world itself, Tao Yu guessed that Sun Shiyu herself only had snippets of information and could not be certain of its uracy.


    In in terms, how much could apany know about the Abyss? It would just be a summation of experiences.


    As for the Heretic God Followers, thinking of the hellish environment in the Outer City, Tao Yu''s mouth twitched again; it would be odd if they weren''t there ¨C it was a situation of their own making.


    Obviously, he couldn''t voice these thoughts in front of the two of them.


    Maybe the Floating City leadership didn''t want the Outer City to end up like this, but people implement policies, and it''s not always possible to achieve the intended goals, as those on the ground find ways to misinterpret them.


    "I understand, and I will be careful."


    "Good, close your eyes, clear your mind, and I will impart the Visualization Diagram to you."


    Sun Shiyu nodded, then signaled for Tao Yu to clear his thoughts and close his eyes.


    This made Tao Yu''s heart skip a beat.


    Wait, wasn''t I supposed to look at some diagram directly?


    Tao Yu hurriedly collected his thoughts, suppressing himself.


    Then, at that moment, he suddenly felt her slender fingertips touch his forehead.


    Soon after, a magnificent light and shadow emerged in his mind.


    Under the golden divinity that filled the skies, the vague figure of the statue from the za, which had an unclear face, appeared.


    Only, this time the details were much more thorough.


    It seemed to be firmly imprinted in his spirit!


    Since it was not an attack, Tao Yu found he could choose to endure and not shatter the iing imprint, so he was somewhat relieved ¨C thankfully...


    But in the next moment, Tao Yu felt a suffocating sensation wash over him.


    Mixed sensations of softness and pressure came upon his face, and as he struggled to inhale, a refreshing fragrance entered his nostrils.


    Upon opening his eyes, even Tao Yu with his extraordinary eyesight felt darkness before him, then he vaguely saw the cartoon image on the chest of Sun Shiyu''s T-shirt.


    What''s going on? I''m only eighteen right now, don''t hit me with such a stimting scene!


    While Tao Yu''s heart pounded, he involuntarily opened his mouth...


    ...


    Sun Shiqing, who was eating chips on the side, also gaped in shock as she saw her older sister suddenly copse onto him, spilling her chips in fright.


    What in the world...

 Chapter 98: 88 Settle Down

    "Ouch, ouch, ouch~"


    Sun Shiyu squatted on Tao Yu, propping herself up with one hand on Tao Yu''s chest and the other covering her head as she raised it.


    Her face turned pale from the sharp pain, and she kept sucking in cold air.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yuy there somewhat dazedly on the ground, staring up nkly.


    Delicious...


    "Hiss~ Does transferring a Visualization Diagram hurt so much? Nearly sent me off to the other side."


    Propping up on Tao Yu''s body to stand up, Sun Shiyu staggered a bit, kept knocking on her head with her fists and then nced down at Tao Yu without forgetting.


    "Sorry, haha, I''ve never transferred it before, no experience."


    She then found her slippers that had fallen off during the fall, barefoot, and after slipping them on, she tapped her toes a few times.


    "No need to apologize..."


    Tao Yu let out a slow breath, his eyes somewhat zed.


    "Does it feel unpleasant? I didn''t feel it when Mom passed it to us."


    By this time, Sun Shiqing had also stood up, came over, touched her older sister''s forehead, then rolled her eyes at her.


    "It''s not that you haven''t fully mastered it, right? I told you, I''m not even at level six yet. How could you advance so quickly? Didn''t you trick yourself into thinking you''ve reached level six?"


    "Looking for a beating, huh?"


    Sun Shiyu red at Sun Shiqing, and in an instant, an invisible force of telekinesis burst forth, causing her hair to fly about.


    And mockingly, Sun Shiqing was pushed up against the ceiling by an invisible force.


    Thump~


    A little dust fell from the ceiling.


    "I was wrong, sis, I was wrong! Ask him first, see if it worked."


    Sun Shiqing, ''pinned'' to the ceiling, with disheveled hair and clothes in disarray revealing her belly button, hastily begged for mercy, indirectly bringing up Tao Yu.


    "Ahem, it should be effective. The Visualization Diagram was very clear, like the statue in our square."


    "Oh, so it was sessful."


    Upon hearing that, Sun Shiyu released her little brother immediately, letting him fall onto the sofa with a thump.


    This made Tao Yu involuntarily shrink his neck.


    Having seen the weapons they carried, Tao Yu had some guesses about their capabilities. Even the power used in jest was strong; truly befitting of the term ''Chosen Ones''.


    When Sun Shiyu angrily attacked Sun Shiqing earlier, Tao Yu had truly felt a daunting sense of threat.


    If she wanted, that force from before could have snapped his neck!


    Just think about it, performing Myriad Streams Five Forms on the spot with might and main, then having your neck twisted from afar, hiss...


    "Well, that''s alright then, justcking some experience. Slowly with time... forget it, I won''t transfer anymore. From now on, whoever wants to transfer can do it themselves."


    Sun Shiyu pouted and continued to hold her head, seemingly in pain.


    Tao Yu and Sun Shiqing both sat obediently to one side, nodding their heads like pecking chickens.


    "Alright, that''s it for today. Go back and practice well,bine the Visualization Diagram with the previous steps, see if you can get the hang of it. If not,e find me again tomorrow."


    The headache seemed to make Sun Shiyu somewhat irritable. She gave Tao Yu a sidelong nce, prompting him to get ready to flee without another word.


    But then he remembered his other objective and quickly said,


    "I have some intelligence, about those from the capital."


    Tao Yu''s words made Sun Shiyu, still holding her head, pause, then she nodded,


    "You''re really lucky. Coordinate with him on that, I''m off to rest."


    She said this while continuing to pat her head as she walked towards her room.


    Only after Sun Shiqing saw her Sister firmly close the door did she breathe a sigh of relief, then turned back to Tao Yu giving him a thumbs-up,


    "Brave man, Tao Yu."


    "Not at all. I still have to thank you for passing on such extraordinary skills, I..."


    Tao Yu humbly gestured with his hands, but before he could finish, Sun Shiqing interrupted him,


    "What I mean is, during your learning, you sneaked peeks at my sister''s thighs seven times, chest thirteen times. Did you know,st time someone went after her they ended up with a broken leg."


    Sitting on the sofa with a cushion in her arms, Sun Shiqing snickered mischievously, her face actually quite beautiful, very much like her sister''s, yet Tao Yu found her smile so annoying.


    Thinking one thing but his body acting another, he immediately put his hands together in supplication,


    "I don''t want to break my legs."


    "Haha, you''re really funny. Being an Outsider butcking the sense of hierarchy, although you act with respect, you wouldn''t dare do this if you really felt it in your heart."


    Rocking happily with the cushion in her arms, Sun Shiqing sat cross-legged on the couch and swung her legs.


    "But it''s a pity, you justck talent. Otherwise, with a clean background and good looks, you wouldn''t be without a chance,"


    "Actually, my ''Dynamic Vision'' is MAX."


    Tao Yu gave a dryugh, which instead confused Sun Shiqing a bit.


    "Really? MAX? It''s quite rare for any skill to reach MAX, even nonbat skills have unique effects."


    "It''s true, you can test it."


    This answer, instead, made Sun Shiqing''s expression turn odd. This guy didn''t really want to be her brother-inw, did he? Although ''Dynamic Vision'' was on the weaker side, if it was at MAX...


    "Cough, tell me, what''s the intel you have?"


    Tao Yu''s mouth twitched at this sudden change of topic, but he quickly suppressed the idea of taking shortcuts and started focusing on the immediate benefits, saying earnestly,


    "I''ve been to this ce before with the ''Chosen One''."


    "Yeah, I know, and you killed a Corpse King, right? Got any skills?"


    Despite her youth, Sun Shiqing was quick on the uptake, given the standing of her family.


    "It''s a ''Corpse Refinement'' skill. With the right materials and conditions, you can create that kind of Corpse King and control it."


    Having experienced their strength before, Tao Yu didn''t think much of it for such a skill.


    "What else?"


    As expected, Sun Shiqing was more interested in the follow-up.


    "Later, when I was driving past the city, I confirmed that those scenes were man-made, with the intention to create a breeding ground for corpse refinement. It''s even possible that the disasters of this world were caused by it..."


    Having an above-board skill, it made sense for Tao Yu toe up with these spections.


    "Corpse refinement... Man-made..."


    Sun Shiqing furrowed her brow, thinking hard.


    If they had alreadye to this ce, they would have learned from the researchers that the Corpse King was the source.


    It was certain that there was a significant human element involved.


    But a post-apocalyptic world wasn''t anything unusual; the old Development Zones also had their share, with all sorts of inexplicable reasons, even illogical ones, leading to the end of the world.


    They hadn''t paid much attention at first; the Abyss, after all, was normal.


    But now, a logic had suddenly emerged within, which couldn''t be ignored and required deep thought.


    "I got it, you can go back first. I''ll discuss with my older sister tomorrow. Don''t go wandering off."


    "Okay."


    Tao Yu certainly wouldn''t take decisions upon himself.


    To be blunt, there was a huge gap between himself and them, both in terms of status and strength. Even though their currentmunication was ''pleasant'', he absolutely shouldn''t get ahead of himself...


    ...


    "No ce to stay, you''re not going to turn me away, are you?"


    Tao Yu knocked on Jack''s door, the sky had darkened, and he couldn''t be bothered to fuss anymore, so he decided to bunk there for the night.


    "Just stay here, it''s a double room anyway."


    Jack didn''t mind and opened the door to let Tao Yu in.


    As a ''Chosen One'', Jack did get some special privileges; his dormitory was much nicer than the others''.


    "Thanks."


    "What for? It''s a good chance for you to tell me more about Fist Technique."


    Jack clearly seemed somewhat addicted to the Myriad Streams Five Forms.


    As someone who could passively utilize Yuan Force, his bodily sensations were much stronger than Tommy''s or Senke''s.


    "Alright, alright, go get cleaned up first, you reek."


    Tao Yu waved his hand in front of his face in disgust at Jack.


    Jack sniffed himself on the left, then on the right, and then said somewhat puzzled,


    "I don''t stink though."


    "Hurry up!"


    "Oh..."


    ...


    After going through some key points with Jack and dealing with that, Tao Yu returned to bed to begin integrating the ''Meditation Technique''.


    Although Sun Shiyu''s drawings of the little figures were abstract and Tao Yu''s mind was somewhat elsewhere, the important parts were clearly expressed.


    The Visualization Diagram was also sessfully imprinted in his mind, and all the conditions had been fulfilled; there was no reason it wouldn''t work.


    The slightly troublesome thing was that even now, Tao Yu found it hard to quiet his mind.


    His head was full of those cartoon drawings...

 Chapter 99: 89 Its Done

    "I''ve done it!"


    As the dim light of dawn filtered through the window, a look of joy emerged on the bloodshot eyes of Tao Yu.


    Meditation Technique had seeded!


    "So it''s aboutpleting the mental construct and binding the scattered thoughts with the Visualization Diagram at its core, indeed an excellent method. I had been on the wrong path all this time..."


    Because Tao Yu had some memories from a past life, he initially assumed, based on those preconceptions, that Meditation Technique must also be some form of practice involving energy cirction.


    Moreover, the colorful cartoon images in his head certainly had some influence.


    But in reality, Meditation Technique was more like a form of self-discipline.


    Although it involved visualizing a ''Divine Spirit'', it was merely to subdue one''s own chaotic thoughts.


    "It''s very difficult for anyone to keep their mind highly focused at all times. Getting distracted and having wandering thoughts aremon urrences, and one might even harbor evil intentions while also thinking kindly thoughts, creating internal conflict. Meditation Technique seems more like a form of self-correction."


    Tao Yu took a deep breath and nced at the skill light sphere of Meditation Technique.


    Meditation Technique lv1: By using a Visualization Diagram to subdue one''s thoughts, it passively increases attention, mental resistance, and adds a certain level of Perception and Spirit Perception, response and thinking speed, mental recovery rate, and mental capacity.


    It can also be actively used to guide thoughts ording to a certain structure for wandering and training, increasing mental capacity further with proficiency.


    Note: Long-term suppression of thoughts with a Visualization Diagram will cause the individual to be influenced by it.


    Feeling the information transmitted by Meditation Technique, Tao Yu was pensive.


    Though the name of the visualized Divine Spirit was unknown, it must indeed be a righteous deity, protected by the will of the world; thus, the influence of the Visualization Diagram was likely positive.


    However, Tao Yu was exempt from this influence, so he was not entirely certain.


    It can be spected that if the followers of the Evil God from the Abyss were to visualize a Demon God, they would indeed develop severe personality problems.


    Antisocial personalities, madness ¨C neither were out of the question.


    Thinking of the oppressive environment of the Outer City, Tao Yu shook his head.


    "Many are probably forced into it. People pushed to the limit in the Outer City might just join the cult for a bite to eat..."


    Is it a matter of right or wrong?


    As the saying goes, "You reap what you sow." Tao Yu was in no position to judge,


    but he and his loved ones lived there, so he had his own stance on the matter.


    Some things can be understood but not epted!


    "I understand you all, but who understands me..."


    Then Tao Yu stopped dwelling on these issues, and looking at the 1,000 points of Deification consumption, he wasn''t particrly surprised.


    Meditation Technique was indeed an extraordinary ability; even though it seemed tock a particrly outstanding enhancement, it added too many things.


    Deification!


    An electric shock sensation sprang directly from his mind, as if he had been subjected to a mild electric jolt.


    Despite this tingling state, Tao Yu felt his mind clearer than ever before; the tiredness from staying up all night vanished instantly, like he had caught up on sleep and woken up naturally, full of energy.


    A profound sense offort from his soul made him somewhat reluctant to stop.


    Meditation Technique - Modified lv1: As before, with oneself as the deity, it refines one''s thoughts and purifies the spirit.


    In addition to various ability enhancements from the original Meditation Technique, the extra refining of one''s thoughts and purification of the spirit made Tao Yu understand the new use for Meditation Technique post-deification!


    "Previously, although I was immune to various mental shocks and unafraid of bacsh, the quality of my mental power was just ordinary. In the encounter with Cao Shaolin, I only managed to distract him, without affecting his movements..."


    Tao Yu quickly drewparisons in his mind and thought of his Fist Intent.


    To some extent, the talent of Fist Intent also enhanced the spiritual pressure associated with his punches and kicks, converting mental power into a tangible will, greatly strengthening the effect.


    But!


    The refining of one''s thoughts and the purification of the spirit could stack with Fist Intent.


    With the purified mental power forming Fist Intention, the effect would only be better. Inyman''s terms, these were two separate multiplication zones!


    "Exciting!"


    Not just the Fist Intention between punches and kicks, but even the impact on bullets could be strengthened!


    However, the prerequisite was to continuously operate the modified Meditation Technique - Modified toplete the refinement of mental power.


    And refining thoughts was also a step in purifying mental power.


    It was as if thoughts were the hammer, and spiritual strength the steel, with thoughts following the trajectory of the Meditation Technique, striking and grinding, not only purifying the spiritual strength but also forging one''s own thoughts.


    "If thoughts are strengthened to a certain extent, perhaps one could even control objects at a distance without physical contact!"


    Tao Yu pondered in his heart, but for now, his "Meditation Technique - Modified" was just at the beginner level, still bare at lv1.


    Then Tao Yu refocused his attention on his Visualization Diagram, falling silent upon seeing the image within it.


    For now, the figure that originally belonged to the za statue had changed; although its facial features were still somewhat blurry, Tao Yu could vaguely see his own likeness within it.


    To envision oneself as a deity...


    However, having Godhood within him seemed to make sense.


    In addition, the added effects that increased the speed of spiritual recovery, whenbined with the Concentration Ne, also brought about a nice practicality.


    It was an unconventional way of enhancing endurance.


    "Later, I still need to find the richdies and gentlemen to probe the situation. I''m not sure when they''ll take care of the hidden dangers. Only by resolving them can I more conveniently transport goods."


    An ie of tens of thousands of Yuan Force a month, once this opportunity is gone, there will be no other shop.


    If the hidden dangers are not resolved and one continues to avoid staying overnight in the city, the choices of ces avable will be much fewer.


    The longer one dys, the morepetitors there will be.


    Others are unaware of the nighttime dangers, they just rush in. Even if they suffer casualties, they will still continue to take away things from the Inner City endlessly.


    It''s a loss either way.


    "Wow, you almost scared me to death."


    Jack had woken up early and was practicing his stance in the living room. Seeing Tao Yue out, he was startled.


    "What, do I look that scary?"


    Tao Yu retorted.


    "It looked like your eyes were shootingsers just now."


    Jack always spoke his mind.


    That did make Tao Yu pause for a moment, and then he off-handedly said,


    "Take a good look at your eyes, now there''s evensers in them."


    Jack seemed to realize his own words were a bit far-fetched and appeared somewhat embarrassed, but he still mored,


    "Really, anyway, your eyes do look much brighter now."


    "My talent is Dynamic Vision, isn''t that normal?"


    Tao Yu immediately hit where it hurt, causing Jack, the ''Chosen One'' who had no talent manifestation, to turn away without speaking while he continued to hold his stance in silence.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu himself went to wash up, using toothpaste which he hadn''t had for a long time and also looked up at his own reflection in the mirror.


    Indeed, his eyes were much brighter.


    The eyes are the window to the soul, and this was not just an empty saying...


    "Tsk, I was nning to pretend I hadn''t learned it."


    Tao Yu thought about some of the benefits from yesterday and muttered a couple ofints in his heart.


    A woman who is both beautiful and wealthy, and whose personality is not uneptable, it would definitely be lying to say he wasn''t moved.


    But currently, there is too great a gap in status and strength between them. To openly pursue her, not to mention her reaction, would certainly bring endless trouble.


    Gurgle, gurgle, pah¡ª


    After rinsing the foam from his mouth, Tao Yu ced his toothbrush opposite Jack''s, distinctly separating them.


    He then dried his face with a towel.


    "But with the stakes so high, it''s hard toe at this directly in the open. It''s worth a shot to try something more subtle."


    In the newly developing zone, there are only some nobodies from the Inner and Outer Cities¡ªthat''s my greatest advantage.


    "So many people entering the Inner City, there''s probably also some harboring intentions. Considering Sun Shiqing''s tone, some might be hoping to marry into wealth. A clean background, good talents, and decent looks¡ªthat''s me she''s talking about."


    Women may slow down the speed of drawing a sword, but a wealthy woman won''t...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 100: 90 Cooperation

    Stepping out of the dormitory and looking at the rising red sun, Tao Yu couldn''t help but stretchzily.


    However, he didn''t start practicing boxing first but went over to look at his two vehicles.


    Seeing Little ck still obediently staying in the driver''s seat and that there were no signs of damage on either vehicle, Tao Yu nodded in satisfaction.


    "Hang in there a bit longer. Once we''re out of the city, I''ll take you to eat some zombies."


    Tao Yuforted Little ck a little, stroking its head as a reward.


    Because of Sun Shiqing''s words, he felt it wasn''t good to go out on transport runs until he had an answer from her.


    As an Alien war machine, Little ck''s endurance was quite high. It could go without food for ten days to half a month without any problem. It wouldn''t care about missing one or two meals. After being rewarded by Tao Yu, Little ck immediately rxed in the driver''s seat, unwilling to move any further.


    After ensuring his property was safe, Tao Yu began to slowly practice his boxing routine on the spot.


    Since he had enough Yuan Force, naturally, he couldn''t waste time. It was too early now, and it wouldn''t be good to disturb them right away...


    As time passed, the base''s residents also gradually started toe out.


    The survivors began another day''s work, and a few Pioneers also appeared.


    A few of them even saw Tao Yu practicing boxing, with some looking on and even secretly imitating the moves.


    Tao Yu didn''t care about these onlookers and just focused onpleting his own routine.


    If learning the Myriad Streams Five Forms was as easy as watching, then the Skill wouldn''t be so expensive to learn.


    "Myriad Streams Five Forms? You must be quite skilled, Brother Tao. Have you practiced it before?"


    A somewhat familiar voice reached Tao Yu, who then saw Panda, an Inner City Pioneer.


    By now, a crowd had gathered around him, including Pioneers but even more members of that Motorbike Gang fromst time.


    "Brother Panda tters me too much."


    Tao Yu greeted Panda with a slight smile, but his movements remained uninterrupted, and even his speaking didn''t affect the rhythm of his breathing.


    "I wouldn''t praise without cause. From the way you''re practicing, it seems like you''re about to grasp the ''Five Forms as One'' and capture the Qi-Blood. Hmm, perhaps you''ve already done so?"


    Panda hesitated a bit, uncertain. Many abilities weren''t so easy to identify just by looking, and he could only tell that Tao Yu was very skilled because he knew people who had practiced the form before.


    "It''s all thanks to Miss Sun''s generous rewards; otherwise, it wouldn''t have been so smooth."


    Tao Yu''s response didn''t surprise Panda, considering that the new Development Zone''s first batch had only awakened their talents two months ago.


    If it weren''t for some unexpected windfall, Outsiders couldn''t progress that quickly.


    "Taking advantage of these early days, we''re nning to have a look around Las Vegas. Are you interested in joining us, Brother Tao?"


    Panda nced over at Tao Yu''s two vehicles.


    After buying goods from Tao Yu twice, he knew those two vehicles were real treasures,


    and he coveted them immensely.


    There was another vehicle that seemed to belong to a friend of the ''Chosen One,'' and the ie from that was so impressive that even as an Inner City Pioneer, he felt a bit envious.


    "No thanks, the young master Sun has something to ask me today."


    Tao Yu''s words made Panda''s heart skip a beat, realizing the young man truly had caught the attention of the two higher-ups!


    It wasn''t just a one-time task and reward; there had to be more if the young master Sun was still taking an interest and wanting to talk to him.


    Definitely, there were other matters at hand.


    It seemed necessary to treat him as an equal now.


    The difference between the Inner City and the Outsiders was significant, but it was nowhere near the gap between the Inner City and the Floating City!


    If Tao Yu really got their favor, a single word from them could solve many issues.


    "Ahem, it''s like this. I''ve already discussed this with youst time, Brother Tao. I''m actually interested in acquiring some trucks, but these vehicles are different from the ones we use inside the city, and they are quite troublesome to operate..."


    With a decision made in his heart, Panda spoke candidly about his purpose foring, so Tao Yu understood why he hade.


    This time, Panda''s main intention was to negotiate about Judy''s vehicle, not to poach but rather to borrow and drive it into the city first and then to train his people to drive trucks in the meantime.


    "...Rest assured, thepensation won''t be meager. I''m willing to pay two thousand Yuan Force per day."


    The reward Panda offered was quite sincere.


    A single trip out to Las Vegas plus loading and a round trip would take at least two to three days, amounting to a payment of four to six thousand Yuan Force. Considering the eight thousand made from three trucks yesterday, the cargo one truck could bring back wouldn''t cover the costs.


    It seemed the main goal was to learn the driving Skill and then exchange for some scarce materials.


    "Looking at it that way, I''d be training apetitor, wouldn''t I?"


    Tao Yu gave a wry smile and slowly started to conclude his routine, exhaling deeply.


    But then he changed tack,


    "However, Brother Panda is a fair man, so let''s consider it making a friend. I agree personally, but I''ll go and ask for her opinion."


    "Haha, thanks, Brother Tao. You can alsoe to me directly if you ever need anything."


    A look of surprise shed across Panda''s face.


    When he first heard Tao Yu mention petitor'', he was quite disconcerted.


    Considering their interests, Panda knew he couldn''t reallyin if Tao Yu refused him. He also thought that this rare opportunity was something he wanted to monopolize for a bit longer.


    Teaching someone else was essentially nurturing apetitor!


    ```


    But to his surprise, after the other party had selected an item, they also agreed to the request, which was indeed a favor to be acknowledged. After all, the other party was somehow rted to the two members of the Suns; one could not consider them just another ordinary Outsider Pioneer.


    Tao Yu had actually given it a lot of thought. Truck driving as a skill was difficult, but alsomon. In the future, he would definitely be able to find others, it was not something that could be monopolized, andpetitors would only increase.


    It would be better to cooperate and empty Las Vegas of its resources before more people arrived¡­


    "I have no problem with that. I make my living by driving trucks, and this is much better than moving corpses."


    Judy didn''t hesitate; after all, it was all about driving. Although there were some risks, she knew she would still be protected for the time being.


    "Good, the earnings from this trip¡­"


    "I don''t need Yuan Force, the earnings can all go to the boss."


    Judy cut in before he could finish, causing Tao Yu to take a few more nces at her, he pondered for a moment and then nodded.


    "Okay."


    Tao Yu didn''t make any promises, but there was no doubt that he would offer her protection at the base in the future.


    At this moment, Panda also spoke up with a smile,


    "A very wise choice. Holding onto Yuan Force that you haven''t absorbed is risky even within the base. For ordinary people like you, safety is the top priority."


    Since Tao Yu had given him face, he certainly didn''t mind speaking up for Tao Yu at this moment.


    "That''s what I''m thinking."


    Having witnessed the darkness of the world, even if this base imed to maintain basic order, Judy also wanted totch onto a strong leg.


    Truck driving is not a rare skill!


    It''s just that there are few people at the moment, so take the opportunity to get as much protection as possible¡­


    ¡­


    "Take good care of those two, and stay in the cabin if nothing needs to be done."


    Once everything was prepared, Tao Yu also made arrangements for Little ck.


    Apart from Judy, Tao Yu also found Tommy again. Since the truck was empty anyway, why not haul an additional load now that they were fetching cargo?


    For Panda, guarding an extra truck or several didn''t make much difference in difficulty. His original intention was to organize a convoy, so he naturally agreed happily.


    "Little brother Tao, how about this: let''s cooperate and before more peoplee, let''s move out all the valuable stuff from Las Vegas ahead."


    After calling Tommy over and arranging for Little ck to act as their guard, Panda seemed to have made up his mind and approached Tao Yu to continue discussing the details of a deeper cooperation.


    Last time, his offer to Tao Yu was to have Tao Yu follow him and join his team.


    But this time he directly mentioned ''cooperation'', which obviously put them on equal footing.


    This piqued Tao Yu''s interest as he raised an eyebrow,


    "What kind of cooperation?"


    If it meant joining him, forget it; he had no interest in taking on another boss. But if it was to cooperate in speeding up the transportation of valuable items, Tao Yu really had no objections!


    The high-value materials in Las Vegas were limited.


    And with the other party being an Inner City Pioneer, his ability to call to action far exceeded his own, making many things much simpler.


    "Your current two trucks and the two drivers you''ve hired will be considered your initial investment, while I recruit more hands to form subsequent convoys and take charge of the day-to-day transport. When brother Tao Yu is free, you can join in as well."


    Panda thought for a moment, then extended a fist,


    "I guarantee that you will earn no less than a hundred thousand Yuan Force in the first month, and no less than fifty thousand in the second month."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu formally looked at Panda.


    This guy, he''s got some skills.


    Even if Tao Yu were to work on his own and keep borrowing Tommy, it would be very difficult to earn a hundred thousand Yuan Force in a month of hard work with an additional truck.


    After all, the efficiency of this ''no-investmentmerce'' would only decrease as materials dwindled.


    ording to his proposal, Tao Yu could still attend to his own matters when busy, allowing for more flexibility.


    Panda making such amitment obviously meant he wouldn''t incur losses; he nned to rally Pioneers with his Inner City Pioneer status and tame the Motorbike Gang, eventually forming arge convoy of more than ten trucks.


    Here, each haul could be far more efficient, truly allowing for seizing the opportunity to clean out Las Vegas''s high-value items at once.


    As an Outsider, Tao Yu inherently couldn''tpete with Panda in this aspect. If they were topete and both tried to form teams, he wouldn''t be victorious; the longer it dragged on, the more Pioneers woulde to share the spoils.


    That''s why the first month''smitment was a guaranteed hundred thousand, and only fifty thousand for the second month.


    "Agreed. I''ll ask Young Master Sun to act as a witness. He should also be pleased with the increase in supplies for the base."


    Tao Yu would not foolishly trust any verbal promises, but he trusted Sun Shiqing''s influence.


    It was also convenient to discuss the matter of Corpse Refinement and the report recently submitted; this coincidental yet beneficial matter for the base was something he definitely would not reject.


    "Great!"


    Panda had no intention of going back on his word, because ording to his estimates, he could earn even more!


    The base''s location had been determined, and these were the nearest cities, with high-value goods in limited amounts.


    The money wouldn''t be as easy to make thereafter, requiring long journeys.


    This wealth was certainly a substantial ie for Panda, an Inner City Pioneer.


    Such is the opportunity of the new Development Zone!


    ```

 Chapter 101: 91: The Land of Raising Corpses

    "That''s a good idea. Next time wee, we''ll bring a registration terminal to facilitate information exchange with the real world. You can set up apany then. Given the current state of the new Development Zone, we will temporarily waive taxes and provide corresponding task rewards and points."


    Sun Shiqing readily agreed to Tao Yu''s offer to help.


    The new settlement area is in dire need of everything!


    It all depends on the Pioneers transporting materials back and forth, but the intervals between trips and the volumes transported are too slow.


    It definitely makes more sense to take advantage of the local resources in Las Vegas.


    "You''re right, Master Sun. I''ll register a transportationpany with Brother Tao when the timees."


    With his towering height of 2.3 meters, Panda should have seemed like a little Titan in front of Sun Shiqing, but at that moment, he was doing his best to squat down, showing considerable humility.


    Tao Yu couldn''t help but give Panda a sideways nce, recalling how arrogant the guy had seemed when he first came to block the road.


    The contrast was indeed quite stark.


    And judging by Sun Shiqing''s demeanor, she seemed used to this kind of behavior.


    "Alright, you can go now. I need to discuss something with him," Sun Shiqing dismissed Panda with a casual wave, then turned to Tao Yu, raising her attractive willow-shaped eyebrows with a smile,


    "Have you started meditation?"


    "Not yet, I''m a bit slow on the uptake and could use some guidance," Tao Yu replied without hesitation. "It''s my Dynamic Vision that stands out with my bright eyes."


    "Ha, you''ve got some nerve. Come on then, after discussing it with my sister, we''ve decided to take care of the problem today. You''lle with us."


    "Okay."


    Tao Yu didn''t make any demands and appeared quite obliging.


    "Don''t worry, you''ll be rewarded based on the situation when the timees."


    "I''m never worried about that."


    Tao Yu puffed out his chest with confidence.


    Though his bravado was partly for show, considering the generosity of the Sun siblings, he truly wasn''t worried.


    Whether it was Yuan Force or skills, he wouldn''t turn any down!


    So, Tao Yu followed Sun Shiqing to their residence. Meanwhile, Sun Shiyu had already changed into her tight-fittingbat suit and was tinkering with a hoverbike, seemingly making some adjustments.


    When she saw them return, she nced over at Tao Yu and asked the same question,


    "Have you started?"


    "No, it''s likely his innate talent that makes his eyes look so bright," Tao Yu didn''t answer, but Sun Shiqing offered an exnation.


    "Really, I''ve put so much effort into it, striving hard," Sun Shiyu seemed a bit dissatisfied but didn''t say much more before hopping onto her hoverbike.


    Tao Yu eyed Sun Shiyu''s curves as she rode the bike, contemting how nice it would feel to have her take him on the ride.


    Of course, he wouldn''t dare to voice any inappropriate remarks at that moment. Following a shoulder pat from Sun Shiqing, he joined her at her bike, watching as Sun Shiyu took off into the sky on her hoverbike.


    "Feeling a bit regretful, huh?" Sun Shiqing teased Tao Yu with a beautiful smile, a yful glint in her eyes.


    "Cough, Miss Sun is just joking," Tao Yu quipped.


    "Seriously though, if you were MAX level, you could give it a try. But don''t me me if you end up breaking your legs," Sun Shiqing shrugged nonchntly, hopped onto her bike, and Tao Yu swiftly followed, wrapping his arms around her waist. Then, sneaking close to her ear, he quietly asked,


    "What does your sister like?"


    "You''d have to excel in at least one area over her. I think long-distance sniping is a good skill to learn, so pick up more skills rted to that," Sun Shiqing suggested thoughtfully.


    Tao Yu considered her words seriously.


    Perhaps this was just the young master''s way of baiting him, trying to win over someone of his pure and high talent, but it was indeed worth a try.


    "Buckle up and sit tight," Sun Shiqing instructed.


    As Tao Yu fastened his safety belt, the hoverbike immediately soared into the sky. The thrust force was such that Tao Yu had to tighten his grip to stay stable.


    Looking at Sun Shiqing''s back ahead of him, Tao Yu actually breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, it was just her back he was facing.


    Actually, this kid is really good-looking, it''s easy to be reminded of his sister when staring at his face.


    Then, Tao Yu remembered a topic from the inte before, if you had to sleep with Nan Tong, would you choose to face him or turn your back?


    Yikes~


    After shaking off some goosebump-inducing images, Tao Yu began to look down at the scenery below while flying through the air.


    The only sound was the strong wind blowing past his ears, but the hoverbike itself was incredibly quiet, more like some metaphysical anti-gravity.


    Although Tao Yu had taken nes before and seen many aerial videos and images, the visual experience of directly flying through the sky on a motorbike waspletely different.


    This was much more thrilling.


    "No wonder wingsuit flying is popr despite the danger, it really is exciting."


    Tao Yu enjoyed the feeling of the wind buffeting against him.


    Unfortunately, these hoverbikes looked very expensive at first nce...


    "We''re almost there, where do you think the core location is?"


    Sun Shiqing slowed down and floated next to Sun Shiyu, who had already stopped, and then addressed that question to Tao Yu.


    By this time, they had already reached the sky above Las Vegas.


    From this aerial perspective, the distribution of thendmarks was even clearer.


    Tao Yu, with one hand around Sun Shiqing''s waist to stabilize himself, peered around to gauge the location, then pointed to a spot and said,


    "Unless there''s a surprise, it should be in that park. Under the influence of thendmarks, it has gathered all the city''s death energy, making it an excellent ce for raising zombies."


    "Good, let''s head over."


    "Hold on a second."


    Tao Yu held them both up and looked up at the sunlight, saying,


    "Let''s wait and make our move at the peak of noon when the sunlight is at its strongest; even if there is something difficult to handle, it''ll be somewhat restrained."


    Tao Yu''s own zombies, with the enhancement of Deification, had already lost this weakness, but the zombies made through the conventional approach, at least with Corpse Refining Art, couldn''t avoid it.


    Although the Suns'' siblings were indeed very strong, caution was paramount in the Abyss.


    "Alright."


    It was clear that the Sun siblings were not arrogant; they were cautious in their actions regarding the fragments, and since Tao Yu, the skill owner, had suggested it, they were willing to listen.


    "By the way, if there''s a chance to resolve the trouble, I don''t know if I could make use of this area, consider it as my reward."


    Tao Yu took the opportunity to state his request.


    "You''re wee to use it; we won''t knock down thosendmarks for the time being, just let us know when you''re done."


    Sun Shiyu seemed very nonchnt, the siblings didn''t care much about side matters.


    "If you really take care of a major threat, when we go back, we''ll give a heads up to Myriad Streams Dojo, and you can go ahead and learn the Breathing Technique as well."


    Upon hearing this, Tao Yu felt the power of a rich woman once again.


    "But you need to pay attention; your resources are limited, and the characteristics of your talent are very clear. It''s best to focus your talent as the core of your capabilities and avoid wasting too much on other areas, so as not to suffer more loss than gain."


    Sun Shiyu even gave Tao Yu a reminder afterward.


    The reason she had offered Meditation Technique as an option was that she felt this skill was morepatible with Dynamic Vision.


    Myriad Streams Five Forms, and even the matching set of Breathing Technique, are all rted to the physical body.


    Non-physical talents consume a lot when practiced...


    "Cough, I actually think so too, but having a healthy body that doesn''t hold you back, I feel, is also very important."


    Tao Yu said, bullshitting with his eyes wide open.


    "If you get a chance, trade for a better gun. Your actual limit is set by your weapon; you don''t even think to ask for it..."


    Seeing Tao Yu like this, Sun Shiyu seemed a bit helplessly shook her head.


    But her suggestion did not seem problematic to Tao Yu at all.


    Even now, his most convenient daily ability was actually using guns; closebat was for burst use, to settle things in one fell swoop.


    The effect of Warlord''s Sidearm was actually quite good, but with the siblings'' channels, he could probably trade for something with more power.


    However, due to the Deification of his skills, Tao Yu''s main resources were still invested in himself, and for items, he depended on extra rewards and casual looting...

 Chapter 102: 92: Neat and Tidy (Thank you to the Benefactor Alliance Hierarch for the release)

    Las Vegas enjoyed abundant sunlight, and although it experienced low yearly rainfall, the city was home to some of the finest water sources nearby. The nts in the park, which had been untended for most of the year, thrived under the copious sunshine, quickly growing lush and verdant.


    Yet, despite it being the peak of noon, when the scorching sun was at its fiercest, there was an inexplicable sense of gloom and coldness lingering in the park.


    As two hoverbikes whizzed overhead, feeling the chill in the air, even the well-traveled Sun siblings were somewhat surprised.


    "This is a very magical approach, somewhat simr to undead magic."


    Said Sun Shiqing, who was leading Tao Yu, after some contemtion.


    Tao Yu immediately seized the opportunity to ask for more information.


    "Undead magic? Is it an ability from the old gathering area?"


    "It''s an ability from aplete world that hasn''t yet been pulled into the Abyss but has only been captured. It''s very strong, but hasn''t made contact with our Starshine gathering area; it''s from some intelligence reports from the State Capital."


    Such information might be unknown to many in the Outer City, and perhaps even to many in the Inner City, but to Sun Shiqing, it was trivial to mention.


    "Do we still have contact with the State Capital?"


    Tao Yu asked with renewed curiosity.


    He had seen convoys crossing the grey fog a few times, generally looking ragged and rundown. There probably weren''t many routes left that maintained contact with Starshine City.


    "Yes, in fact, before the Abyss invasion became so severe, we couldplete teleportations in this realm, but now we can''t afford the cost. We can only exchange some intelligence information, and as for material supplies, we have to rely on crossing the grey fog."


    Tao Yu keenly caught the keywords and followed up with another question,


    "This realm? So, within the Abyss, teleportation is still possible?"


    "It''s possible if one is willing to pay the right price, but you need corresponding equipment. Our Starshine only has one set in the old gathering area."


    Sun Shiqing paused briefly before continuing,


    "If our development here goes smoothly and is deemed valuable enough, we might apply to the State Capital for rted equipment."


    Given that even the Suns, notorious for their wealth, spoke of costs in such terms, Tao Yu knew that, for at least the time being, there was no need to consider these matters.


    But Starshine City did have a solid foundation...


    After such casual conversation, Tao Yu apanied the two to what he had identified as the prime corpse cultivation site!


    Actually, there was no need for Tao Yu to introduce it since, contrasted with the surrounding overgrown weeds and hasty shade, the area earmarked for Corpse Refinement was starkly bare for at least an acre, with nothing but ck soil visible.


    It was nauseating for the living to even nce at it.


    "Seems like the potential of your Art of Corpse Refinement isn''t bad. I wonder if it can yield a breakthrough."


    Sun Shiyu, riding beside her, now showed a hint of interest on her face as she looked down at the patch of ck earth.


    Then Sun Shiyu exchanged a nce with Sun Shiqing before turning back to Tao Yu and stating,


    "You''re too weak. Stay up here and watch."


    "Alright."


    While being called a weakling to his face, Tao Yu had no retort.


    If he could handle it himself, why would he have sought out their support? Getting them to take action was his initial goal!


    Next, he saw the siblings'' seven peculiar weapons swiftly fly from the hoverbikes, with both of them almost synchronously stepping onto one of the weapons!


    The sight was as cool as sword riding.


    However, considering they usually traveled by hoverbike, it must be quite energy-intensive.


    In the next moment, the remaining six weapons from each transformed into streaks of light, nting themselves upside down into that barren cknd in a strange pattern.


    Sizzle~


    The twelve inverted weapons each released bursts of dazzling lightning. Then, electric serpents began to roam, visibly connecting the weapons with arcs of electric light.


    Roar!


    The ck soil shattered, and a figure burst forth from the earth!


    It was a zombie covered in ck hair.


    Even under the scorching noon sun, it could still move freely!


    This is truly...


    The next moment, the twelve inverted weapons rose into the air one after another, shooting towards the zombie from various angles. Before Tao Yu could finish his thoughts, he saw the weapons simultaneously pierce the zombie''s body, and then burst into light once more.


    Boom~


    The ck-haired zombie that had just leapt out was instantly blown to pieces, dead beyond recognition.


    A thick, nauseating stench arose, making both siblings frown and retreat to a higher distance, returning to the motorcycle, and then quickly ascended.


    "The poison is very potent; indeed, it''s a troublesome thing. Are you sure you want to perform Corpse Refinement here?"


    Sun Shiqing recalled the weapons while allowing them to hover around the motorcycle and spoke to Tao Yu.


    "I''m sure, I have some resistance to poison."


    Only then did Tao Yu snap back to reality after witnessing their swift and deft actions.


    Although he had always acknowledged that these two were strong, the telekic outburst from the day before at the dormitory had already proven that.


    Now, seeing a zombie nurtured by the deathly aura of the whole city taken out in one strike, he couldn''t suppress the shock in the depths of his heart.


    "Do you think these things are no big deal because you saw how quickly we handled it?"


    Although Sun Shiqing''s back was to Tao Yu as she operated the motorcycle, she seemed to know what he was thinking.


    "I can tell you, if your Art of Corpse Refinement could reach such an effect at its extreme, then in the future, it''s not impossible for you to enter the Floating City and even pursue my sister."


    After saying that, she stopped the motorcycle and summoned a weapon to ce near Tao Yu.


    As the weapon approached, the foul odor hit them, and then Tao Yu was amazed to find that the technology-infused and bizarre weapon surface seemed to have developed some blood vessel-like ck lines, which were being dposed and suppressed by arcs of electricity.


    The foul smell was the result of the electric light breaking down those ck veins.


    "It''s strong. If it weren''t for us, any Pioneer that encountered it would die."


    On the other side, Sun Shiyu approached on her motorcycle and then summoned a weapon that seemed to have the zombie''s head attached to it, likely a product of condensed Yuan Force.


    Sun Shiyu didn''t seem to mind the dirt; she directly held the Yuan Force head in her hand, seemingly closing her eyes to sense it, perhaps possessing some kind of skill assessment ability.


    "It has aplete Skill, but the contamination is too severe; I have no idea how much it''ll cost to clean it."


    Then, she nced back at Tao Yu and said,


    "Are you absorbing the same type of Skill?"


    "Uh, I''m not sure, after all, that was a zombie I could kill, unlike this one."


    "That''s also true, you really are quite lucky."


    Sun Shiyu nodded; in the Abyss, luck was a very important factor.


    "Do you have the experience? Is this the only one around here?"


    "Hmm, but I''m not sure if the corpse refiner is nearby."


    Tao Yu was hoping they would search the area to eliminate the risk.


    "We will look around here for the next few days, but most likely, they aren''t around. If the whole world has been contaminated..."


    Sun Shiyu voiced her judgment, and her words carried a somber weight.


    If every city of this scale had something simr, then facing such a zombie army, even the two of them would probably have to flee.


    "It must''ve been the work of the Fortune Thief."


    Sun Shiqing also spected.


    "The best solution is to demonstrate this ce''s value early on, so thepany makes more investments."


    Truth is always written by strength, as long as we are strong enough, we can handle any problem!


    Having awakened their talents only two months ago, they had already reached such strength.


    Although it might be difficult to maintain the same rate and efficiency of growth after the explosive phase of improvement passes, given their resources, their rate of advancement wouldn''t be slow. It truly makes one wonder whom time is really on the side of...

 Chapter 103: 93: Return

    "After you''re done, figure out your own way back, but don''t die."


    Sun Shiqing directly tossed Tao Yu onto the corpse cultivation site.


    "Don''t forget to pass the message to Panda for me, Young Master Sun."


    "Got it. If you''re nning to stay long, better check back in first to avoid umting madness."


    "Okay."


    "I might take a trip back alone to bring the mission terminal over. If anythinges up, you cane to me. I''ll also let the Myriad Streams dojo know."


    "Much appreciated!"


    Tao Yu stood on the ground and cheerfully waved to the two people in the sky.


    "Don''t forget the Meditation Technique."


    Sun Shiyu also casually reminded him.


    "I''ll need Miss Sun''s guidance if there''s anything I don''t understand when I get back."


    Thereafter, the brother and sister duo quickly soared away on their motorboat.


    Tao Yu then began collecting the scattered zombie body parts. They were excellent nutrients that could save him time.


    While gathering the body parts, Tao Yu also clicked his tongue in wonder.


    Besides the ''extremely toxic'' warning that he could sense, even the ck fur was as hard as steel needles, probably imprable by bullets.


    This was enough to demonstrate the siblings'' strength.


    "Now that I have the ''Meditation Technique,'' and the ''Corpse Refining Art'' has been made clear, I can actually bring a couple more zombies to the surface."


    After Tao Yu finished collecting the body parts, he looked at the ck soil and felt that cultivating only Cao Shaolin seemed wasteful, especially since the second phase would take forty-nine days.


    Refine just one corpse over such a long period?


    In a ce like this, even ordinary corpses could probably be turned into decent zombies.


    "Indeed, I need to go back first. I can also take the opportunity to learn the Breathing Technique of Myriad Streams Five Forms. However, I wonder if Little ck will be okay over such a long time?"


    Tao Yu thought of the Alien.


    He wasn''t worried about Little ck, just an Alien¡ªif it got killed, it got killed. He was afraid of it causing harm to Tommy and Judy if it got out of control.


    Afterward, Tao Yu also thought about the location he had seen from the sky and nced over at his walkie-talkie.


    They should be nearing the city by now. He needed to find a ce with a signal to let them know and release Little ck toe to him.


    Since he was going back anyway, it wasn''t urgent...


    ...


    In a shopping mall, Tao Yu stuffed some items he nned to take back into his backpack while pressing the walkie-talkie.


    Soon there was a response from the walkie-talkie.


    "Boss?"


    It was Judy''s voice.


    "It''s me. I have to stay in the city for a while. Open a window and let Little ck out so it can find me."


    "Oh, okay."


    "And tell Panda, too. I might not be able to join you guys for a while."


    "Young Master Sun just passed by and mentioned it. Panda doesn''t have any objections."


    Tao Yu smiled at this response.


    In a normal partnership, if one party yed the role of a hands-off manager, they could easily be duped, as profit and loss figures could be manipted to look less favorable or skim off the benefits.


    But since Tao Yu had dragged in the reputation of Sun Shiqing, he didn''t have to worry about major losses in the short term.


    Maybe there would be a slight drop in profits without him overseeing things, but the key point was that his time was freed up, allowing him to refine corpses and properly absorb the Yuan Force in his body!


    In the perilous Abyss, quickly improving one''s own strength is the real solution...


    ...


    "I was nning to go back before, but got held up by various things."


    Tao Yu repacked his backpack, slung a folded wheelchair over his shoulder, and mounted a heavy motorcycle. ncing at the asional zombies on the street, he even whistled to attract their attention.


    Then with deft ''Snake Skin'' movements, he quickly gained distance, and the motorcycle''s ck exhaust smoke sprayed the faces of the zombies.


    And with that, Little ck''s figure had already appeared on the roof nearby, quickly following in the direction Tao Yu had gone.


    Eventually, he parked the vehicle in front of the apartment building across from the park.


    By then, Little ck had also arrived by Tao Yu''s side, and had diligently cleared away the two zombies at the entrance of the apartment building.


    "Not bad, wait here for a few days, ande back after five days."


    Tao Yu reached out to pet Little ck, giving it a reward.


    "Go up, find a clean and safe empty room."


    Tao Yu waved to Little ck, and then saw Little ck, having just received a reward, climb up the wall and quickly select a ce for Tao Yu''s return.


    After seeing Little ck poke its head out, Tao Yu crouched down to pick up his motorcycle, carrying it upstairs.


    Don''t waste the quota for the return journey, taking the motorcycle back with me...


    ...


    ng~


    Back in his own room, Tao Yu felt somewhat speechless as he saw the small wooden bed that had apanied him for many years copse under the weight of the motorcycle.


    The items brought back and forth between the two worlds had to be within one''s own carrying capacity and were also subject to size restrictions.


    Summoned creatures, pets, and mounts have a normal quota, but they require plete control.''


    Currently, because Little ck didn''t meet this requirement, and Cao Shaolin had merged into the shadows not upying a quota, Tao Yu had chosen a motorcycle in keeping with his mindset of not wasting avable options.


    However, since he had set off from his bed at home, the flimsy bed couldn''t withstand the weight upon his return and had simply fallen apart.


    They were originally just cobbled together with bricks and nks, and looking down at it now, it felt somewhat speechless and choked up.


    "When you think about it, the barracks at the apocalypse had far better conditions than my home."


    Tao Yu scratched his head, smelling the faint moldy scent at the tip of his nose.


    After a thorough bath with soap, returning to such surroundings felt like putting on dirty underwear after a shower.


    "Who''s there? Is that you, A''Yu,ing back?"


    The voice of the third brother came from the next room, and Tao Yu even heard the sound of a bullet being chambered.


    Outside of the Inner City wasn''t exactly peaceful, and it was necessary to be vignt¡ªafter all, the third brother had been a member of the security force.


    "Brother, it''s me."


    Tao Yu answered, presuming his parents were still working in the Abyss. If there were no changes to their shifts, they would normallye back once a month for a five-day break, and that was the norm.


    If there were any issues that needed to bemunicated on normal days, it would involve seeking out the colleagues who returned with his parents to pass a message.


    As for the type ofmunication tools that could directly connect the Abyss and the ordinary world, probably only the Suns sisters had ess to such devices.


    In any case, Tao Yu hadn''t found anything like that on any of the Inner City Pioneers that he himself had taken care of.


    "You''re back earlier than expected; did something happen?"


    Tao Yu heard the sound of the third brother''s wheelchair rolling, and then he actively opened the door, first throwing the motorcycle inside the room and then carrying out the supplies on his back.


    Upon seeing the third brother emerging from his room, rolling his wooden wheels, with a pistol slotted at the side of his wheelchair within easy reach, Tao Tong''s somewhat wooden face broke out into a faint smile.


    "Haha, you could say it was a happy urrence. I found a potential site for our gathering ce and earned a great merit. They rewarded me with lots of Yuan Force, so I came back to share the good news."


    The six-person household''s monthly expenditure of Yuan Force barely exceeded one hundred; even the parents needed some Yuan Force to maintain their own conditions while most of their food and such was brought back from the Abyss and left over from working on the farm.


    They rarely spent Yuan Force to buy anything.


    Although Tao Yu was not exactly overflowing with wealth, he felt it was his due to take out some to improve their living situation.


    Therefore, he needed a reason to offer the Yuan Force.


    Just a thousand or two would make a significant improvement to the family''s current situation.


    If it weren''t for the fact that his parents had squeezed out a thousand units of Yuan Force through gritted teeth at the beginning, facing that dreadful starting environment, he probably would have had it tough despite his talents.


    As Tao Yu spoke, he set down the backpack and folding wheelchair he was carrying.


    Then he quickly assembled the folding wheelchair and said to his brother,


    "Bro, look what I brought for you? There''s some good stuff in the shards of that world, and I brought some back."


    First pushing the wheelchair up to his brother''s somewhat worn wooden one, Tao Yu also opened the backpack and took out clothes for his brother, along with some various daily necessities...

 Chapter 104: Chapter 94 Handover

    "He''s grown up..."


    Tao Tong looked at what Tao Yu had brought back, a smile also appeared on his face, but after ncing at his own empty legs, a trace of sadness shed in his eyes. However, he quickly brushed it off and said cheerfully,


    "Hurry up, let me try this new gadget."


    While speaking, he stretched out his hand to pat the folded wheelchair.


    Then, Tao Yu also took a water dder cushion out of the bag and ced it on the wheelchair.


    "Sit on this, it''s breathable."


    He then helped his third brother transition to the new wheelchair.


    "Hey, indeed, it''s not bad, very nimble."


    Tao Tong rolled the wheelchair in a couple of circles with his hands and seemed very happy.


    Seeing his third brother like this, Tao Yu was also chuckling beside him.


    It''s been a long time since he had seen his third brother this happy.


    "Where is sister-inw, still at the farm? Has Shi returned?"


    "Lao Ba is helping out at the farm. Don''t always scold him; you used to be just as naughty."


    "Not at all."


    Tao Yu denied his third brother''s usation and then started to change the subject.


    "Let me push you over there."


    "No need, I don''t feel like getting some air, it''s dirty outside."


    Having said this, Tao Tong took a gun and a bundle of old newspapers from his old wooden wheelchair.


    They were those low-quality ink newspapers, but they were what the third brother used to kill time.


    If you were to ask who in the family could read the most, it would definitely be the third brother.


    "Lately, the outer city has been a bit uneasy, seems like the Skull Gang and the Wild Wolf Gang are fighting over territory, just be a little more careful."


    Tao Yu nodded at his third brother''s reminder.


    They couldn''t afford to subscribe to the daily newspaper, but whenever Shi went to hang out at the Chaoyang Society, he would often bring back some old newspapers.


    Although the news was somewhat dyed, at the very least it allowed them to have a rough grasp of the overall situation.


    Like being cautious of gang fights recently.


    "No wonder Shi hasn''t been running around; that''s why."


    Tao Yu didn''t forget to take another dig at his little brother.


    The Wild Wolf Gang and the Skull Gang were both gangs in South City, and it was said that they also had someplex backgrounds, like the selling of ''happiness'' and some even lower grade goods they were mainly responsible for.


    They were involved in gambling dens and flesh trade, and their influence had already expanded into those fortresses.


    A few days ago, when transporting goods, I ran into some dumbasses who wanted a free meal who belonged to the Skull Gang.


    They were used to being arrogant and domineering in the outer city.


    But for now, Tao Yu didn''t worry too much about these things. Not to mention his evident Grade A "Dynamic Vision," ever since the Lee family was wiped out, Uncle Hu had already be the deputy captain of the security team, responsible for the South City area.


    Gang rivalries were inherently about interests, and they wouldn''t get too confused...


    Opening a can of beef and handing it directly to his third brother, Tao Yu also took two more cans and opened the door.


    The familiar smell of cow dung hit him as he opened the door.


    Unfortunately, having managed the farm for so many years and never having tasted beef, it was time to let his sister-inw and younger brother have a taste.


    Arriving at the cowshed, Tao Yu saw Tao Shi holding a rasp and meticulously trimming a cow''s hoof, his skilled movements looking quite stress-relieving.


    Seemingly hearing the noise of Tao Yu entering, Tao Shi looked up and was slightly surprised to see him,


    "Brother, why are you back so soon? It hasn''t been a month yet, hasn''t it? Didn''t things go well?"


    The new Development Zone was full of opportunities for building up from scratch, and Tao Yu had previously estimated about a month''s time.


    "I finished a few days early, preparing to do some work, and I might note back for one or two months."


    "Be careful, if you''re gone for too long be mindful of going mad, and if you''re not feeling mentally well, hurry back," Tao Shi said with some concern. Their sixth sister was in trouble because of such issues.


    "No worries, I''m already quite strong, and I''ve done a great service and got noticed by some important people," Tao Yu knew how to reassure them best.


    Indeed, the moment their conversation ended, Tao Shi''s spirit was lifted, and he began to ask about various experiences non-stop. Tao Yu chose some that he could share and talked about them.


    Even though these were selected experiences, Tao Yu''s recent adventures indeed far exceeded what normal Penioneers in the outer cities should undertake.


    This left Tao Shi both shocked and surprised.


    "Huh? You even met Brother Lin Chao? Hehe, can I go brag to him next time?"


    "Sure, he''s quite a decent person."


    Tao Yu thought of the leader from the Chaoyang Society, who for now, seemed to still possess a heart of gold.


    "Brother, you really struck it rich, huh? Our parents'' decades of life in the Abyss probably weren''t as exciting as this brief period of yours."


    Tao Shi''s eyes were filled with longing and anticipation.


    Their parents had always preached the importance of living a safe and stable life, but Tao Shi, who was in the throes of adolescence and full of youthful vigor, disliked that kind of life. What was the point of a life where you could see the end from the beginning?


    If you don''t give it your all, can you even call yourself young?


    "What nonsense are you talking about? If our parents hadn''t been cautious, we might not have even been born. Do you know what the mortality rate is for those going to the new Development Zone?"


    Tao Yu gave his little brother a disdainful nce. If it weren''t for the fact that he was his own brother, he would be toozy to spend so much time talking with him.


    Although Tao Yu didn''t inquire or tally the numbers, he was certain that the survival rate on Awakening Day for those choosing to go to the new Development Zones definitely wasn''t more than fifty percent!


    And those who chose to take the risk there generally had some confidence and family resources.


    If these people were to change to an old Development Zone, there would be a survival rate of at least seventy percent.


    "Hehehe..."


    Tao Shi started to chuckle awkwardly before quickly changing the subject.


    "Bro, what about getting a wife? There are many people asking about youtely, even that ''Dairy Cow Sister'' you used to like is inquiring about you."


    Tao Shi then started to make suggestive gestures.


    At his age, even the sight of a thigh could make a boy restless, something Tao Yu had realized while learning the Meditation Technique with Sun Shiyu.


    Despite that, hearing Tao Shi say this still made Tao Yu feel his toes digging into the ground. It was normal to have some vague adolescent fantasies before his memories were fully integrated.


    But it was not so normal once they were brought up.


    "What ''Dairy Cow Sister''? Don''t talk nonsense. You better work on fixing your hooves. I''m off to register for a few missions," Tao Yu threw two cans of beef to Tao Shi.


    "Remember to save one can for your sister-inw, don''t eat them all."


    Meanwhile, Tao Shi was curiously inspecting the beautifully crafted can packaging and, not minding the dirt on his hands, wiped them on his body before starting to open a can.


    Seeing the beef inside and smelling the aroma, his eyes lit up. He then picked up a piece and began to eat with relish, ignoring his brother, which left Tao Yu somewhat speechless.


    Then he turned and left.


    With his Grade A talent, it was expected that many people, apart from his parents, would be concerned about him. However, having already seen what the world has to offer, his standards naturally rose.


    Anything that could affect the speed of drawing his weapon was unwanted...


    ...


    "Wee back, Partner Sir, your missions have been sessfully uploaded andpleted. You have earned a total of 2375 units of Yuan Force,"


    At the mission hall of the Hound''s Fort, Tao Yu once again enjoyed the exclusive treatment reserved for partners, served by the same pretty waitress asst time, whose eyes nearly set him on fire.


    In less than a month, he had earned an ie of over two thousand just from missions. He must have awakened not too long ago, right? Definitely a potential powerhouse in the making.


    "Thank you,"


    Tao Yu, receiving the missionpletion certificate and the rewards voucher from the waitress, thanked her softly.


    A mosquito might be small, but it''s still flesh; if there are missions that can be done along the way, there''s no reason not to take the rewards.


    In fact, the mission rewards themselves revealed the abundant opportunities in the new Development Zone!


    But for now, it seems the Suns are pouring money into it without any immediate positive output.


    I wonder if that zombie head counts.


    Under the wistful gaze of the pretty waitress, Tao Yu took his missionpletion and rewards vouchers to the rewards collection area.


    Since Yuan Force can be absorbed, most rewards were obtained there, and the staff behind the counter were usually under eighteen and not yet able to absorb Yuan Force themselves.


    After verifying Tao Yu''s certificates, the staff skillfully carried out the weighing process, handed over a small pouch that jingled with metallic sounds to Tao Yu, who absorbed it right then and there, and then returned a small pouch of Wish-Power Metal to the staff,pleting the exchange.


    This is actually the normal way for outer city Pioneers to obtain Yuan Force; Tao Yu''s method of using a maic card forrge transactions was actually unusual.


    Even so, Tao Yu''s earnings of over two thousand in the outer city were quite conspicuous...

 Chapter 105: Chapter 95: A Noble Person?

    "The cargo and material missions have alreadye out, and there are new exploration missions..."


    Afterpleting the handover of his previous task, Tao Yu also casually checked if there were any new tasks that could be done conveniently, while observing the current trend of missions in the new Development Zone.


    Even a mosquito is still flesh; it could add points for the partners. Once you have enough points and with adequate strength, you can participate in promotion assessments, granting ess to some new privileges and conveniences.


    Just having a personal receptionist and not having to jostle with others for tasks already saved a lot of time and energy.


    Tao Yu even came across a mission for biological alien imntation from Pandora World.


    "Pandora''s atmosphere is toxic to humans; is this about achieving a new alien imntation, aiming to let some Inner City people with alien imntation lines go and pioneer there?"


    However, while Tao Yu was observing, suddenly a burly figure with a nose ring pushed through the nearby crowd and walked toward him.


    Having undergone the Crane Deification, Tao Yu already had enhanced Spirit Perception, and with the bonuses of the Warlord''s Sidearm and thetest Meditation Technique, he instantly knew that the neer''s intention was directed at him.


    Although there wasn''t much malice, there was certainly some.


    This made Tao Yu raise an eyebrow and nce back at the other person, noting the wolf head tattoo deliberately exposed on the chest.


    The Wild Wolf Gang?


    These gang members really have no manners.


    "What do you want?"


    The figure had only just arrived and before he could speak, Tao Yu calmly initiated the conversation.


    "Tao Yu, right? Come with me, a VIP wants to see you."


    The burly figure grinned, revealing a mouth with two missing yellow teeth, apanied by the bad breath often found among Outsiders.


    "A VIP? Who?"


    Tao Yu frowned and took a step back, repulsed by the bad breath.


    However, to the sturdy man, this seemed like a retreat. Smirking with a touch of triumph, he said,


    "You''re not in a position to ask. Juste with me, that''s right. I know you''re Grade A in Dynamic Vision, with a lot of potential. I don''t want to get rough."


    While saying that, he rubbed his knuckles, making some cracking sounds.


    This confrontation attracted the attention of many in the Task Hall.


    Seeing the muscr man, many faces showed wariness; he seemed to have some reputation around here.


    "Iron Fist, what are you doing? If you want to cause trouble, take it outside. This isn''t a ce for your gang to sow wild oats," a figure inbat attire, responsible for maintaining order in the Task Hall, stepped forward. Regardless, this ce was the Hunter''s Stronghold and the Task Hall, where certain things would definitely be managed.


    "Haha, what trouble? I''m just chatting with a friend, I just have a loud voice; you all know me," Iron Fistughed off the usation before smirking at Tao Yu,


    "I''m right, aren''t I, young brother Tao Yu?"


    But Tao Yu turned to look at the approaching guard, with an innocent expression, and asked,


    "He just threatened me; can I kill him?"


    The offhandedment left Iron Fist and the guard both stiff-faced, and the pioneers in the Task Hall who werepeting for tasks looked on with bizarre expressions.


    Some even couldn''t help butugh out loud, not at Tao Yu, but at Iron Fist, who had thought he controlled the situation.


    Those who came here for tasks weren''t the kind to sit tight and y nice.


    What they thought was another routine of the Wild Wolf Gang bullying people turned out to be a tough nut to crack.


    "Uh, we don''t allow murder here, but if you''re proactively threatened or provoked, an appropriate counter-attack won''t be prosecuted," the guard reluctantly replied, sticking to the rules after being blindsided by Tao Yu.


    The rules in the Outer City were ck, free of rigid formalities.


    Therefore, Tao Yu nodded, looked back at the muscr Iron Fist, and spoke softly,


    "You did just threaten me, didn''t you?"


    "So what if I did? You damn kid, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit..."


    Before the words of anger could finish, Tao Yu''s elbow had already struck his abdomen, the force of the impact almost popping Iron Fist''s eyes out.


    Then, with a palm strike, he hit the man''s chin, apanied by the sickening sound of bone cracking and his face flesh twitching with distortion.


    Iron Fist''s feet lifted off the ground.


    But as he was just rising, Tao Yu turned and delivered a side kick with a leg raised high, like a battle-axe pressing down on his shoulder, forcibly halting the ascent and nailing him back to the ground.


    The rush of wind from the move made clothing flutter noisily.


    The hardened y on the ground showed slight cracks.


    Tao Yu pulled his foot back slowly after pinning the man to the ground.


    Then he patted the dust off his trousers and turned back to the guard politely saying,


    "I just taught him a simple lesson, he''s not dead."


    Having said that, he looked at the guard, whose eyes had rolled back as he fainted, with a smile,


    "If you''re going to ask for someone, please be polite about it."


    Afterward, he waved his hand and directly left the mission hall.


    The kind are bullied, showing too much kindness in such a dog-eat-dog ce would only lead to endless trouble.


    Only with certain talent, strength, and a tougher approach could one stand firm and avoid problems.


    Wait for someone else to make a move before retaliating? Why can''t I strike first?


    The Outer City is a very pragmatic ce...


    Uh, but actually, although Tao Yu''s actions were swift and clean, thanks to the thinking advantage brought by the Meditation Technique, he had weighed his actions quickly.


    At least the so-called noble mouthed by theckey couldn''t possibly be someone from the Floating City. If they truly were, they wouldn''t be associating with gangs, it would be more normal for an upright and dignified security team leader to confront me directly.


    At most, they were just ''nobles'' from the Inner City, who were not that noble at all!


    Once Tao Yu left, Iron Arms, who was rolling his eyes on the ground, slowly fell backward and then crashed heavily onto the ground.


    Whispers began to spread among the crowd nearby,


    "He''s very strong."


    "When did our fortress acquire such a mighty person?"


    "Were those moves just now from Myriad Streams Five Forms? The Tiger Form and the Ape Form?"


    "He looks so young, could he be from the new Development Zone?"


    "Can''t be, right? Even the earliest batch is just two months old¡­"


    "Hey, isn''t the Wild Wolf Gang influential? They even wanted to dip their hands into the fortress''s business, serves them right."


    "Keep your voice down, their people have arrived¡­"


    "¡­"


    Soon after, two men with ashen faces hastily came over to where Iron Armsy, checked his neck first, then quickly assessed his injuries.


    The more they checked, the darker their expressions became. Shortly afterward, someone brought a rudimentary stretcher and hurriedly dragged Iron Arms away...


    ...


    Tao Yu did not wait on the spot for the ''noble''; instead, he headed for the Myriad Streams dojo.


    By this time, Sun Shiqing probably hadn''t returned yet, but the Myriad Streams dojo offered economically affordable ''Qi-tonic Soup,'' which made recovery simple during training.


    Moreover, it was an opportunity to test out this so-called ''noble.''


    If they couldn''t even circuNovelBinent the dojo, then most likely, they weren''t even a ''noble'' from the Inner City...


    "Everyone knows I''m a Grade A talent and still they act so arrogantly. It couldn''t just be that ''noble'' is the Gang Leader of the Wild Wolf Gang, right?"


    While Tao Yu pondered, he arrived at the familiar entrance of the dojo.


    Having trained here for the better part of a month, he was quite familiar with the ce and could clearly hear the increased intensity of training noises inside.


    The registration area had also gathered arger crowd; the ''benefits'' of the new Development Zone seemed to be continuously arranged.


    Although Tao Yu didn''t know the specifics of how many people had entered the new Development Zone in these two months, or the proportions, there should be at least a thousand or so, possibly two or three thousand at most.


    "Yi Wei, it''s your shift again, brother,"


    Tao Yu saw Yi Wei with a glum face at the registration area and greeted him with a smile. Yi Wei was the one he had met when first signing up and they had some interactions during training, forming a nodding acquaintance.


    "Tao, junior brother, you''re back? That was quick, wasn''t it? Hasn''t been a month, right?"


    Yi Wei also seemed surprised to see Tao Yu.


    He had a deep impression of this newly admitted genius; at first, there was almost a little unpleasantness, and until now among all the students he had dealt with, junior brother Tao was the fastest learner.


    He had even reached level 3 in Crane Form and had learned the Swallowing Fluid Technique.


    This junior brother could be said to be an inspirational figure in the dojo during this period...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 106: Chapter 96: The Curators Thoughts

    "Yeah, I had some stuff to handle when I came back, so I''ll need some time to digest it all properly," Tao Yu responded to Yi Wei''s inquiry with a smile.


    "You didn''t level up another skill to lv3 during this time, did you?" Yi Wei joked.


    "Sort of," Tao Yu answered.


    "Really?" Yi Wei was momentarily stunned. He had only been joking, but it turned out to be true!


    Previously, the other person had been training full-time, and with enough Yuan Force to continuously practice. Hence, it was normal for them to master all the entry levels and even achieve lv3 in one skill, as the Yuan Force was inherently miraculous.


    But weren''t you off to the Abyss to make money?


    How could you still find the time to achieve such a result?


    Is this what a Grade A talent is¡­


    But does Dynamic Vision boost the body so much?


    Yi Wei felt a bit lost in his thoughts for a moment.


    He could understand Quick Mastery of Dynamic Vision, being able to directly watch and mimic movements.


    But it should require more Yuan Force to train, right¡­?


    "I got lucky, did a favor for a big shot."


    Some things didn''t need to be concealed, and spreading the word could even solve many problems, so Tao Yu casually mentioned it.


    "That really is good luck... A small leak from the big shots in the Inner City would be enough for us to struggle for a long time," Yi Wei said, envy apparent on his face.


    New Development Zones are just full of opportunities.


    It''s a shame, though; he had already awakened and settled in the old Development Zone, without a choice...


    ...


    "Smith Senior."


    After entering the training ground, Tao Yu saw Smith training the neers on the coal cinder yground.


    From the look of the small group, they were likely another bunch looking for freebies.


    "Tao Yu Junior? Haha, perfect timing. Come on, show them what you''ve got."


    Smith greeted Tao Yu with a smile and then turned to address a group of people about Tao Yu''s age,


    "This is the Tao Yu Junior I told you about, the most talented student among your several batches. He has not only mastered Stance Skill but has also entered the realm of the Five Gate Boxing Techniques, and even his Crane form has reached lv3."


    Smith''s words made many of the trainees look at Tao Yu with curiosity.


    Tao Yu had learned skills here and, whether or not Smith was looking after him because of his talent, he had been very good to him. So, naturally, Tao Yu was willing to lend a hand.


    "Most of you must be from the New Development Zone. The skills from the Wanliu Dojo are all quite outstanding. If you can achieve Five Forms as One and even hold your Qi-Blood, these are the most helpful skills avable to the Outer City. Don''t waste this opportunity," Tao Yu said as he casually demonstrated the Crane form.


    However, he didn''t show off purposely; he just performed a set using the eleration effect of his practice method.


    Even though Tao Yu didn''t activate any Fist Intention and performed standard movements, his performance still surprised Smith, who watched with amazement.


    "Tao Junior, is this¡­ lv4?"


    Smith''s strongest form was the Crane, at a level of lv4, which allowed him to exhibit a distinct charm.


    Thus, he had the ability to appreciate such skill, and although Tao Yu''s Crane form was only lv3, the charm that came with Deification was indeed present.


    "Yes, I was lucky, helped a big shot, and made a good sum. I really need to digest it all well this time."


    Tao Yu was eventually going to learn the Breathing Technique, and Five Forms as One would undoubtedly be known, so mentioning it now was also a bit of a pre-emptive measure.


    At the same time, Tao Yu''s words earned him the envy of everyone present.


    "Smith Senior is busy, so I''m off to practice."


    "Go for it, good luck."


    Smith''s face was full of smiles. Tao Yu was naturally talented and had now also struck it lucky with a big win, indicating that his strength could still improve. Such a rtionship had to be well maintained.


    Jealousy?


    Of course, there was some. Everyone''s thoughts and notions are veryplex, but Smith''s rationality allowed him to easily suppress such feelings of envy.


    Tao Yu went to the familiar cafeteria next door where he was well-acquainted with the chefs, who were already used to his increased appetite from using eleration. Tao Yu practiced with abandon.


    The benefits of Qi-tonic Soup were much better than gnawing on canned food; although it cost some Yuan Force, it waspletely worth it.


    Practicing full-time was always better than having to juggle other tasks!


    Especially now, with an abundance of Yuan Force, he used eleration without any second thoughts¡­


    ...


    Tao Yu practiced straight until the evening.


    The sweat from his body had all but turned to sweat, and the liquid from the Qi-tonic Soup had evaporated.


    The training efficiency indeed surpassed what he was able to manage while multitasking in the Abyss.


    Every moment, he could feel a tingling sensation over his body, experiencing the improvements in his lungs and innards from the second-level Deification of the Basic Breathing Method.


    That sensation, as if every pore of his entire body was breathing with each movement, immersed Tao Yu so deeply that he lost all sense of time.


    "Five Forms as One..., truly remarkable."


    A sigh of admiration came from the side, and Tao Yu slowlypleted his final stance, exhaling. He then saw the middle-aged man beside him with aplicated expression on his face.


    It was the head of Wanliu Dojo, Liu Yi!


    "Head Liu, hello."


    "I originally saw Smith, and he said you had reached level 4 of the Crane Form, but who would have thought you''ve already mastered the Five Forms as One. Impressive, truly impressive."


    Liu Yi looked at Tao Yu, his face showing a thoughtful expression, and after a moment, he said to Tao Yu,


    "Young brother Tao, I came to find you, and you probably have some idea why."


    Tao Yu, upon hearing this, was genuinely perplexed.


    What idea? Is it that Sun Shiqing just got back? And greeted you? Or did he send a message back to greet you?


    Or could it be the person I beat up in the mission hall earlier? Has their ''patron'' showed up?


    "Cough cough, I''d ask that you please speak inly, Head Liu."


    "You, you''re still a bit too impulsive, but for us young martial artists with vigorous Qi-Blood, it''s normal to vent that breath of emotion in our hearts. It''s just that you''ve stirred up quite the trouble this time, and they''ve alreadye to me."


    Liu Yi shook his head with resignation, and his words made Tao Yu understand what ''having an idea'' meant.


    He nodded and said,


    "Before I took action, I did ask the guard, and he admitted it on the spot, so there shouldn''t be any problem."


    The rules in the outer city aren''t very detailed, they''re flexible, and Tao Yu''s actions, though severe, were in fact within the boundaries of thew.


    "If it were just him, or even just the Wild Wolf Gang, it wouldn''t be a big deal. You have connections in the security team, too. That deputy head of the Southern District even came to see me personally, asking me to look after you."


    Liu Yi''s words surprised Tao Yu, who hadn''t expected Uncle Hu to have specificallye over.


    He hadn''t seen him since returning, and as the acting deputy head of the security team, Uncle Hu''s main job now should be in the present world, just the opposite of his parents''.


    "Hmm, Uncle Hu is a good person. What exactly is the situation this time?"


    Tao Yu asked, as if seeking advice.


    "A Pioneer from a new district in the Inner City and actually, someone from your own period. Although gravely injured, with their future achievements limited, they are still from the Inner City, and theirwork of rtionships remains."


    Liu Yi pondered for a moment before saying to Tao Yu in a serious tone,


    "However, I really admire your talent and if you are willing to join our Wanliu Dojo, I can work together with Uncle Hu to resolve this matter. You might even have the chance to learn the secret techniques of my dojo!"


    Liu Yi''s eyes seemed to shine with a light, full of godliness, simr to when Tao Yu first made progress with the "Meditation Technique" and couldn''t control it.


    Tao Yu could indeed sense both Liu Yi''s dilemmas and his good intentions.


    He must have felt the situation was tricky, but upon seeing the Five Forms as One when he came to find Tao Yu, he probably thought Tao Yu''s talent was very suitable for this style and that his potential was worth investing in.


    In normal circumstances, this would be a tremendous opportunity!


    After all, the ie from working in a dojo isn''t considered low. Colleagues like Smith and Yi Wei provided services for the dojo.


    But now, Tao Yu had alreadyid his roots in the Development Zone, where both the opportunities and ie were clearly beyondparison with what the dojo could offer.


    For Tao Yu, who had a great demand for Yuan Force, it wasn''t possible to confine himself here.


    Looking at Liu Yi''s gaze, Tao Yu sighed. He knew when to be grateful, even if the other party''s kindness stemmed from his talent, it was still well-intentioned. After weighing his words for a moment, he said,


    "I''m very thankful for the Head''s generous offer. The dojo has been a significant help to me, and I do like the environment there, but in the new Development Zone, I need to assist two important figures from the Floating City..."


    Previously, when dealing with Yi Wei and Smith, Tao Yu had not been explicit, but with Head Liu showing such goodwill, Tao Yu spoke more straightforwardly.


    This statement caused Liu Yi''s pupils to constrict slightly, and for a moment, his face betrayed hisposure. After a moment, he regained his poise.


    "Two figures from the Floating City? Then I must concede my temple is too small to amodate them, congrattions, congrattions."


    Liu Yi didn''t seem to take Tao Yu''s refusal to heart; instead, he showed a joyful and congrattory expression.


    "No wonder you''ve mastered it so quickly. If it''s those two, then it all makes sense."


    "When Ie back, I do enjoy practicing at the dojo, so if there are any honorary positions avable, I certainly wouldn''t mind," Tao Yu exined, offering something in return, as he would definitely need to learn the Breathing Techniqueter on. Having the identity of a direct disciple from the dojo would also allow Head Liu to maintain his dignity.


    Liu Yi gave Tao Yu a meaningful look and thenughed,


    "Of course, it''s no problem at all, and I still think you should be considered a True Disciple. When the opportunity arises, I might teach you the Myriad Streams Breathing Technique."


    This response made Tao Yu smile awkwardly.


    It seems... he was seen through...


    To stand tall in the outer city and be one of the most outstanding dojos, dominating the realm of the hunting hounds, the Head had been through storms and waves. It was more than normal for him to guess what was going on.


    The Myriad Streams Breathing Technique is a deeply guarded secret in the outer city and not something you''d find on every street corner in the Inner City.


    But for those two figures from the Floating City, it was indeed a simple matter!


    And the Head himself did not give a firm no; he just said ''when the opportunity arises,'' which indeed shows he''s shrewd...


    As for the ''trouble'' he mentioned before?


    What ''trouble''?


    As Tao Yu said, the trouble is actually on the other side!


    "Head, do you have any knowledge about that ''patron'' from the Inner City? After all, young master Sun might note back to get his terminal for a couple of days, and I don''t want to bother him with these matters."


    Tao Yu casually inquired further, as he already had some guesses in his mind. Meanwhile, Head Liu waved his hand nonchntly and said,


    "No need to bother him with everything. It''s not really a big deal, just a Spine-breaking Dog trying to save itself out of desperation..."

 Chapter 107: Chapter 97: Accepting Money to Eliminate Disasters for Others

    Tao Yu had some guesses at the bottom of his heart, and after hearing the words of the dojo master, he becamepletely certain of who the ''noble'' seeking him out was.


    Wino!


    The Inner City survivor he had teamed up with for the first time entering the Abyss, the one who had been captured and parasitized by an Alien yet had somehow managed to survive by clinging to life.


    Now it seemed that he had been rescued.


    With such severe injuries, and now able to jump around, the medical standards of Inner City were indeed high.


    "Self-rescue? It looks like he''s probably still in the Alien nest. It''s been over a month now, hasn''t he? He hasn''t gone back yet?"


    Tao Yu sighed.


    "No, after all, even neers among the Inner City''s Alien-imnted Pioneers, with the strength gained from early resources, are quite strong. Surviving a few more months is not a big problem, but it can''t go on indefinitely."


    Liu Yi smiled, knowing that Tao Yu understood who it was.


    "Ah, Brother Wino, sigh, we even teamed up before, and got along quite well, it''s a pity."


    Tao Yu looked somewhat regretful and sorry.


    Back then, that screw-up had been jealous of his ownck of talent and had given him a fierce cold shoulder. He had almost forgotten about it, and now here he came out of the blue looking for him, tsk~


    "Got along quite well?"


    The dojo master raised his eyebrow and didn''t say much else, but after pondering for a moment, he said,


    "Recently, he has gained some fame in our circles. The ce where he''s trapped must be very dangerous, and no one from Inner City is willing to risk going to rescue him.


    "So he''s been gathering people from the new Development Zone in Outer City, using both carrot and stick, and he''s already put together a group."


    Having said this, he gave Tao Yu another nce.


    "He''s probably had his eye on you for a while, but you haven''te back. After all, with Grade A talent, ''Dynamic Vision,'' formingbat capabilities quickly, and strong early-warning abilities."


    Tao Yu understood Wino''s situation from this.


    Whether Inner City or Outer City, both ces are quite pragmatic.


    Wino could still be envious of him, his talent was truly not high, being saved must have cost a pretty penny, and it was uncertain whether his family was still willing to invest in him.


    Even if he had a few friends, those willing to risk pulling him out of trouble would be few, unless there were sufficient benefits on the other side.


    "There''s definitely an Alien Queen, and the Python Alien as well as the Aliens he has nurtured, ugh~"


    Thinking of these things gave Tao Yu goosebumps.


    Even with his current strength, facing an attack from arge swarm of ordinary Aliens, he would have to run for his life first; and if that included Python Aliens and Aliens parasitizing Wino, the risk was indeed very high.


    With enough ammunition, enough manpower, a well-trained group could barely try, but the casualty rates and cost-effectiveness were hard to predict.


    Almost out of favor, Heaven knows how much money he could still offer, trying to get something for nothing...


    "He''s even sought help from gangs like the Wild Wolf Gang, tsk tsk~, maybe the recent skirmish between the Wild Wolf Gang and the Skull Gang is his doing behind the scenes."


    Tao Yu pondered for a moment, then shook his head and looked up at the dojo master with a smile,


    "Master, did he send someone to find you?"


    "The teacher of the Wild Wolf Gang, no matter what, I still have some face in Outer City. I just didn''t want to offend them rashly before."


    The dojo master was also very straightforward; if Tao Yu didn''t have enough value, then of course, he wouldn''t muddy the waters and cause unnecessary trouble for himself.


    Even if it''s the Spine-breaking Dog from Inner City, it''s still an Inner City person!


    Ipetent in performing tasks, but still capable of trouble.


    "Now it''s up to you. If you don''t want to meet, just decline directly."


    Liu Yi seemed to not care at all whether Tao Yu was bluffing to deceive him; after all, from the beginning, he had seen Tao Yu''s Five Forms as One talent and wanted to intervene.


    Even without the pretext, pulling him into his own dojo system would be profitable.


    Having enough value to intervene, his mentality waspletely different from not wanting to cause trouble before.


    "Let''s meet. Anyway, we''re from the same period. He surely doesn''t just want to talk idly and ask for my help, does he..."


    Tao Yu had more choices, and naturally had the confidence!


    If Wino wanted his help, then if the timing was right, ''helping'' a bit wasn''t out of the question. It was just unknown what price he was willing to pay...


    ...


    The meeting ce was Liu Yi''s quaint little wooden cottage, and it was Tao Yu''s first time entering. The interior was elegantly decorated, somewhat reminiscent of a tea room.


    And the Wild Wolf Gang''s advisorpletely overturned Tao Yu''s preconceived image of an advisor.


    With a height of over one meter ny, his body was rippled with muscles that looked very stic, the kind with a very low body fat percentage.


    He was somewhat in the style of Tao Yu''s partner Panda.


    But even Panda''s towering stature of two meters thirty was more exaggerated.


    Uh, perhaps he''s the one in the Wild Wolf Gang who can read the most? So that third brother can even y the part of an advisor...


    "A bit slow, aren''t we?"


    The muscr advisor''s eyes flickered somewhat.


    "What, Mister Jin wants to teach me how to do my job?"


    Liu Yi''s extremely domineering response made the muscr advisor shudder, then quickly lower his stance,


    "How dare I? Master Liu is unmatched in the Outer City. Even if the gang leader came, he wouldn''t dare tell you how to do your job. We''re just honoring amitment..."


    While speaking, he also noticed Tao Yu, who had followed them in, and then said,


    "This must be young brother Tao Yu. I apologize for before; some folks in the gang don''t understand proper conduct."


    So that''s why he''s an advisor, his talk is a bit more pleasant than the previous guy''s.


    "I might have been a bit too aggressive, my apologies."


    Where interests weren''t involved, Tao Yu also didn''t take verbal advantage, pretending to express deep regret.


    Then he took the initiative to say,


    "The dojo master mentioned it briefly before; actually, if you had said earlier that you were looking for someone, Wino big brother and I used to get along quite well."


    Tao Yu''s words made Advisor Jin''s corner of the mouth twitch. It was only because the employer had said it might be necessary to be a bit tough that they had acted that way. There should be some displeasure about it.


    But of course, he would not say that out loud. Instead, he apologized once more for the previous rudeness, and only then did he speak,


    "Does this mean young brother Tao has agreed?"


    "If thepensation is right, everything can be arranged. Advisor Jin, you''re aware of the risks involved. I''m risking my life here. If something unfortunate happens, I want to be able to leave something behind for my family."


    Tao Yu''s firm statement made Advisor Jin''s teeth hurt a bit.


    Does this mean that not only does thepensation need to be sufficient, but it also has to be paid in advance?


    "Well, asking for payment before discussing the strategy doesn''t seem quite right, does it? After all, you''re an Inner City aristocrat."


    "Hey, it''s precisely because I''m dealing with Inner City big shots that I can''t afford to welch on debts, right?"


    Tao Yu''s counterargument left Advisor Jin somewhat speechless.


    It sounded reasonable, but that isn''t right, is it? How could they let him make demands as the stronger party?


    "Everything is negotiable, as long as we share amon goal, there won''t be a problem."


    Advisor Jin hesitated, not daring to make any sweeping promises.


    "That''s more like it. Let''s sit down and have a good talk, everything can be resolved. Tao Yu is our Dojo''s prodigy and will soon be a True Disciple. We can''t mistreat him."


    Liu Yi then spoke up to bolster Tao Yu''s position.


    It was obvious that these words from the Wanliu Dojo''s dojo master added more pressure on Advisor Jin.


    Does Wanliu Dojo want to dip its hand in these troubled waters? Tsk...


    Looks like they really need to shed some ''blood'' for this.


    "Advisor Jin, let''s be clear, you can tell Wino big brother directly, we mud-leggers from the Outer City can only climb up by risking our lives, and we don''t mindying them on the line.


    "But I didn''te by my Grade A talent easily; I''m the hope for my entire family. My life''s on the line, and it''s gotta be for a good price."


    Tao Yu spoke with righteousness, yet his words were both reasonable and appropriate.


    After all, he''s dealing with Inner City aristocrats. For the sake of saving their skins, they should be able to offer up some decent benefits, don''t you think?


    In any case, get the payment first and the benefits in hand, then see.


    As for going or not?


    I''m a man of my word; I take people''s money to deal with their disasters.


    But if the employer dies before the job, there''s nothing that can be done about not going, is there¡­

 Chapter 108 : 98 Its Settled

    ```intext


    "Young Brother Tao, I''ll pass on your words, but how much benefit you want to get, still depends on your own value,"


    Master Jin still had to take his leave; he was not the decision-maker.


    "Boss, it''s gettingte, I''m heading back as well,"


    After Master Jin had gone, Tao Yu also bid farewell to Liu Yi.


    "Be careful on your way."


    "I will."


    "When you have time these next few days,e by, and I''ll announce your status as a True Disciple."


    Liu Yi patted Tao Yu on the shoulder.


    "Thank you, Boss. I will,"


    ¡­


    Tao Yu took some ''Qi Replenishing Pills,'' then left the Wanliu Dojo.


    As soon as he left the dojo, he noticed someone was observing him but didn''t pay it much mind.


    The sky was already dim, and the gray mist at the horizon made it even more gloomy. The dark environment,bined with "Bullet Time," ensured safety was high enough in the Outer City, as long as one stayed alert.


    Yet, Tao Yu didn''t think that Wino, who wanted his help for the rescue operation, would choose to act rashly and unwisely.


    Indeed, it seemed like those people were just watching him closely then spoke into a walkie-talkie.


    When Tao Yu left the stronghold, he saw arge punk motorcycle, simr to Panda''s, driving straight towards him from the street.


    Compared to Panda''s bike, this one even had some additional weapons mounted on it.


    There were revolving machine guns on the front sides, spikes on the sides of the tires, and a steel te at the front for ramming.


    It only had two wheels, yet it exuded the violent presence of a tank.


    Dressed in a jacket and only slightly smaller than Panda, a weary and somewhat haggard Wino was sitting at the helm with a cigar in his mouth, his rough facial skin still looking ferocious.


    Upon seeing Tao Yu, Wino nodded,


    "Surprisingly, you''ve even learned Myriad Streams Five Forms. Come on, let''s talk about your payment,"


    After speaking, he pulled the bike to a stop, which stayed upright on its tires without the need for feet or stands, prompting Tao Yu to give it a second look.


    Looking around, some members of the Wild Wolf Gang had started to clear the area, driving away the onlookers.


    And no one dared to say a word.


    "Brother Wino, you''ve recovered from your injuries, huh? I was so worried when I saw your condition thest time,"


    Tao Yu greeted Wino with a smile, causing Wino''s mouth to twitch involuntarily.


    Although he had been brash and belligerent due to his talents and had taken a dislike to Tao Yu, family knows its own, and this guy clearly wouldn''t have minded him dead.


    "You haven''t paid back the money you owe to Jose, have you?"


    Wino spoke softly, as if trying to apply some pressure on Tao Yu.


    Tao Yu and the others running away asckeys was something he couldn''t really do much about, as they had not yet been relegated to cannon fodder; the entire arrangement was based on status and power. But Tao Yu borrowing money was a concrete fact.


    "I''ve paid it back,"


    Tao Yu didn''t engage with the other''s words, as the debt was to Jose, and with Jose dead, there was no evidence.


    Even though those in higher positions often don''t need evidence for many issues, Tao Yu was truly not afraid of such unfounded usations.


    "The money you owe isn''t mine, so I don''t care if you''ve paid it back or not. That doesn''t prevent me from mentioning it to Jose''s parents,"


    "Then go ahead and tell them,"


    Tao Yu was utterly fearless.


    Back when he had to face Wino, he indeed had to keep a low profile.


    But now, why should he!


    Wino found Tao Yu''s tough-guy act somewhat speechless; he had been sopliant before, what made him suddenly so slippery and defiant?


    But back then, they were in the Abyss, and the environment was indeed different; killing him wouldn''t have caused much trouble, but now in the real world, he did have some trouble indeed.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have arranged for the Wild Wolf Gang to get involved. Initially, he wanted to y dirty, but somehow Tao Yu managed to convince the master of the Wanliu Dojo, and with his uncle being the acting vice-captain, Wino was indeed in a tight spot for the time being.


    "I can keep quiet about it, even work your acting vice-captain uncle''s case a bit, remove the acting title, but¡ªyou have to help me,"


    Wino wasn''t actually going to talk about these issues; they held no benefit for him.


    He just wanted to leverage these points against Tao Yu.


    "So what you''re saying is, you could also work against my uncle, keeping him stuck with the acting title, right?"


    Tao Yu could read between the lines of the other''s words; inly speaking, Wino still wanted to benefit from this without offering anything in return.


    ```


    ```


    It seems that there really isn''t much money left...


    "I never said that."


    "Oh, then I must have misunderstood. I have faith in Uncle Hu''s abilities, and he has his connections. Nothing bad happening, he is bound to be official sooner orter."


    Tao Yu would not release the eagle before he sees the hare.


    Since he had taken the time toe here and not just waved a big g to settle things directly, he naturally expected tangible benefits.


    The transportation cooperation with Panda''s side guaranteed a minimum ie of one hundred thousand Yuan Force in the first month.


    Put simply, if the benefits were less, Tao Yu couldn''t be bothered with pleasantries, and would just let things take their own course.


    In any case, it was a dead end, no difference.


    "What do you want?"


    In the end, Wino opened his eyes and spoke.


    With the help of the Wild Wolf Gang, and using threats and some verbal promises, he had already put together a team from the Outer City.


    But he knew how troublesome the Aliens were; relying only on a mob was meaningless, a core was necessary.


    He had no way with people from the Inner City and could only pay more to ask two guys for help, while it was difficult to find better stuff than this in the Outer City.


    In terms of cost-effectiveness, the Grade A "Dynamic Vision" was quite suitable for such environments.


    Those beasts were adept at ambushes, and such perception-ss high-level talents were truly indispensable.


    The importance was not much less than that of the two guys who were hired for a hefty fee.


    If he didn''t perceive the Aliens in advance, his two guys would be ambushed and would die too!


    "I need a good weapon, preferably one that can kill them in one hit, and there should be the Aliens that parasitized youing out, right? They must be extremely strong, including those Python Aliens."


    Tao Yu directly stated his demands, using the advice Sun Shiyu had given him on the spot.


    "That''s possible."


    Wino nodded in agreement. The stronger Tao Yu was, the more likely he was to save him.


    A Grade "Dynamic Vision" did indeed deserve a good gun.


    "Also, I need some skills. You''ve seen thattely I''ve been learning Wanliu Dojo''s Myriad Streams Five Forms and haven''t spent much time practicing shooting, so Ick some advanced shooting skills, not to mention I don''t have enough Yuan Force for elerated learning."


    Now that the other party had opened up, Tao Yu naturally started tearing things up bit by bit.


    "Fine, I can find you some shooting skills and support you with some Yuan Force as a reward!"


    Wino took a deep breath and agreed.


    Because this too was something that could increase the likelihood of rescuing him, even if it pained him, he had to agree first.


    Thinking of the remuneration he had paid to the two guys, he was already under a lot of strain, and now he had to make an additional expenditure. His family''s tolerance towards him, probably wasn''t much.


    He would have to swallow his pride and borrow some high-interest loans from outside, the key was that in his current situation, it was very hard to get a high-interest loan...


    "Also, I''m currently at the site chosen for the new gathering, and I probably need a month and a half of training time to forge myself to the utmost before setting off to rescue you. Can you hold on, big brother Wino?"


    Tao Yu then further made his demands, a precautionary measure in case he had no chance to resolve the debt issue, so as not to dy his own business.


    Tao Yu didn''t consider himself to be a clever person capable of devising foolproof, meticulous ns.


    For him, the so-called ns and schemes were best prepared in abundance, flexibly adjusted ording to the different actual circumstances.


    "A month and a half? And the time it takes to travel, how can this be."


    Wino was bing somewhat irate.


    "That can''t be helped. I''ve also taken on a mission issued by Miss Sun of the Suns, if it doesn''t work out then I can only apologize."


    Tao Yu''s words directly silenced Wino, who looked at him with eyes full of uncertainty and apprehension.


    "Miss Sun personally issued you a mission?"


    "Yeah. How about I ask them for mercy when Iplete the mission, toe rescue you?"


    Tao Yu said curiously.


    "No, no, no need to trouble them, no trouble at all. The new gathering ce is just starting up, how can it be worthy of the trouble of the two dignitaries."


    Wino repeatedly waved his hands.


    Of course, in his heart, he hoped it would really bring those two into action.


    But, now he really didn''t deserve it!


    Lackluster talent and captured by Aliens, he couldn''t even escape on his own now.


    This waste asking two Floating City distinguished figures for help? What right did he have to make such a request!


    Blundering into making such an inopportune request might even lead to his family giving up on him actively.


    "Fine, I agree to your demands. I will also invite two friends to help. The team gathered from the Outer City will convene at the gathering ce, and then you can set off together..."


    ```

 Chapter 109 : 99 The Effects of Meditation Technique

    "Although it''s not a Yuan Force item, it''s still pretty good, truly Inner City quality."


    Tao Yu looked at the multifunctional rifle with a sci-fi feel in his hand and was full of admiration. The next morning, Master Jin showed up at his doorstep with sincerity.


    AT200, that was the model of the gun, which aesthetically was somewhat boxy and felt a bit bulky, yet the edges had a streamlined feel to them.


    It was equipped with two magazines, AP (Armor-Piercing) rounds and HE (High Explosive) rounds.


    Each magazine contained fifty AP rounds and ten mini-grenades.


    The key point was the high range of the bullets used. The effective range of the AP rounds could reach 800 meters, and they were extremely precise. With a scope attached, it could be used as a sniper rifle and was also capable of rapid fire.


    The mini-grenades could reach a range of two hundred meters.


    The main feature was itsprehensive functionality.


    It could be said to be quite suitable as a primary weapon for a multifunctional rifle.


    "The Warlord''s Sidearm is enough for a pistol, this one is a goodplement."


    Tao Yu mounted a scope, lifted the rifle, and aimed it swiftly a few times, finding it very smooth to use.


    The downside was that AP rounds cost 3 Yuan Force points each, and HE rounds cost 10 Yuan Force points each.


    Definitely unnecessary for clearing out zombies.


    At this point, the advantage of the Warlord''s Sidearm''s ability to slowly recover air bullets became evident.


    Besides, Tao Yu also had a set of Yuan Force absorption skills in front of him, which could be added to twenty bullets. However, Tao Yu guessed that absorbing ten would be enough for him.


    Each bullet carried about 10 points of Yuan Force, and after absorption, he gained an "Intuitive Shooting."


    "Intuitive Shooting" lv1: Allows for high-uracy attacks based on feeling. The higher the basic shooting skill and mental strength, the better the effect.


    Without a doubt, this was a shooting skill with Yuan Force characteristics that had a very good assisting effect and was highly practical.


    The Deification cost was also not expensive, just over a hundred.


    Tao Yu did not hesitate toplete the Deification!


    "Intuitive Shooting - Modified" lv1: Can discern the best shooting spots on the enemy, and can attach mental strength to the bullet (stackable).


    Simr to the Deification of Basic Shooting, but with an additional ability to discern the best shooting points, and that instinctive feeling when shooting was also enhanced.


    Although Tao Yu had not actively trained much in shooting abilities.


    But with his talent and the boost from this new skill, he reckoned he could now beparable to a Pioneer with high talent specialized in shooting abilities!


    "No wonder they say ''Dynamic Vision'' develops quickly; a good gunbined with a few skills can easily do explosive damage and turn into a mobile artillery."


    What followed was a maic card worth five thousand Yuan Force points.


    "Better than nothing."


    Tao Yu raised his hand to absorb the Yuan Force from the maic card and after confirming his gains, he also spoke to Master Jin who hade to deliver the goods,


    "I''ve received the goods, Master Jin, you may go back now. Recently you''re shing with the Skull Gang, so you should be cautious. I''m going to practice my shooting skills and get familiar with the firearms."


    The tall Master Jin showed a rxed smile and said,


    "From now on, Brother Tao Yu is one of us. Don''t worry, we are the ones on the offensive against the Skull Gang. Young Master Wino has been overseeing us heretely."


    "Oh, I see. With Brother Wino here, there''s indeed nothing to worry about."


    Tao Yu waved cheerily and watched Master Jin leave.


    "If every enemy I face somehow gets exterminated without a trace, wouldn''t that be too obvious? Guesses don''t need evidence after all..."


    Tao Yu leaned against the door, pondering as he watched Master Jin''s retreating figure.


    It seemed there weren''t any major issues at the moment. The Li family got wiped out due to the secret of the Blood Orchid by their partners; what did that have to do with a pitiful, weak, and helpless individual from the Outer City?


    The Wild Wolf Gang and Wino forced the Skull Gang into a corner, and that had nothing to do with him either. He was their coborator, their partner...


    "Today, I''ll practice meditation. The improvement is quite noticeable now."


    Yesterday, Tao Yu went to hand in a task and encountered some matters, so he went to the practice field. Now, in terms of actual efficiency, it was the Meditation Technique he had just acquired that yielded higher results.


    It increased the speed of mental recovery, andbined with the Concentration Ne, he could extend the duration of his Shadow Evasion, saving money...


    ...


    Looking at the motorcycle in the room and the roughly reassembled simple bedding, Tao Yu felt that it was time to renovate his home.


    Nheless, he directly sat cross-legged on the bed and began his practice of the Meditation Technique.


    "Once I get proficient, I should be able to do Meditation Technique and Breathing Technique together. Although it consumes more Yuan Force, it saves time..."


    With these thoughts in mind, Tao Yu also visualized the Visualization Diagram in his head.


    With the concentration of spiritual power, Tao Yu sessfully subdued the scattered thoughts with the Visualization Diagram and achieved the unification of will. Then, using his thoughts as a hammer, he constantly polished his spiritual power.


    It was as if a grating ''screech'' echoed in his mind, with spiritual power continuously being squeezed, forged, and ground by his thoughts¡ªthoughts acting like gears, and spiritual power like lubricant mixed with sand.


    With each pass, it was purified once more.


    As he had just begun practicing the Meditation Technique and coupled with the consumption of over a hundred Yuan Force every hour, Tao Yu fully experienced a period of explosive enhancement simr to when he first learned the Breathing Technique.


    It even made him irresistibly adjust the Yuan Force eleration to two hundred!


    The feeling that each grinding removed the dust from the mirror, clearing his mind further, made Tao Yu reluctant to stop.


    "Truly, this is a power that transcends the ordinary!"


    Time imperceptibly passed, and by the time Tao Yu opened his eyes, the sky had already started to dim.


    Since he had arranged not to be disturbed by his family, Tao Yu''s practice went smoothly.


    His mind had never been as clear as it was at that moment.


    However, as Tao Yu finished his practice, a sudden sense of weakness spread through his body, nearly making his vision ck out.


    Fortunately, his [Mental Immunity]pletely stabilized against this bacsh.


    When Tao Yu looked down, he was horrified to discover that his once strong body was now emaciated, as if it was merely skin and bones!


    "What''s this..."


    Tao Yu was dismayed. With [One Proof Forever Proof], he could nearly exert his full strength as long as he had the stamina, and this was the first time he had felt such weakness.


    It felt as though his stamina was almost depleted, and he would copse right there on the spot!


    If it wasn''t for his second Deification of the Breathing Technique, which drew in Free Energy to sustain thest bit of energy, he would have been immobilized by now.


    Then Tao Yu remembered the words Sun Shiyu had reminded him when she first taught him,


    "Spiritual energy is nourished by Qi-Blood. You''ve already grasped Qi-Blood which can have an auxiliary effect, but be careful not to overdo it. Though, at your current level, you don''t need to worry about that..."


    Afterward, Tao Yu endured the soreness in his body and first used a hundred Yuan Force for a certain amount of replenishment, somewhat reviving his energy like a stream of living water.


    Then, relying on the stamina of [One Proof Forever Proof], he directly took out two tubes of Nutrient Paste and squeezed them into his mouth, digesting them swiftly.


    With the Nutrient Paste supplementing him, Tao Yu began to feel warmth in his body again and his Qi-Blood started to recover.


    Once his body had improved slightly, he consumed all the Qi Replenishing Pills he had bought the day before and initiated the [Swallowing Essence Skill] to digest them quickly using his Qi-Blood.


    "I almost had to use Yuan Force for a direct recovery!"


    Tao Yu felt the [Swallowing Essence Skill] rapidly absorbing the potency of the Qi Replenishing Pills, swiftly refilling and repairing his body, and he let out a slight sigh of relief.


    His training effect was too strong!


    The usual Meditation Technique was still manageable, but after his own Deification process and with the eleration of two hundred every hour, coupled with the increased explosive period, a day''s training nearly drained himpletely!


    Hisck of experience and the rapid enhancement of his spiritual side led to his deep involvement, causing him to neglect his body.


    But luckily, he could remedy it with Yuan Force and food, otherwise, it would have been really awkward.


    "This must be due to the initial improvement window period, but the effect is indeed strong!"


    A gleam seemed to shine in Tao Yu''s eyes, and his body slowly but continuously swelled up with vitality.


    Then he raised his finger and plucked a strand of hair to ce it in front of his eyes.


    As he let go, the strand of hair simply floated in the air, no longer falling!


    "Unfortunately, this is just a passive effect brought about by the [Meditation Technique - Modified], a demonstration of a certain level of refinement between thoughts and spiritual power, and for now, it has no practical value. However, it definitely adds to the ovey of Fist Intention, and there are bullets with added spiritual force..."


    He thought of the terrifying burst of Telekinesis from Sun Shiyu, which must have been the result of abination of talent and skill enhancements.


    The Meditation Technique wasn''t an attack skill; this was just a reflection of how much his spiritual aspect had improved in a day.


    Besides passive effects like an increased mental capacity and faster thought processes, to make practical use of it, he would have to rely on the talent of [Fist Intent] and skills like the enhanced bullets.


    Once all the Qi Replenishing Pills he had bought were digested, Tao Yu''s body recovered once more, although his face stillcked some color, prompting him to consume two more tubes of even better¡ªbut definitely more expensive¡ªNutrient Paste.


    "I didn''t buy enough Qi Replenishing Pills. Now with enough money, I feel like having a hundred on me would be fine. It''s much more cost-effective than recovering with Yuan Force..."


    After ingesting two more tubes of Nutrient Paste, Tao Yu finally feltpletely recovered.


    He slowly stood up then, moving his body which creaked resoundingly.


    "Now I have two skills that can add a mental shock to the bullets, and with the purification of the Meditation Technique, the effect should be stronger..."


    Tao Yu did a few stretching exercises, which made a sound like a taut bowstring.


    Looking outside at the darkening sky, his gaze grew deeper.


    It was time for a test...

 Chapter 110: Chapter 100 Celebration

    ```


    The Wild Wolf Gang, one of the gang forces in the outer southern area of South City, rose to power much like many other fluctuating outer city forces, through the remarkable talents and decent strength of its founder.


    With Grade A "Agility," even just with ordinarybat skills, the status of Grade A still earned him some initial investment.


    It gave this lone wolf, who came from the bottom of the outer city, the capital to rise.


    Having talent, daring to stake his life, plus some sponsorship and luck, ultimately led to the present Wild Wolf Gang, which had a resounding reputation across the whole southern area. The gang leader of the Wild Wolf Gang also self-proimed himself the Wolf King, and he had four top lieutenants under him.


    He controlled the gambling dens and flesh businesses in two of the town fortresses and also had a supply channel for ''happiness'' from Inner City.


    Sustained by the gang''s provisions, this Wolf King, who had the chance to enter Inner City but still chose to stay rooted in the outer city, was indeed among the top tier there.


    Because of this, the Wild Wolf Gang had a separate small base in the outer city.


    The exterior was simr to a fortress, encircled with barbed wire and discarded oil drums, and inside densely resided some of the core members of the Wild Wolf Gang.


    Although smaller in scalepared to those fortresses, this was an area exclusively belonging to the Wild Wolf Gang.


    Beyond this core mini-fortress, the residences of some other members of the Wild Wolf Gang surrounded the area, which was already quite impressive in the outer city.


    And these past few days, the stronghold of the Wild Wolf Gang was lit up throughout the night, with the oilmps burning all night long, and from time to time, there would be bursts of cheers andughter¡­


    In the center of the stronghold, it wasn''t where the gang leader, the Wolf King, resided, but rather a warehouse-like hall.


    It was in the center of this warehouse, today there was a tall bonfire, and with the oilmps lit up around it, despitecking any circuitry, it was still quite bright inside.


    In front of the bonfire, some unknown types of meat were being roasted, arge group of people reveling without restraint, holding big bowls of liquor and taking big bites of meat.


    Some were even using ''happiness'', or puffing smoke, filling the air with a smoky smell.


    "Brothers, we''ve recently managed to suppress the Skull Gang, and although our turf hasn''t expanded much, our ie sources have at least increased by a quarter!"


    In front of the fire in the C-spot area, a lean man under one meter seventy stood up, raising his wooden wine cup with a domineering shout that did not match his frame.


    The muddy liquor spilled out, and this Wolf King of the southern area sessfully ignited the atmosphere at the scene, drawing cheers.


    An increase in ie sources by a quarter meant that everyone''s Yuan Force ie could increase too!


    Being able to maintain such a vast gang, the Wolf King had the lion''s share, but the distribution was still quite fair, at least their core members earned far more than the ordinary people of the outer city.


    "Here, we''ve got to thank our young master, Wino. If not for him, that old skull wouldn''t have given in so easily.


    "But everyone still needs to be on guard. That old skull is certainly biding his time, plotting mischief. We can''t let the meat that''s at our mouths be spat out again."


    The Wolf King once again thanked Wino sitting next to him, and Wino, now having put aside much of his pride as an Inner City rich kid, also raised his cup and said,


    "Be it the outer city or Inner City, we speak with strength. Every rule and regtion waits to be broken. As long as strength is on our side, you needn''t worry about the Skull Gang''s retaliation."


    "Thank you, Young Master Wino!"


    "Thank you for the gang leader''s generosity!"


    "Long live the Wild Wolf Gang!"


    "Hahaha!"


    "¡­"


    There was no formal meeting like apany conference. These kinds of gang gatherings were so simple and unsophisticated, a group of people revelling heedlessly.


    As everyone entered a time of celebration and revelry, the Wolf King turned back to Wino with a smile and said,


    "Young Master Wino, everything is ready now, but do we really have to wait so long for that kid? You want me to pull some strings?"


    "Don''t mess around."


    Wino quickly stopped him, but then went on with a somewhat gloomy face,


    "Whether he''s flying a false g or not, he has agreed, so we''ll let him do his thing for now. The longer he takes, the better prepared we''ll be."


    "Is he that important?"


    The Wolf King was somewhat astonished.


    In truth, he only said that to tease a bit. With Tao Yu getting support from Wanliu Dojo and the proxy deputy captain, he would not touch bad luck without having strong backing.


    But seeing Wino''s attitude, it seemed he really ced great importance on that kid.


    Although he shared a Grade A talent not inferior to his own, in the outer city area, a Grade A talent was not necessarily guaranteed a smooth growth!


    It was precisely because the gap with the foundation of the Inner City Area was too vast, and his talent wasn''t fit for mechanical enhancements or alien imntations, that the Wolf King chose rather to be a free overlord in the outer city area.


    "It''s very important. His role in this rescue operation is as critical as my two friends. Those aliens are extremely adept at ambushes. His Grade A Dynamic Vision is not only quick to shape intobat strength but will also help in giving advance warnings."


    As Wino said this, a cruel smile spread across his face,


    "But a loser who cannot see his own situation, thinking he''s got me cornered, will surely get a taste of his own medicine once I''m out of danger!"


    Initially, Wino didn''t think much of Tao Yu and had already lowered his posture and pride. However, Tao Yu took the opportunity to extort him mercilessly.


    This was a grievance he truly couldn''t swallow!


    "Haha, find me when you need help with that, just say the word."


    The Wolf King said cheerfully but inwardly looked down on Wino a bit.


    So petty. The resources have already been invested, why not treat it as an investment to turn hostility into friendship?


    He himself rose from having a Grade A talent in the outer city. Pssh, Inner City folks really don''t know how to y the game.


    Even though Wino''s talent didn''t seem impressive to the Wolf King, being from an Inner City family with alien ancestry and having ess to a cheaper ''happiness'' supply, as long as...


    Creak creak~


    Although the ce had be somewhat noisy, the Wolf King, with his Grade A "Agility" and a host of rted skills, still keenly detected an unusual sound. He then frowned and stood up, looking toward the direction of the gate.


    ```


    "What''s wrong?"


    Wino asked the guy, as he seemed a bit off.


    "Don''t know, there''s some noise at the main gate, like the friction of metal chains."


    The Wolf King was also a bit uncertain; his banquet hall was simply a warehouse, with metal doors that were currently closed. There were also younger brothers standing guard outside, but this abrupt noise had sparked a sense of unease in him.


    "Knife-Eye, go take a look at the gate, will you?"


    The Wolf King turned to a muscr man who was reaching his hand inside a dancer''s clothes and ordered.


    The man with a scar over one eye grumbled a bit, then reluctantly stood up and walked towards the main gate.


    However, before he even reached the gate¡ª


    Bang~


    A bullet had already pierced through his head, bringing up a spray of blood.


    Ratatat~ Ratatat~


    The sound of an assault rifle''s burst fire followed.


    "Pfft~"


    "Enemy attack! Ugh..."


    "Where?"


    "Who is it?"


    "Who..."


    "..."


    As the bullets poured down, what was once a joyous atmosphere instantly turned into a bloodbath, a scene of carnage!


    Even though these men were the core members of the Wild Wolf Gang, the real elites!


    Even though the weakest among them possessed the limits of human physical strength, with many mastering Grade 5 skills, each individual could be considered a powerhouse in the Outer City.


    Grade Cbat talents weremonce, and there were four or five at Grade B.


    But against bullets aimed precisely at their heads, their mortal bodies were meaningless!


    Human limits?


    If the skull is blown open, one is still doomed!


    Grade 5 skills?


    There isn''t even a chance to fire back once the bullet hits the brain!


    All the hard training, all the hidden cards, all the strength became irrelevant in the face of that lone figure unceasingly firing his dual-wielded assault rifles!


    Just one man managed to achieveplete fire suppression, just one man turned it into a one-sided massacre!


    Fully armed with a tactical suit, his face entirely concealed by a tactical helmet.


    Dual-wielded assault rifles, with four more slung on his back.


    No need to reload the magazines, just throw the spent one away, grabbing a new one and resuming the shooting.


    The enemy casually strolled through the hall like it was a garden, taking lives with each step, as if performing a deadly waltz.


    Whoever ran fast was targeted, whoever tried to take cover got shot, whoever tried to reach for a gun died!


    The asional precise counter-shots seemed to be anticipated by him, not by rapid movements, but he always managed to let the bullets whiz past.


    And the few who had a chance to strike back were promptly targeted and couldn''t even start a second round.


    After just two rounds, only three or four people remained, hiding behind cover within the once-cheerful hall...


    "Skull Gang! How dare you!"


    Having dodged to cover through the barrage due to his talent and ability, the Wolf King caught a glimpse of the assant''s gear.


    A standard set of tactical equipment.


    But hisbat suit, bulletproof vest, tactical helmet, even the assault rifle in his hands, all bore the unique skull mark of the Skull Gang.


    Just one man!


    Merely one single man had almostpletely wiped out hisboriously gathered elite underlings!


    The hatred he felt even outweighed the fear in the Wolf King''s heart.


    Who?!


    Who on earth was it?!


    There must have been a traitor who led them here!


    Otherwise, how could they bypass such tight security and sneak in unnoticed?


    What about the people outside?


    Were they all dead? Why was there no sound or warning?


    If there had been as much as a hint, it wouldn''t havee to this!


    They could have riddled the enemy with bullets had they faced him just one on one!

 Chapter 111: Chapter 101: Dead

    Tao Yu released the assault rifles he was dual-wielding, allowing them to fall to the ground before drawing thest two from behind.


    The hundred or so bullets fired before had already taken care of most of the targets here.


    Thebination of "Intuitive Shooting - Modified" + "Basic Shooting - Modified" gave Tao Yu a terrifying hit rate.


    Deified Basic Shooting could modify bullet trajectories, but apart from the substantial concentration it consumed, small adjustments were mentally taxing. It was simple for single shots, but the effect was best for automatic fire at a single target.


    For multiple targets, he mainly relied on his own Dynamic Visionbined with passive gun handling to lock on.


    But now, with "Intuitive Shooting"ing into y, it was subconscious shooting. As long as he had a rough idea that it was a head,bined with his increasingly proficient shooting skills and fine adjustments, it was just like hanging locks on targets!


    As long as a brain couldn''t withstand a single shot and was suddenly caught off guard, death was certain!


    The scene was obviously celebrating, and although many people wore bulletproof vests, most had taken off their helmets!


    Only a few with iron masks and simr attire on their faces were easily taken care of by Tao Yu as he added Shadow Force to his shots.


    It seemed that Shadow Force could erode along the cracks formed by bullet impacts, killing those few with head protection with one or two shots.


    The initialbat result of the new skill was quite impressive.


    Skills were inexpensive, Deification costing just over a hundred, but offered an extremely high cost-performance ratio.


    "I have always been strong in bursts, and now my ability to clean up the riffraff has also significantly improved," he mused.


    Tao Yu thought to himself, while also lifting his gaze to lock onto the direction of several containers.


    Those rusty containers themselves seemed to be makeshift rest areas and bathrooms within the warehouse, simply made out of containers for convenience.


    Now, they served as cover for thest four survivors.


    Themanding Wild Wolf Gang Leader, Gold Master, Wino, and another guy whose name was unknown before.


    Due to the high lethality of firearms and grenades, Tao Yu chose not to risk being counter-fired upon and instead prioritized targets based on who drew their guns first, rather than going for the strongest.


    Therefore, it was inevitable that these few quickest to react and move survived.


    "Who are you really? How much did the Skull Gang pay you? We are stronger in both finances and force; we could have given you more!" the Wolf King snarled from his hiding ce, roaring in impotent rage.


    His painstakingly gathered elite had been decimated overnight, nearly wiped out!


    Dealing with the Skull Gang for so many years, he knew they didn''t have such skilled individuals.


    This must have been external hired gunsbined with internal traitors working together!


    Facing these usations, Tao Yu simply smiled lightly. Then, using Qi-Blood to drive energy to his vocal cords, he spoke through the helmet in a husky voice,


    "Oh? You can offer more than the Skull Gang did? If you pay me now, I might consider sparing the four of you, and even returning the favor is not out of the question."


    The tone of Tao Yu''s voice made it impossible to discern his age or gender.


    Facing Tao Yu''s proposition, the Wolf King just sneered coldly,


    "Are you dreaming? I''ve overused that line myself. Besides a few greenhorns, who would actually pay up?"


    After forging such a deep enmity, he presumed, even if money was epted, it was certain to eradicate the root of the trouble!


    At that moment, Wino, also taking cover there, spoke with a gloomy expression,


    "Killing your way here solo, wiping out the core members of the Wild Wolf Gang with ease, such strength can''t belong to a nobody in Inner City. Are you ''Lone Gunman'' or ''Wilderness Hunter''?"


    "You guess?"


    Tao Yu didn''t know who those two were, probably notable titles like bounty hunters or partners.


    But obviously, he wasn''t going to reveal anything voluntarily.


    "Hmph, no matter who you are, what you''ve done is overstepping! Even if I''m out of favor now, attacking me is making an enemy of our family! Let''s end today''s incident here, and I can pretend it never happened!" Wino said, casting a nce at the Wolf King beside him.


    The Wolf King, with a grave expression, nodded and began to move stealthily towards the other side of the container, crouching in a silent stride.


    He also pulled a folded hood from his chest and slipped it on; it evidently offered some protection.


    Although he wouldn''t be fully armed during the celebration, as an old wolf, he would always have some precautions for emergencies!


    He never parted with his bulletproof vest, and the bulletproof hood was also kept ready just in case!


    In this dog-eat-dog world, purepromise was pointless!


    Initially caught off guard, it wasn''t that they had no chance of winning now!


    As the Wolf King was making his way towards the other side of the container, Wino signaled to Master Jin and another survivor behind another container to make some noise on the other side.


    They were all people who had licked the de''s edge, and although they were somewhat fearful of the heavy losses in the blink of an eye, they all set off towards the other side as well.


    Since they didn''t possess the Wolf King''s skills, they were soon noticed by Tao Yu, who turned his head to nce in that direction.


    It was in the instant that Tao Yu turned his head.


    A nimble silhouette violently burst forth, rapidly lunging from the opposite direction of Tao Yu''s turned head, while swiftly employing Snake Skin maneuvers and simultaneously raising his pistol to fire at Tao Yu!


    The Wolf King, having just burst out and seeing the direction of Tao Yu''s slight turn, curved the corners of his mouth into a smile. He had won!


    He had been through countless moments of turning the tables like this over the years.


    Having grown up in a garbage dump, he had scraped by until he turned eighteen, truly born in the lowest tier of the Outer City!


    By virtue of his talent, he had finally climbed to his current position after experiencing numerous critical moments!


    He possessed Grade A Agility!


    A whole set of skills tailored toplement his talent, in addition to the wealth umted over the years by the Wild Wolf Gang.


    Even in the Inner City, he could hold his ground firmly!


    It was only because he had no talent in mechanics or the mutant category, andcked the connections in the Inner City, that earning resources wasn''t as good as just staying here after all!


    Do they truly take me, the Wolf King, for a sick dog?


    The elite forces he had umted over the years were now almostpletely wiped out in a single day, and now, it was time to exact blood for blood!


    What Inner City bounty hunters, what partners, what ''Lone Gunman'', what ''Wilderness Hunter'', no matter who you are, you''re going to die!


    "Die!"


    The Wolf King seized the opportunity and immediately burst forth with all his strength!


    While harnessing his proud speed and reflexes, he closed in, shooting in the style of Guny.


    With dual pistols in hand and fluid, graceful movements intrinsic to the Wolf King himself, the sequence was indeed spectacrly smooth.


    However, no sooner had hee out and exchanged a few shots with Tao Yu.


    Suddenly, his head jerked back, a bloody hole appearing in his eye socket, blood spurting out.


    The next moment his entire head was riddled with follow-up bullets; his skull cap was lifted, held back only by his hood, and he copsed into a pool of blood.


    Tao Yu, who had merely nced at the Wolf King''s corpse, merely tilted his head casually, letting the bullet graze his helmet, leaving a scratch as it whizzed by.


    To Tao Yu, endowed with the three major Spirit Perception skills¡ªCrane Form - Modified, Warlord''s Sidearm, and Meditation Technique - Modified¡ªthe burst of malice that had suddenly erupted seemed ringly obvious.


    He naturally entered Bullet Time!


    While minutely adjusting the aim and firing back almost simultaneously, he also caught sight of the opponent''s muzzle direction and bullet trajectory.


    Although far from as fast as a bullet, easily capturing the trajectory and finding the best way to respond was not a problem.


    Not wanting to test the quality of his helmet, nor to bet on the opponent''s bullets, Tao Yu definitely preferred to dodge first as a sign of respect...


    Before Master Jin and the other survivor even showed themselves, the Wolf King had already bitten the dust and copsed, casting a sudden silence over the scene.


    The Wolf King?


    Is this all there is to it?!


    How did you even climb to the top?


    How did you die just like that?


    Died so easily?!


    Blind were our dog eyes!


    "Brother, I''m actually not from the Wild Wolf Gang, I''m out of this mess."


    After a moment of silence, Wino spoke out.


    He even quickly received agreement from Master Jin and the other survivor!


    "Yeah yeah yeah, nor am I, I''ve already left the Wild Wolf Gang."


    "From now on, the Wild Wolf Gang is no more; all their territory belongs to the Skull Gang!"


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 112: Chapter 102: The Pot

    Hearing the sounds that followed one after the other, Tao Yu also felt somewhat stunned at the bottom of his heart.


    But this was reality, and reality had always been so direct and cruel!


    "Since it hase to this, let it be then."


    As Tao Yu spoke, he also gradually retreated and hid in a corner.


    Even though Tao Yu had already made his statement, the three people behind him did not dare to show their faces; it was still Wino who swept a cold nce at the two men and said,


    "Go out and check. Otherwise, I''ll kill you first."


    This cold voice made Jin Shifu''s heart tighten, and together with another survivor, they stiffened their scalps and walked out.


    Stepping out cautiously, they found that the anticipated attack did not ur, which caught them happily off guard.


    "It''s safe now, Young Master Wino. Let''s hurry and leave."


    Seeing that the two people were unharmed, Wino also breathed a sigh of relief.


    Getting pulled into the mess between the Skull Gang and Wild Wolf Gang was really bad luck!


    Ever since the day he awoke, it had been an ill-fated year!


    Withckluster talent, he also encountered nothing but misfortune!


    Wino, who hailed from the Inner City, felt that he was involved by ident, and seeing the two key members unharmed, it seemed that the assassin indeed had achieved his goal.


    After all, the Gang Leader of the Wild Wolf Gang and the majority of the core members had died.


    There was no need to attack someone like him, a child of the Inner City, and provoke the wrath of his family.


    "It''s all about taking money to rid others of disasters; no one paid to take my life..."


    As Wino pondered this, maintaining his vignce, he left the hiding spot, tested the waters a few times, and upon realizing all was safe, suddenly elerated towards the gate.


    No matter what, it was best to leave quickly!


    But when he reached out to push the metal door, the ttering sound of chains outside made him pause in surprise.


    The metal doors had only budged slightly and be deformed, and through the gap, Wino could see outside there were chains wrapped around at least ten times.


    Had that guy previously locked the door from the outside?


    To prevent escape?


    No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than his scalp tingled and he suddenly threw himself backward.


    Da da~


    The sound of gunfire sounded, and several sprays of blood emerged from Wino''s body and legs.


    However, the soul-rending pain that followed caused Wino to let out two muffled grunts; even with his physique, he did not manage to roll over and get up immediately after falling to the ground.


    This satisfied Tao Yu, who tested the power of his shots.


    The purified mental power from "Meditation Technique - Modified" indeed had increased the power of the mental assault, especially now that the mental attack was doubly stacked.


    A few casual shots could incapacitate an Inner City child like him from getting up immediately.


    "Mental attack..."


    Wino swayed as he propped himself up from the ground, emitting a hoarse voice, his face a mask of misery.


    "Senior partner, ''Lethal Bullet''..."


    Hearing the other party''s words, Tao Yu also had a face full of confusion; it must refer to someone capable of imbuing bullets with a mental attack.


    But as a senior partner, he certainly was among the top echelon in the Inner City. Tao Yu realized he still fell shortpared to such individuals. However, if their styles were simr, it seemed like he could have found a future scapegoat...


    Wino''s words also caused the trembling Jin Shifu and the other survivor beside him to drastically change color.


    A senior partner?


    What have we done to deserve the intervention of such a top entity from the Inner City?


    "You know too much."


    Da da da~


    Having tested the power of the mental attack, Tao Yu quickly finished off Wino with a few shots, and bullets instantaneously prated Wino''s eye sockets.


    However, his skull, altered by his alien form, was much harder than the Wolf King''s. A few shots failed to significantly alter its shape.


    Even though normal bullets without armor-piercing capabilities should have been able to withstand a few hits against his skull, the thought of it intrigued Tao Yu.


    He just happened to want to make another zombie, and this guy had a good physique.


    Although it needed to remain hidden from the light, modifying its appearance and keeping it concealed in the shadows could be useful for Cao Shaolin''s daily activities...


    "We don''t know anything! We didn''t hear anything!"


    Jin Shifu, over one point nine meters tall, now looked like a small wife as he turned and shot hisstpanion, falling to his knees with a thud,


    "My lord, I''m willing to be a workhorse..."


    "Then give me your Yuan Force," said Tao Yu, looking at Jin Shifu''s adaptable demeanor, and blurted out.


    This caused Jin Shifu''s expression to freeze, before turning bitter.


    "If you don''t want to give it, never mind then, but still say thank you."


    Tao Yu couldn''t be bothered to wait any longer and raised the muzzle of his gun.


    And at that sight, Jin Shifu''s eyes widened.


    Wait a minute, the voice at the end didn''t seem to change anymore, it sounded familiar?


    Why thank me¡­


    Bang~


    As the bullet pierced his brain, Master Jin''sst bit of consciousness seemed to grasp a sudden enlightenment, the big boy whoughed and thanked him when delivering goods during the day.


    So it was I who told him Wino was here¡­


    So his target was originally Wino¡­


    So the Wild Wolf Gang was just incidental¡­


    The Gang Leader is confused¡­


    ¡­


    Skull Gang''s home base.


    The Gang Leader of the Skull Gang, Old Skull, watched his stripped subordinates'' corpses, his face also filled with angry expression.


    "That damned kid is going too far!"


    "Gang Leader, endure it! The Inner City people are helping him now."


    "Hmph, sooner orter, they will pay with their blood!"


    To prevent his brothers from losing heart, Old Skull still showed great anger on the surface, then stormed back to his residence and shut the door¡­


    ¡­


    "Tsk! A pauper! How can he be so poor?"


    After setting the whole Wild Wolf Gang''s home base aze with their own bonfire and gasoline, Tao Yu brought Wino''s body and a bit of loot to the vicinity of the garbage mountain.


    Because he was worried that Wino might have some self-destructive abilities, Tao Yu let Cao Shaoline out from the shadows to test.


    But in the end, he found that this Inner City young master''s worth wasn''t even as high as that of the Gang Leader of the Wild Wolf Gang!


    The most valuable thing on his body was a Frenzy Potion that could absorb a thousand units of Yuan Force.


    The potion was restricted for use by those with alien body grafts, it could greatly increase vitality, strength, agility, defense, and body size, but the side effect was a reduction in rationality.


    This reminded Tao Yu of the way Wino looked when hest faced the alien.


    "I have Mental Immunity. If it wasn''t for the fact that my body couldn''t take it without alien grafts, I could actually keep it¡­"


    Tao Yu felt slightly regretful, but safety first, he decided to absorb it as Yuan Force anyway.


    As for the Gang Leader of the Wild Wolf Gang, he had various small but useful Yuan Force items on him.


    There were two pairs of wrist and knee guards, identical to those owned by the rich lizard women; the set had broken before, and now it was a good recement.


    There was also a badge that could conceal one''s scent.


    Though it was nowhere near as good as his own Shadow Evasion, when using only his two passive concealment skills, it was still somewhat useful.


    For now, he used the badge on Wino''s hidden body.


    Although Tao Yu wanted to use Wino''s body for Corpse Refinement, it was clearly not something he would hide at home before taking it away, the risk was too great.


    He woulde back at night to retrieve it.


    The rest of the odds and ends were directly absorbed as Yuan Force; all in all, it highlighted the poverty of the gang members, adding Wino''s potion for a total of about three thousand Yuan Force.


    "Well, better than nothing, at least the employer is dead, no need to waste time saving him."


    Compared to these trifles, Wino had already provided some decent things previously.


    Overall, it was quite a good deal¡­


    ¡­


    After afortable rest for thetter half of the night, Tao Yu woke up early in the morning to the sound of chaos outside.


    He faintly heard something like ''Wild Wolf Gang is finished.''


    In an era wheremunication outside the city was all done by shouting, it was already pretty good for the news to have spread so quickly.


    It must be because the case was too severe.


    After washing up and stepping out of his house, Tao Yu could see the ck smoke in the direction of the Wild Wolf Gang''s location hadn''t yet dissipated. It had burned all night; indeed, a persistent ze.


    "Brother! Something happened to the Wild Wolf Gang! I heard they were annihted by the Skull Gang!"


    Tao Shi, who was already at the farm, hurried over to share the rumor he had heard when he saw Tao Yue out.


    "What are you fussing about? Which rumors have you been listening to now?"


    Tao Yu yfully smacked his brother on the head.


    "It''s true! I just saw Uncle Hu rushing over there with a bunch of people."


    Tao Shi protested.


    "With everything being so chaotic recently, you should go out less and help out more with the farm. Or practice some skills more. In less than two years, you''ll have to awaken too."


    Tao Yu took the opportunity to lecture his brother a bit.


    "Oh, but it''s really a bit chaotic. The Wild Wolf Gang was wiped out just like that. Looks like Uncle Hu will be busy again soon."


    Tao Shi seemed to really n on staying low key for a while.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu had been nning to find time to visit Uncle Hu, but it seemed that would have to wait for now; he decided to head to the dojo to train and to stock up on some Qi Replenishing Pills.


    The dojo master had said he would announce his identity as the true disciple; he wondered if Sun Shiqing, that young master, had returned yet...

 Chapter 113: Chapter 103: Status

    "The security team is ultimately still the strongest armed force in the Outer City¡­"


    Tao Yu walked on the street, watching as the vehicles of the security team sped by.


    The jeeps equipped with machine guns raced through the muddy roads, each one carrying fully armed members.


    Moreover, the spirit and energy of every member of the security team were quite outstanding, with an average level not weaker than the core members of the Wild Wolf Gang. In terms of numbers, they were at an overwhelming level.


    This average quality, paired with excellent equipment and systematic cooperative training.


    In front of the security team, those Outer City gangs indeed didn''t stand a chance.


    "No exchange of fire?"


    When Tao Yu arrived at the Hound Fortress, he had already seen some members of the security team escorting members of the Skull Gang away.


    There was some chaos but absolutely no fighting or gunshots.


    The members of the Skull Gang looked to be dressed normally; there seemed to be no struggle at all between the two sides.


    But these were not Tao Yu''s concerns anymore.


    This time the security team was clearly serious. Themotion was big.


    It might even be more than just the security team from the South City that was in action.


    The other residents from the Outer City were mostly discussing the matter too, with vivid descriptions.


    From the schadenfreude visible in the eyes of many people, it seemed that whether it was the Wild Wolf Gang or the Skull Gang, they were quite despised by themon people in the Outer City.


    It''s just that they usually dared not speak their anger.


    Speaking of disrespect toward local gangs, Tao Yu had firsthand experience. He had previously been swindled byckeys of the Skull Gang, gaining nothing.


    The Wild Wolf Gang was also desperately poor.


    Tao Yu even heard the name of the Chaoyang Society; some people hoped that the Chaoyang Society could take over the territories of the two gangs.


    "Whether it''s the Wild Wolf Gang or the Skull Gang, their leaders are actually from the grassroots of the Outer City, but after they gained power, they turned around and lorded over the people of the Outer City..."


    Tao Yu could now enter the Hound Fortress by facial recognition; the guards hade to recognize this young ''partner.''


    "Did anyone from our Hound Fortress get caught?"


    Tao Yu casually asked a guard he recognized.


    "Yes, some of the people from the Wild Wolf Gang in the casino were taken away, but probably there''s no rtion. They''re just survivors."


    The guard said offhandedly.


    Another guard by his side added,


    "Hey, with the Wild Wolf Gang gone, it''s uncertain who can step up. The Skull Gang''s in bad shape too."


    "Exactly, this fighting and killing always leads to us at the bottom suffering. It''s a pain in the ass."


    The two guards seemed numb to the turmoil, yet they were also somewhatining.


    With each changeover of gangs, there was always a period of chaos; it was the norm in the Outer City!


    After thanking them, Tao Yu continued on to the dojo.


    At this moment, he suddenly heard a familiar whooshing sound from the sky. Looking up, he saw Sun Shiyu riding a hovering motorbike descending from above.


    Tao Yu was quite surprised; wasn''t it Sun Shiqing, that kid, who was supposed toe back?


    "Huh? What a coincidence."


    Sun Shiyu also noticed Tao Yu''s gaze and raised an eyebrow.


    Then she directly let go of the motorbike and leaped down, her graceful figure slowlynding in front of Tao Yu.


    "How''s it going, have you gotten the hang of the Meditation Technique yet?"


    "Getting the feel for it, just a bit more,"


    Tao Yu looked at Sun Shiyu''s pretty face, his gaze beginning to unconsciously drift downwards, but he quickly steadied himself.


    "Not yet mastered it?"


    Sun Shiyu frowned slightly.


    "If you have any problems, you can ask me. Let me start by exining the Breathing Technique."


    As she spoke, she also nced in the direction outside the fortress several times.


    "Is the Outer City always this chaotic?"


    Hearing this, Tao Yu felt that the big-shot from Floating City was a bit ''out of touch with the worldly affairs.''


    "Not always, just when there''s a gang fight."


    Tao Yu took the initiative to lead the way in front, passing the registration desk she nodded at Yi Wei.


    The brother in charge of the registration desk quickly stood up when he saw Tao Yu and Sun Shiyu, his facial expression a bit restrained.


    He had just witnessed Sun Shiyu descending from the sky on a jet ski!


    She hade down from Floating City!


    Although Sun Shiyu was very pretty, especially in her tight battle suit which made her figure even more eye-catching, he did not dare to look too intently and trembled with his head lowered.


    Not just him, but everyone nearby, whether they were registering or were students, had the same attitude.


    This was the normal posture for Outsiders upon encountering big shots.


    This reminded Tao Yu of the assessment she once received from that kid, Sun Shiqing.


    Well, perhaps her own mindset really was a bit different from theirs...


    "I apologize for noting out to meet you," said the approaching Dojo Master Liu Yi, his face also filled with surprise and uncertainty, likely sensing the breaking sound of the jet ski earlier.


    He had indeed grasped the implication in Tao Yu''s previous words, thinking she might let him pass on the Breathing Technique.


    But he had never imagined that a greeting would result in the young Missing in person!


    What an honor it was!


    Master Liu Yi held some influence in the South City and vaguely knew of her high status, someone not to be taken lightly even in Floating City.


    "I just came by to take a look, you can teach him the apanying skills together with the Breathing Technique", Sun Shiyu said, without giving Liu Yi a second nce her indifferent to his enthusiastic attitude, stating her purpose straightforwardly.


    "I would be more than happy. Tao Yu is highly talented; it is an honor for our dojo."


    "Hmm, your dojo can take priority in settling ounts," replied Sun Shiyu, not forcing Wanliu Dojo into anything, indirectly bringing benefits to them with her visit.


    Previously, the free and discounted skills for the new Development Zone were split between the dojo and thepany.


    But the rising numbers were, in fact, more beneficial to the dojo, as the cost of passing on skills wasn''t high and it helped increase sales of Qi-tonic Soup, Qi Replenishing Pills, and ointments.


    The issue was that thepany would settle ounts periodically and might encounter troublesome hitches, potentially having to grease the wheels only to be bled dry afterward.


    Now with Sun Shiyu''s personal visit and promise, it was a huge help to Wanliu Dojo.


    Tao Yu stood by, once again feeling impressed by this youngss''s capabilities.


    Perhaps it was ack of understanding of worldly sufferings, but the training they had received since childhood wasprehensive¡­


    ...


    In the end, under Sun Shiyu''s witness, Tao Yu became a True Disciple of Wanliu Dojo, and Liu Yi took him as a direct disciple, making him Liu Yi''s junior brother!


    He became part of the highest generational level in the dojo today.


    However, both Tao Yu and Liu Yi knew that it was just a title, with no real position or authority in the dojo.


    Qi Replenishing Pills and the like would still have to be bought with his own money.


    Even so, Tao Yu remained almost legendary among the dojo''s students.


    Especially for Smith and the others who had started at the dojo with Tao Yu, it was as if they were living in a dream!


    In such a short time, such an earth-shaking change had urred.


    Seeing Sun Shiyu, who seemed utterly bored as the witness beside Tao Yu, everyone felt a deep reverence.


    It seemed as if all this was to be expected, as if it were perfectly reasonable...


    "I am leaving now. I''ll be here for five days. Here''s a signal card for you. You can leave me a message if there''s a problem, and I''ll reply when I''m free," said Sun Shiyu, waving at Tao Yu as she leaped onto the automatically returning jet ski, then soared up, leaving as cleanly and decisively as she had arrived.


    Tao Yu was holding a chip resembling a mobile phone card, which he could insert into his own watch for use within Starshine City.


    Although Tao Yu wasn''t very familiar with signal technology, he knew that when he was about to embark on ''darker'' tasks, he''d probably have to remove that card¡­


    "Haha, Junior brother, you really have an unlimited future," remarked Liu Yi, who was standing nearby, his expression somewhatplicated.


    "Not really. I still look forward to Senior brother''s guidance," Tao Yu responded.


    Master Liu Yi had been optimistic about Tao Yu before, and now, he felt they couldmunicate as equals, an impressive feat achieved in just two months.


    The gap made by the hand of a benefactor was indeed huge...

 Chapter 114 : 104: Myriad Streams Breathing Technique

    ```


    "It''s no surprise hepleted ''Five Forms as One'' so quickly, I didn''t expect him to grasp the basics this fast..."


    Sitting cross-legged in front of Tao Yu, Liu Yi, whose body was drenched in sweat and steaming, showed a look of emotion on his face.


    "Not at all, it''s because my senior brother was willing to put in great effort to guide me. Otherwise, with just the method alone, I wasn''t sure if I could grasp it even in several months."


    Tao Yu sincerely expressed his gratitude.


    The ''Myriad Streams Breathing Method'' was a closely guarded secret of Wanliu Dojo, a power derived from a fragment of an old world in the Development Zone, which had already begun to touch upon transcendental levels of power!


    But for this very reason, beginning the Myriad Streams Breathing Method was extremely difficult, not just requiring ''Five Forms as One'' to hold Qi-Blood as a base, mastering it in a short time wasn''t possible by relying on secret techniques or oral instruction alone.


    However, with Liu Yi personally guiding with his energy, it was somewhat simr to how Sun Shiyu''s ''Meditation Technique'' used Visualization Diagrams to transmit, greatly elerating the process, and Tao Yu managed to grasp the knack in just one go.


    Looking at Liu Yi, steaming with heat, it was clear that such guidance also ced a great burden on him, and Tao Yu could vaguely sense that Liu Yi was a bit drained, and his abilities might be slightly diminished for a short while.


    "Haha, it''s nothing. Just remember to replenish your nutrition when elerating with Yuan Forceter, the Qi-tonic Soup is quite good, and it should be enough whenbined with the ''Swallowing Essence Skill''."


    "Of course, I''ll still need to bother my senior brother when I''m free."


    "Not at all, I would ask for nothing more."


    Having learned the skill, Tao Yu exchanged pleasantries with Liu Yi for a while and then excused himself on the pretext of familiarizing himself with the Breathing Technique.


    The greatly fatigued Liu Yi did not see him off, but watched Tao Yu''s departing figure and sighed softly.


    Young people truly have endless potential.


    Who could have imagined such a rapid rise when they first met?


    "I wonder where he ns to take root in the future. If he continues to stay in the Outer City, he may have the opportunity to change its structure."


    Liu Yi also had the ability to enter the Inner City, but like the Gang Leader of the Wild Wolf Gang, he earned a more stable ie in the Outer City, so he didn''t consider moving to the Inner City.


    "Having made a name for himself in the new Development Zone, he''s likely to choose the more stable environment of the Inner City..."


    Liu Yi thought to himself and also closed his eyes to begin recovering.


    He had no strong foundation in the old gathering ce and usually went there every five days to arrange some procurement matters, focusing most of his energy on the present world.


    If one''s main focus was the Development Zone, then the Inner City offered a morefortable environment...


    ...


    After leaving Liu Yi''s wooden house, Tao Yu also began to concentrate on the newly acquired skill.


    ''Myriad Streams Breathing Method'': Integrates Qi-Blood to foster energy, uses energy to defeat enemies, and also hammers the internal organs to increase a certain physical limit. As the level of the Breathing Method increases, the physical limit can be further enhanced.


    Indeed, it had already touched upon the transcendental. Although Tao Yu had prematurely integrated energy using ''Five Forms as One'' and Deification, he was still looking forward to the ''Myriad Streams Breathing Method,'' having felt the power of ''Meditation Technique''.


    "It''s another ability that allows for an increase in the physical limit as the skill level goes up. Combined with the Basic Breathing Technique of second Deification and the Yuan Force on my body, it''s really something to digest thoroughly."


    Tao Yu let out a breath, looked at the 1,500 points of Yuan Force consumed, went to the canteen to get several bowls of Qi-tonic Soup to drink in advance, and then found a corner to choose Deification.


    Gurgle gurgle~


    Sounds seemed toe from the marrow of his bones. Tao Yu could almost hear the flow of sma within his body.


    A sensation of soreness followed by tingling swept over him continuously.


    Then came a sensation of relief as if after a massage.


    ''Myriad Streams Breathing Method - Modified'': Allows for stacking of energy, using this energy to cleanse marrow and renew blood, greatly increasing the body''s physical limit...


    Feeling the strength after the Deification, Tao Yu also felt a sense of joy in his heart.


    The Basic Breathing Technique, with its second Deification, had provided an additional boost to the internal organs. He already felt somethingpletely different.


    The internal organs were like engines of the body¡ªevery use of the Basic Breathing Technique was an optimization. Although he hadn''t exhausted his potential, Tao Yu could feel his physique improving.


    Previously, his sheer power might have been less than Little ck''s, but before he returned, he had managed to draw even, and his recovery rate, endurance limits, and so on had improved noticeably.


    This time, the Myriad Streams Breathing Method underwent its first Deification. The consumption was only one-twentieth of the second Deification of the Basic Breathing Technique, but the effects felt almost as strong!


    Even though the speed of cleansing the marrow and renewing the blood was not as fast as the Basic Breathing Technique enhanced the internal organs, it was still an additional transformation of the body, stepping him ever closer to the transcendental path!


    Moreover, the Myriad Streams Breathing Method could be stacked with the Basic Breathing Technique to receive its enhancements!


    Just as Sun Shiqing had said before.


    "The level of the initial skills is very important, as the cost-effectiveness is the strongest during the first Deification. When undergoing marrow cleansing and blood renewal, one can also consume a small amount of metal to strengthen the bones, which is truly quite good."


    ```


    The continuous improvement in the upper limit of physical qualities allowed Tao Yu to enter a burst phase in the short term, and the training effects of Yuan Force could be maximized.


    "However, the consumption is indeedrge. If it were not for the Deification of the Swallowing Essence Skill, I''m afraid I couldn''t maintain normal cultivation just by ordinary meat. If I want to ensure the eleration of Yuan Force, I really need to rely on Qi-tonic Soup, and the consumption will greatly increase..."


    When he slowly tried it using the Breathing Technique to stimte his vigor, the speed at which it consumed Qi-Blood also made Tao Yu click his tongue in wonder.


    This is the only downside of the Deification skill, the consumption is too great...


    "Qi-tonic Soup is made from the blood and flesh of Yuan Force creatures farmed in the old Development Zone, cooked ording to a specific ratio. I need to find a stable channel for it..."


    The new Development Zone is also ready to start the ''farming industry''.


    But when ites to farming Aliens, their flesh and blood are indeedplicated.


    However, taking advantage of the cost-effective Qi-tonic Soup here, Tao Yu didn''t waste time and just continued training and replenishing here without going back at night...


    ...


    Bang~


    A brick was crushed in Tao Yu''s hand, and feeling that surge of power, he also started to contemte.


    "Vigor stacking has less potential in the long runpared to Spirit Refinement, but for short-term bursts, it might even be better!"


    Spirit Refinement can continuously polish the spirit with thoughts. Although the effect will diminish over time, it flows steadily and has a much higher limit.


    On the other hand, vigor, borne from Qi-Blood, doesn''t have an issue with purity. It''s not Inner Strength; what matters is how much Qi-Blood it can stimte.


    However, by stacking vigor, one''s original vigor can be doubled or tripled!


    Tao Yu could now stimte five different kinds of vigor to burst forth simultaneously with the Myriad Streams Five Forms, greatly increasing his close-range destructive power.


    "Before, even when I exerted all my strength, I could barely crack Little ck''s exoskeleton after many physical attacks, and that was only bybining it with Fist Intention."


    Tao Yu looked at his fist, acknowledging that Aliens were indeed battle weapons and beating them with bare hands was exhausting.


    "Now, I should be able to kill it with one punch."


    Three days!


    This was merely the result of Tao Yu practicing for three days.


    In those three days, Tao Yu poured Yuan Force into strengthening Meditation Technique - Modified, Myriad Streams Breathing Method - Modified, Basic Breathing Technique - Modified Second Edition, Five Forms as One, and Myriad Streams Five Forms.


    Because he often practiced multiple skills at the same time, he poured in constant Yuan Force on top of buying Qi-tonic Soup, consuming tens of thousands of Yuan Force in just three days!


    "Ah, the new Development Zone probably doesn''t have sufficient nutrients to sustain such high intensity. The Dojo Master has been giving me strange looks these days."


    Tao Yu sighed. However, due to Sun Shiyu''s influence, no one else knew how many skills he had or how much Yuan Force he was spending on eleration, so it didn''t really matter.


    "Combined with the talent boost from Fist Intention, these three days made me feel the window period effect I had when I first entered the Abyss. But afterwards, I doubt I''ll progress as quickly. Yet I can''t afford to keep consuming Yuan Force at such a high rate."


    Tao Yu stretched his body, cracking sounds emanating from him.


    Although he hadn''t reached the point of diminishing returns, the window period of the drastically increased upper limits from the two Breathing Techniques was over. Now, it was time for steady progress, polishing slowly with a higher cost-effectiveness of Yuan Force consumption.


    Until he approached the upper limit again and entered diminishing returns.


    "I hope that after over a month of Corpse Refinement back home, I can fully tap into my current potential. I have enough Yuan Force..."


    Tao Yu pondered. If he saved his Yuan Force, he should also have enough for a second Deification of Bullet Time, but that would leave him too stretched, too extreme.


    Moreover,paring the second Deification of the Basic Breathing Technique with the first Deification of the Myriad Streams Breathing Method, the cost-effectiveness of the first Deification is indeed much better.


    "Ah, it alwayses down to not having enough money. I need to figure out how to make some..."


    Then, Tao Yu''s gaze fell on his wristwatch.


    The little rich girl would be two dayster than him getting back, and definitely leavingter than him as well.


    During these days, when Tao Yu rested and drank Qi-tonic Soup, he would send her messages, asking about the Meditation Technique.


    The little rich girl also asionally took the time to reply to him.


    Because he had Deified the Meditation Technique, although his level was nowhere near that of the little rich girl, Tao Yu had a broad perspective on the subject. In fact, he was using this to fish, aiming to slowly change the one-sided advice into a mutual discussion.


    So far, it seemed to be working well, with the frequency of replies from the little rich girl increasing, and she was even starting to send messages on her own initiative.


    This brought a slight smile to Tao Yu''s lips as he looked at the new message and chose not to reply.


    Fawning and being too eager are no good; sometimes one has to y it cool.


    "I wonder how Uncle Hu is doing. It''s time to go see him, to deliver the motorcycle..."

 Chapter 115 : 105: Re-enter

    ```


    "Wow, this bike is really handsome."


    Uncle Hu couldn''t take his hands off the heavy-duty motorcycle in front of him, his smile never ceased.


    "In our world, there are plenty of these little toys. Uncle Hu, you can get gasoline, right?"


    Seeing Uncle Hu so happy, Tao Yu smiled as well.


    "Haha, no problem, it''s definitely enough for daily use. The old gathering ce has oil-producing areas."


    Uncle Hu said with a beaming expression.


    Oil, the blood of industry, many Outsiders choose to bring some back after working in the Abyss.


    Although the output is limited and the price is a bit high, Uncle Hu could still afford the fuel consumption of a motorcycle.


    "To be honest, I''ve had my eye on this thing for a while. The price is one thing, but it''s mainly too big and not suitable for my build."


    Uncle Hu, with his short and stout figure, found it difficult to handle such a heavy bike.


    The punk-style bikes from Inner City were truly not rideable for him - his feet couldn''t even reach the ground.


    He estimated that he would have to ride in a butt-forward position, but fortunately, he was strong enough to keep it steady.


    "As long as you like it."


    Uncle Hu had helped Tao Yu a lot. Naturally, he wouldn''t skimp on some small things brought back on the side.


    Even setting aside the fact that Uncle Hu was South City''s deputy leader, he had investment value. Thebination of interests + family ties was the most solid.


    No matter what, his whole family still lived here, and having Uncle Hu look out for them made a big difference.


    "I wanted to deliver it a couple of days earlier, but with the gang fights recently, I figured you were too busy."


    Tao Yu then took the opportunity to ask about the Wild Wolf Gang.


    "Man, don''t even start, I haven''t closed my eyes for a few days, but it''s pretty much settled. I can finally get some rest."


    Uncle Hu caressed the motorcycle while talking, almost as if he wasining.


    This made Tao Yu pause, then he asked,


    "It''s settled?"


    "Yeah, the Skull Gang did it, isn''t it obvious?"


    Uncle Hu pulled out a homemade roll-up and lit it. ''Joy'', that sort of thing, was mostly untouched by the security forces - he had seen too many cases. It was never as morous as portrayed in the propaganda.


    "Right, the Skull Gang."


    Tao Yu nodded.


    "But that old Skull is really tough. It took three days and drugs before he finally cracked. He was a real man."


    Uncle Hu blew a smoke ring, his expression tinged with a hint of sentiment.


    This made Tao Yu''s mouth twitch involuntarily.


    However, since he was already using something from the Skull Gang, and the Skull Gang itself was detested by everyone, there was nothing to feel guilty about.


    It''s about exterminating a menace, understand...


    ...


    In the evening, as the sky grew dark, Tao Yu also returned home.


    His parents hadn''t returned yet; they normally only had five days off per month and rarely swapped shifts except on special asions.


    Recently, probably due to the gang fights, his brother Tao Shi had been staying at home obediently.


    When Tao Yu got home, his family was waiting for him to have dinner.


    "You could have started eating without me. Why wait? I''ve been staying at the dojo these days."


    The third brother, sitting in his wheelchair, spoke meticulously upon seeing Tao Yu,


    "You''re going back to the Abyss, we definitely had to wait for you. After all, the new Development Zone is different from the old gathering ce, and this time you''re going away for so long."


    "Yeah, Tao Yu, if you feel out of sorts, make sure youe back ahead of time."


    Tao Shi also reiterated his advice.


    Meanwhile, the sister-inw went to serve two steamed dishes that had been kept warm, and the family solemnly finished their dinner.


    "Don''t worry. I know what I''m doing. It''s okay if I don''tplete the mission, safetyes first."


    Finally, after dinner, Tao Yu reassured everyone, then slipped a thousand units of Wish-Power Metal to his third brother.


    "Brother, you take this first. Your little brother is earning quite fast now, this is to help with the family expenses."


    ```


    Earning a thousand Yuan Force is still quite fast for Tao Yu now, but for his family, it could significantly improve their livelihood.


    Even though Tao Yu had considered the possibility that giving more would not be epted, witnessing Tao Tong''s change in expression when a thousand was offered was still striking.


    "Kid, it''s not your turn to provide for the family yet. It''s only right to bring gifts to Uncle Hu, but we don''t talk about these things amongst ourselves. Your main duty is to grow up quickly. I won''t ept it. We wouldn''t use it even if you gave it to us; we''ll save it for you."


    With just a few words, Tao Tongpletely cornered Tao Yu, leaving him somewhat speechless.


    However, after hesitating for a bit, he still took it back and said solemnly,


    "Fine, next time Ie back, I''ll show you, Third Brother, what your little brother is capable of."


    In two days, the little richdy will bring the connection terminal to the new gathering ce toplete thepany''s registration.


    By the time he returns, he''ll be able to show them how capable he is at making money through shares in his transportationpany.


    That kind of earning ability indeed requires some overt strength to suppress, otherwise, it might attract other new troubles.


    It''s true that having the support of the Suns is a plus, but it''s easy to see Yama and hard to deal with the demons; he can''t bother them with every trivial matter. Most issues still need to be resolved by his own strength.


    Their rtionship only serves as a background adjustment, filling in some of the innate deficiencies of an Outsider...


    ...


    "The idea you mentioned is quite interesting, but the operation is difficult. After the Visualization Diagram suppresses the thoughts, reaching level 6 proficiency is the minimum requirement for free control..."


    "Are you there? How do you think we should deal with the mental strain and pain from grinding it out? Over time, this might leave hidden mental scars. I''d appreciate if you could share some suggestions for reference."


    "Have you returned to the Abyss?"


    "..."


    Tao Yu looked at Sun Shiyu''s unread voice messages and couldn''t help but smile, then he replied.


    He first shared some ''guesses'' based on the unique perspective he gained after his Deification Meditation Technique, and then he added,


    "My apologies, Miss Sun, I n to head back today, so I had some matters to deal with. I am about to start my meditation, see you in the Abyss."


    After sending the message, Tao Yu pulled out themunication card, then turned into a shadow and slid out of the room. Once he regained his size, he quickly headed to the burial site under the cover of night...


    ...


    Zombie 01 shards,te at night, zombie''s howls asionally rose on the streets, coupled with the whistling of the wind through the windows, the atmosphere turned quite eerie.


    With a flicker of mosaic-like imagery, Tao Yu, carrying a corpse, reappeared in the room he had left earlier.


    Just returned, Tao Yu heard the growl of an Alien beside him and felt the faint sense of connection with his mount resurface in his heart.


    He could sense that Little ck beside him was filled with an irritable and savage mood.


    "Be quiet. You can''t eat this one."


    Tao Yu red at Little ck, whom he hadn''t seen for five days, and nced at the night that had deepened into the wee hours.


    Howl, howl, howl~


    Although Little ck was quite restless, ity down begrudgingly on the ground after hearing Tao Yu''s reprimand, asionally swishing its tail.


    Seeing that the creature was still behaving, Tao Yu, who had wanted to take the opportunity to discipline it and test the strength he gained from the Myriad Streams Breathing Method, found himself unable toy a hand on it.


    He still petted Little ck anyway, soothing it once, which made the creature that hadn''t been pampered for five daysfortably roll over andzily sprawl on the ground.


    "Five days isn''t a big issue, but it''s starting to show some restlessness. I estimate another five days might pose a risk of losing control. After all, a beast is still a beast."


    Tao Yu felt a bit regretful.


    However, as the Taming time increased, the period until losing control could be extended. Moreover, the refined spirit from the Meditation Technique seemed to enhance the soothing effect as well.


    It''s just that it''s not convenient to expand the number of Aliens too much, which was a bit of a pity.


    "When it''s time for Corpse Refinement, and all the body''s potential is digested, I wonder if I could attempt to capture an Alien Queen, and then control the Alien swarm through her..."


    Tao Yu pondered. With the sess of the transportationpany in mind, Tao Yu had also discovered that earning Yuan Force was actually faster in some traditional industries than by fighting monsters.


    If he could capture an Alien Queen, there was indeed another potential source of ie.


    "But therMeditationhas been a Rebel Whelp that killed an Alien Queen. If you don''t control Aliens directly, indirect control still carries a risk of losing control. It''s worth a try, but I shouldn''t waste too much effort and get my priorities mixed up."


    His goal is to be stronger!


    Not to be a big transport squadron leader and breeder...


    Standing by the window and looking at the moonlit sky, Tao Yu leaped out with Wino''s corpse and headed towards the site of corpse cultivation.


    Little ck followed closely with a leap.


    There''s no time like the present to start Corpses refinement¡ªbeginning now...

 Chapter 116: Chapter 106: Competition

    "One and a half months, still gotta livefortably, don''t shortchange yourself."


    Tao Yu drove a military green RV that looked like a truck to a park nearby, then he slowly brought the vehicle to a stop and pulled the handbrake.


    "Aside from knowing it''s a Mercedes brand, I have no idea what it is. Does Mercedes make RVs? I really can''t figure it out..."


    Las Vegas is a world-famous entertainment capital, and their RVs are also quite nice.


    Tao Yu took a fancy to this one at first sight, even going as far as clearing the zombies around it to find the keys and an ess card.


    At four meters high, two or three meters wide, and over ten meters long, its entire structure resembled that of a truck.


    After starting it, Tao Yu also discovered that this thing had very powerful horsepower, eight-wheel drive, and great off-road capabilities; it could probably run through the Gobi Desert without an issue, a truly nice ride for this post-apocalyptic world.


    The RV''s interior was luxurious, with a dining room, a bathroom with wet and dry areas, a kitchen, and even a bedroom. It was even divided into two floors, with the upper floor dedicated to a tatami resting area. The roof came equipped with sr panels for charging.


    The two floorsbined to offer an area of over forty square meters; not to mention a single person staying there, even several people would find it more than spacious enough.


    The rear could also hold an off-road motorcycle and spare tires.


    Furthermore, both water tanks and the fuel tank had arge storage capacity, and there was a water filter inside. The vehicle''s weight of over twenty tons felt solid, almost indistinguishable from military grade.


    "The ss seems to be bulletproof too. Probably no one had their eye on it before either because of the zombies nearby or because they couldn''t get in. From now on, when crossing the world for exploration, I can drive this..."


    After parking the RV and giving the interior a thorough check, Tao Yu found numerous pleasant surprises. However, it was quite wasteful for one person to upy such arge space, so the surplus areas could be used to store supplies¡ªthe more, the better.


    After getting out of the vehicle, Tao Yu set his sights on Little ck and then pointed towards a shopping center.


    "Bring back more food, mainly canned goods. Grab some toiletries, too."


    Once Little ck dashed off in that direction, Tao Yu returned to the sinister plot of ck soil and began to irrigate it with blood.


    "This piece ofnd is actually perfect for raising zombies. I don''t need to feed them with my own blood, but since I''ve started and spent so much time on it, I might as well do it right..."


    The bodies of Cao Shaolin and Winoy quietly beneath the ck soil.


    Wino''s body had even been smeared with Little ck''s blood around the head.


    Anyhow, after the corrosion, it was the kind that would give ordinary people nightmares just by ncing at it. They''d be unrecognizable by his own mother once dressed up and considering the natural changes in a zombie''s physique.


    "But, Wino should mainly stay in the shadows; Cao Shaolin can be used to move around outside."


    Recognizable or not, Tao Yu decided to be safe just in case.


    After finishing up, he slightly sped up his process, practicing the Myriad Streams Five Forms and simultaneously activating the Myriad Streams Breathing Technique to refine his bone marrow, the Basic Breathing Method to strengthen his viscera, and the Meditation Technique to continue honing his mental power!


    "The Meditation Technique is really powerful. If it wasn''t for having subdued my thoughts and purified them once, I probably wouldn''t be able to do this simultaneously."


    Tao Yu even had some leftover mental capacity to think, feeling the changes in his body, lest he neglect any part and miss a chance for corrective actions.


    Although his movements seemed slow, practicing the Myriad Streams Five Forms was simr to practicing Tai Chi.


    But each movement of Tao Yu''s body seemed to make corresponding muscles twitch, and when he assumed a posture of drawing a bow, his body resonated with the sound of bowstrings, as though a little mouse was crawling all over him.


    The initial sour numbness in the bone marrow was ufortable, but it turned into a pleasant soreness afterwards.


    He could even feel the smell of blood between his organs, and every breath he took was a fortifying one, gradually starting to exhale white vapor.


    "Everything is good, it''s just too expensive regarding the Yuan Force, and if I speed up too much, regr food hardly suffices..."


    But afterpleting a set, Tao Yu stopped, then began eating some of the food he had collected while finding the RV.


    With the "Swallow Essence Technique - Modified," Tao Yu''s digestion and absorption speed could definitely be said to be quite fast.


    Without much eleration, the "Swallow Essence Technique - Modified" is already at level 3 now.


    But even so, facing the elerated rate of multiple consumptions, Tao Yu could only slow down the rate of eleration a bit. Fortunately, they had passed the outbreak window and were now in a stable period, so it wouldn''t affect things too much.


    "Hey, I wonder if there''s some kind of delicacy from the food anime or something like a fasting pill from the martial arts or fantasy world, or even a food pill like in Naruto would be good."


    While eating, Tao Yu pondered and turned on the RV''s radio to tune in to some messages.


    The RV''s sr panels definitely charged more efficiently than his wristwatch, better to use this for more savings when possible.


    "..., I''m a survivor from Las Vegas. Everyone, this base is real! There''s basic order here and enough food, all the zombies have been cleared out. There''s a strong armed force, it''s extremely safe..."


    As soon as he turned it on, there seemed to be a survivor narrating their experience upon reaching the base.


    "Hmm, it''s been five days since I''ve returned; there should be more survivors heading there by now, which seems normal."


    This was originally a Las Vegas radio station''s frequency, which the broadcasters in Las Vegas had ceased to use, allowing it to be taken over. It''s unclear whether the station''s personnel are also considering relocation.


    "Comparatively speaking, the zombie density in Las Vegas is not high, making it easier to escape..."


    Tao Yu switched the channel to Starshine City''s channel to listen for some information about Pioneers.


    "...I don''t care what you do outside, but everyone better watch themselves. Now is the time when we need people. If you cause trouble and I catch you, don''t drag your families into it..."


    It was the voice of the handsome young Sun Shiqing, and Tao Yu rarely heard him sound somewhat annoyed, which made him raise an eyebrow.


    "Is it fighting among the Pioneers? Something must have happened."


    Then Tao Yu frowned, thinking about Panther, his business partner.


    Currently, transporting goods from Las Vegas could be said to be one of the most profitable projects!


    While the settlementcks supplies and the proximity of Las Vegas with its abundance of resources, it''s definitely a golden opportunity to make a good score.


    With the vehicles provided by their side and two ready truck drivers, his partner had indeed seized a head start.


    Leveraging his Inner City reputation to gather a group, they could keep the ball rolling and growing.


    But indeed, this involved enough interest to make Inner City people jealous...


    "Tch, I finally found a financial opportunity as a rural nobody from the Outer City. I hope no one messes it up, it''s better if we all follow some rules..."


    He had told Judy about his general area of activity; they should know he''d be back these two days.


    If there was any issue, they''d probablye over to report...


    It didn''t take long for Tao Yu to wait. After spending an afternoon eating and training, as Little ck returned with bags big and small, Tao Yu adjusted the walkie-talkie ced on a foldable table beside him, and soon a voice inquiring came through.


    "Boss, are you back yet?"


    It was Judy''s voice, which sounded normal.


    "I''m back. How''s everything going recently, going smoothly?"


    What Tao Yu cared about was the ie assurance of one hundred thousand Yuan Force for his first month.


    "All in all, it''s been okay. Panther''s clout is pretty good; some others doing the odd delivery jobs have not been so lucky. We haven''t had any issues for the time being, but there are alreadypetitors..."

 Chapter 117: Chapter 107: Advance

    Competition?


    Tao Yu was not surprised at all upon hearing this.


    Why did he form an alliance with Panda?


    Aside from the fact that Panda, as an Inner City resident, had greater influence and a higher profile, the main reason was that the job as a porter had too low a barrier to entry and was highly replicable.


    In Las Vegas, zombies were sparse, and it was safer than Henderson.


    Getting the first batch of goods was the most important, so it was best to expand the carrying capacity as quickly as possible.


    As long as one could grab the earliest batch of valuable goods, one would seed¡ªand Panda''s promise was to drop the amount directly to fifty thousand in the second month.


    However, being singled out by Judy and being informed about other Hermit teams suffering heavy casualties suggested some conflict had erupted outside.


    "Is Panda there? Let him speak."


    "Yes, I''ll call him."


    It wasn''t long before the walkie-talkie crackled to life again.


    "Tao, brother, you''re back, huh? Did it go smoothly?"


    "I''m okay. What''s the situation like now?"


    Tao Yu cut to the chase.


    "No big deal, rest assured, the minimum guarantee I promised you will be honored. However, it was supposed to be a bit more, but now it''s likely that I can only divide about eleven or twelve thousand for you in the first month."


    Panda seemed a bit frustrated and then continued on his own


    "Two more Inner City guys turned up, and well, I was thinking we should all sit down and talk it out, right? Make money together without the need to fight among ourselves.


    "But those two acted strangely, splitting into two groups. So, it''s not easy for me to cooperate with one of them, and now everyone is just doing their own thing..."


    After hearing Panda''s exnation, Tao Yu found himself shaking his head a bit.


    So far, from Tao Yu''s interactions¡ªPanda was different from the likes of Henderson and Wino; he was more mercenary.


    But this wasn''t necessarily a bad trait. To each their own, and at least with such a character, negotiations tended to go smoothly.


    So when new people arrived, sitting down together to think through making things bigger and stronger for a joint benefit wasn''t uneptable.


    Dividing the profits ording to each one''s capabilities and efforts seemed reasonable.


    Or the various teams could divide the territories and work on their own!


    After all, there was only so much total profit, and once it was dug up, it''d be gone.


    Yet such frustrating incidents had urred.


    What happened next became clearer: the Inner City Pioneers valued their reputation and didn''t resort to direct confrontation, but the outside porter teams suffered the consequences.


    Besides showing some respect for Panda, some Hermits too were caught in the crossfire.


    "They haven''t attacked us, have they?"


    "Not yet..."


    When Panda reached this point, his voice took on a more solemn tone, and Tao Yu heard it.


    "You mean, they might attack us?"


    "They''re a bit enraged. It wasn''t much really, but I don''t know how they''ve made it into such a mess. The young Sun master is quite annoyed too, but it''s not possible for him to take care of every little detail."


    Sun Shiyu and Sun Shiqing were the pirs of the base, but they didn''t have the Clone Technique and indeed could not manage every detail personally. They had to delegate authority.


    Anyway, those two groups were well-behaved in the assembly area, but they caused all sorts of trouble where they couldn''t be controlled.


    "There are mines on the streets now. Be careful out there, man."


    "Mines?"


    Tao Yu also felt frustrated. This was like biting the hand that feeds.


    "Got it. Stay safe."


    "Yeah, you too. Some Inner City heirs can have very nasty characters."


    Panda gently reminded Tao Yu.


    He himself was shrewd, weighing pros and cons, but not all Inner City people were like him.


    Having some rtionship with the Suns might, in some eyes, invite jealousy...


    "I know some people can be very nasty."


    Nasty Inner City people?


    Jos¨¦, who set a trap for him upon meeting; the more straightforward Wino; the Li-Lin who lusted after his beauty; and those who didn''t care about the lives of others, just to feed the Aliens.


    In Tao Yu''s view, Panda was actually a rare breed.


    "I hope some of you would have even nastier characters..."


    Tao Yu set the walkie-talkie back on the folding table and muttered as if to himself.


    "But Sun Shiqing seems to have a bit of a headache now, mainly due to ack of people."


    Tao Yu had heard Sun Shiqing''s broadcast, which was clearly vexed. Yet, as a Floating City heir, she did not deal with the situation directly out of personal preference, considering the bigger picture more.


    Now that there was a shortage of people, indeed more Inner City people were needed to build the makeshift structure of the base.


    "For now, the registration of goods and such relies on the native inhabitants originally at the base, but ultimately, some authority should be handed over to the Pioneers."


    Tao Yu knew little about the ways of bnce and leadership.


    But anyone who has studied history knows that an Emperor needs means to bnce the court to sit securely on the throne.


    Those trusted natives were like the eunuchs and court factions, with all their power derived from the Suns, sticking with them to handle logistics, internal affairs, and the like.


    But for external exploration, Pioneers must take the lead, and those with generally outstanding abilities, especially the Inner City Pioneers who demonstrated strength from the start, could bear some important tasks.


    Just as the Outsider Pioneers were not yet given expendable tasks, being too authoritarian towards Inner City Pioneers might discourage them from choosing the new Development Zone in the future.


    "Even if personal power is concentered in one''s own hands, possessing unchallenged authority, in the end, humans are the ones getting things done..."


    As a white-cor worker in his previous life, Tao Yu clearly understood that if his subordinates were united, they could easily resist or even sideline their leader.


    The Suns siblings had the power to physically solve problems, but sometimes they still had to consider public opinion.


    Being too dominant might force those who originally didn''t band together to do so actively, or they might simply leave.


    "However, I don''t have such concerns. What do I care, as long as I get paid..."


    Tao Yu took a deep breath with closed eyes, but still chose not to rush out overnight.


    ```


    God knows where they are now, and it hasn''t gotten to that stage yet; better to digest my own gains first.


    "Shouldn''t be too much trouble to get an advance on some Yuan Force from Panda..."


    After drinking a bottle of icy nerd water taken out from the RV fridge, Tao Yu let out a burp...


    ...


    Three dayster...


    At a crossroads, seven trucks, powerful and dominant, upied the entire street.


    Next to them, a gang of bikers were continuously patrolling.


    In addition to this, armed figures stood on the roof of each truck, keeping watch.


    All nearby zombies had been cleared away, and the air was filled with the stench of decay.


    At this moment, apanied by the roar of an engine, a cross-country motorcycle appeared from around the corner and headed straight for the convoy.


    The neer drew the attention of many, with some of the armed personnel on the roofs even readying their guns.


    "Don''t fidget with the guns; this is your second boss."


    The scolding voice of Panda reached them, arousing curiosity among the new team members who turned to look at Tao Yu riding the motorcycle.


    This second boss was reportedly on good terms with Young Master Sun and, as an Outsider, held the secondrgest share in thepany.


    "Is this the Tao you mentioned?"


    Next to Panda''s motorcycle, the shadow on a simrly punk-styled bike turned to nce at Tao Yu.


    With a mechanical whir in their eyes, their pupils seemed to lock onto something.


    "At first nce, he seems quite capable, muscr and well-proportioned. Isn''t this Grade A ''Dynamic Vision''?"


    "I already told you he has a good rapport with Young Master Sun and even passed on some skills to him, so don''t mess around, okay?"


    With his towering height of over two meters, Panda patted hispanion''s mechanical head with his unusuallyrge hand.


    "Tch, I just wanted to see why he has a bigger share than me when I''m the one hustling every day for the convoy."


    There was a metallic nk as the head was patted, but it didn''t seem to bother the recipient.


    "Isn''t it because Young Master Sun personally came over to request leave for him? Is that enough for you?"


    Panda shot him a look before dismounting and stepping forward, while Tao Yu also slowed down and stopped next to Panda.


    Tao Yu was now over one meter eighty tall, but still seemed inconspicuous next to Panda and his motorcycle.


    Panda then took out a Yuan Force card, started infusing Yuan Force into it, and said to Tao Yu,


    "Fifty thousand should be enough, right? I don''t have much ''Flowing Water'' on me; I''ve been stockpiling some supplies too, some of which can still be slowly transported to the real world and sold for even more."


    "That''s enough, thanks."


    It hadn''t been ten days since they had started working together, yet Panda was already willing to advance fifty thousand Yuan Force. Tao Yu was very satisfied.


    Now, with nutritional supplementation and having entered a stable period of enhancement, Tao Yu also chose a more cost-effective mode of Yuan Force consumption, which was sufficient for the time being.


    If he could collect another wave of it, he estimated he might attempt a second ''Deification'' of the ''Stealth'' ability.


    Although the cost-effectiveness of a second ''Deification'' had decreased significantly, ''Stealth'' was the skill generating the most Shadow Force for him at present, and the price was still eptable, so Tao Yu had already queued it for upgrade.


    If there was enough Yuan Force, he could also consider working on ''Stance Skill'', continue building the foundation, and enhance all three dimensions.


    "Here''s this too; Miss Sun has already brought back a terminal from the real world, and I''vepleted thepany registration. This is your authentication chip. Don''t lose it; it''s a hassle to rece."


    Panda handed over a chip resembling a SIM card that could be directly inserted into Tao Yu''s watch, and Tao Yu unhesitatingly took it and inserted it into his watch,


    "Oh, Miss Sun is back, huh?"


    Tao Yu casually asked.


    "She''s back. This our third shareholder, Qimen; now that those two gangs have merged, I fear I can''t cover for them alone."


    Panda then introduced the third shareholder to Tao Yu.


    Tao Yu, weing of anyone who could bring him ie, nodded with a broad smile at the mechanized figure.


    Qimen, however, didn''t disy the same stern demeanor as when talking with Panda; instead, he greeted Tao Yu with a smile,


    "I''ve only heard of your name. I heard you''re working for Young Master Sun. Don''t forget to pull us up when you''ve made it big."


    "Not at all, you tter me too much."


    No sooner had Tao Yu finished speaking than his watch vibrated, which surprised him.


    Abyss was only covered by broadcast signals at the moment, weren''t they? They didn''t havemunication signals.


    Upon opening the message, he heard Sun Shiyu''s voice,


    "Where are you? Why is it just your bug here?"


    Well, did she ride her motorboat here looking for me? Perhaps her motorboat had short-rangemunication capabilities.


    Tao Yu could only politely apologize to the stunned pair,


    "Sorry, something''se up ¨C I have to go."


    As he spoke, he also replied with a voice message,


    "I was just with the convoy; I''ll head back now."


    With those words, he revved his motorbike, turned around, and roared off into the distance.


    Qimen, with his jaw hanging open, couldn''t help but swallow and say,


    "Was that Miss Sun''s voice just now? Didn''t you say he''s on good terms with Young Master Sun?"


    "Ah, well, Young Master Sun was the one who took leavest time. Maybe he''s on good terms with both of them..."


    Panda was somewhat at a loss for words; an Outsider, and theye to him directly?


    Shouldn''t he be scampering back as soon as he''s summoned?


    Indeed, bringing him into the partnership was a wise move!


    Qimen, too, touched the non-existent sweat on his mechanical head.


    If it were just him, he really had nned to spout some bravado, just to give Panda some face!


    Luckily, he hadn''t spoken out of turn; their first meeting had gone quite smoothly.


    "Maybe I should learn to hold my tongue..."


    Having gone through this incident, Qimen began to reflect on himself. Many people only change after being faced with an upheaval and hitting a wall...


    ```

 Chapter 118: Chapter 108: Secrecy

    Tao Yu rode his motorcycle back and saw Sun Shiyu poking her head around the window of the RV, seemingly very curious about the inside.


    Little ck, usually ferocious and domineering, was now curled up at the side, looking as pitiful as a beaten dog.


    When Little ck heard the motorcycle and saw Tao Yu, he quickly ran over to him.


    Crying out woefully.


    He even stood up on his hind legs, pointing his paws at Sun Shiyu.


    Tao Yu could sense Little ck''s feelings of grievances andints.


    However, seeing Little ck like this, Tao Yu countered with a big p,


    "Don''t you have any tact, making a fuss in front of Miss Sun like that?"


    This made Little ck even more pitifully lie down, his tail wagging back and forth.


    Seeing this, Tao Yu felt helpless. How could your owner fight back, right?


    "Haha, this little creature you''re raising is quite interesting. Which skill is it? Can you teach me?"


    Sun Shiyu stopped her scrutiny of the RV, turned around with her hands behind her back, and just happened to see Little ck tattling, finding it quite amusing.


    "A meteorite, the kind that can explode, seems to involve changes in psychic power, probably hard to learn."


    Tao Yu''s words made Sun Shiyu raise her eyebrows,


    "It involves psychic power too? Quite a nice skill, you do have good luck."


    Whether it''s Corpse Refinement or this Taming Technique, Sun Shiyu could see the potential in them.


    "Your insights were influenced by this skill too, right?"


    "Yes, and the Corpse Refining Art has somewhat to do with it too."


    "Try it on me sometime, let me feel it."


    Sun Shiyu''s sudden suggestion nearly caused Tao Yu to lose hisposure; his mind inexplicably filled with mosaic-filled images, his youthful body almost bursting with a nosebleed.


    "Ah, this, might not be a good idea, the force of this ability could be quite strong."


    "Don''t worry, I have a talent for psychic power, and I have many skills too; don''t judge me by your standards."


    Sun Shiyu seemed unconcerned, but she didn''t pressure Tao Yu into doing anything; instead, she turned back to the RV.


    "This vehicle seems nice, where''s it from?"


    "I just found this one, Miss Sun, if you want it, I''ll give it to you."


    Tao Yu pretended to be generous, but he had also figured out her character; epting his vehicle would definitely lead to more rewards.


    But obviously, Sun Shiyu had no intention of carelessly epting other people''s gifts, casually waving her hand,


    "You use it, let''s go take a look."


    "Sure."


    ¡­


    "Mmm~"


    Sun Shiyu sat on the edge of the RV bed with a flushed face, her tight outfit entuating her chest that heaved with heavy breathing, trembling with every breath.


    After a while, she let out a long breath and said with a slightly quivering voice,


    "Your skill is quite problematic; no wonder it has such good effects. Is there a punishment mechanism?"


    Even though Sun Shiyu tried to steady her tone, Tao Yu, hearing her sticky, soft voice, had trouble suppressing his urges, contemting unleashing the full force of Taming Technique.


    But he managed to force those thoughts out of his mind with sheer willpower.


    It was she who had taken the initiative and let down some of her psychic defenses to feel Tao Yu''s skill.


    If she couldn''t hold up, Tao Yu wouldn''t mind taking the opportunity to do something, but there wasn''t any need to go all out on a gamble.


    However, her willpower was incredibly strong; even at normal intensity, she managed to withstand it, much stronger than Little ck.


    Then they should discuss the skills normally.


    "Yes, should I call Little ck in to try it out?"


    Tao Yu tentatively asked.


    "No worries, continue; it''s an interesting technique. But even for me, it would be difficult to learn."


    Sun Shiyu was indeed resilient, seemingly even willing to experience the punishment.


    With that request, Tao Yu naturally extended his hand to touch her shoulder tentatively.


    "Go ahead, I''ve opened up part of my psyche, I won''t fight back. But don''t be too abrupt; it could be dangerous."


    Tao Yu knew the danger she mentioned was actually meant for him, fearing an instinctive counterattack would kill him.


    Taming Technique required a subdued target, and Sun Shiyu wanted to feel it because she could voluntarily lower some defenses with her strong psychic maniption ability.


    Although she only loosened up a bit, it was enough for Tao Yu to transfer his Perception over.


    As the agonizing pain from the punishment took hold, the touch from the soul still made Sun Shiyu tense up.


    Her originally rosy cheeks instantly turned pale as she stifled a groan.


    "Are you okay?"


    Tao Yu withdrew his hand and asked.


    "I''m fine."


    A slightly hoarse voice came from Sun Shiyu, who took a moment to catch her breath.


    "If it were an interrogation, you''d be quite the hand."


    Sun Shiyu, having taken a deep breath, straightforwardly sprawledzily on the RV bed, stretching her armszily.


    It rendered Tao Yu somewhat dazed for a moment.


    Forcing his gaze to move upwards, he saw Sun Shiyu''s eyes, like rubies, containing a teasing look,


    "Like what you see?"


    "Nice."


    "You really are different from other Outsiders."


    Sun Shiyu didn''t seem to have any intention of getting up, continuing to lie therezily, looking at the blue sky through the skylight above.


    "Cough, talent is okay, somewhat, but this ability seems to be just so-so in execution unless one actively releases their spirit. Only after it''s been tamed will it work."


    "Controlling it too finely indeed means it can''t meet with resistance. A slight sh throws it into chaos, and it''s very hard to learn."


    Sun Shiyu didn''t take those hits for nothing, her ability was truly strong¡ªshe had even touched upon the essence of these two kinds of changes.


    Tao Yu needed to rely on the mutual understanding of the Riding Skill first, then constantly suppress the Alien through violence to barelyplete the initial taming.


    However, after initial taming, maintenance with the new Taming Skill of Deification was much simpler¡ªit could be said theyplemented each other.


    The Alien belonged to a target that could be tamed, capable of being submissive and assertive, which is why it could achieve such an effect.


    If it were some extremely stubborn species, then there really would be no way to handle it.


    "The skills I learn directly are already very proficient in use. I don''t have to trouble myself with crafting them."


    Tao Yu probably understood what Sun Shiyu meant.


    In in terms, the reward and punishment of Taming are just a kind of change in psychic power. It''s like the array of proteins forming variouspletely different products based on their arrangement andbination.


    "Did you consider intensifying the effect just now?"


    Sun Shiyuy on the side, staring at Tao Yu''s eyes with ruby-like pupils, causing Tao Yu''s expression to stiffen instantly.


    "There really was, unfortunately. Maybe it would have worked if we tried it."


    After speaking, Sun Shiyu stood up, jumping off the bed.


    Looking at her from behind, Tao Yu watched the curve of her backside ripple, feeling somewhat speechless.


    How hadn''t he noticed before that Miss Sun was so good at this?


    He really couldn''t tell if it was idental or on purpose.


    "I''ll head back first. I''lle find you when I have time to study this in detail."


    With her back to Tao Yu, Sun Shiyu waved her hand and left the RV, while Tao Yu sat in the vehicle watching her mount the motorboat and zoom away.


    After Sun Shiyu left, Tao Yu also let out a slow breath of relief, then saw Little ck peeking in at the doorway.


    "What are you looking at? Go get me some food, I''m a bit irritated."


    Afterwards, Tao Yu also left the RV and went to the corpse cultivation ground to pour fresh blood.


    After pouring, he began today''s practice routines.


    Flirting with a rich woman is flirting with a rich woman, indeed likely to bring unexpected gains, but more often, you have to rely on your own hard work and umtion.


    The abilities that belong to you, those are truly yours!


    People must rely on themselves!


    ...


    On the other side, Sun Shiyu rode the motorboat at high speed, cleaving through the air. With the strong wind blowing, she even felt her head getting a bit hot.


    "A bit of a loss ofposure huh, I almost wasn''t able to suppress my psychic power. But theplexity of that psychic ability is indeed interesting. In all aspects, he''s not bad, his background is clean, interesting..."


    Thinking about something, Sun Shiyu rode the motorboat in a horse stance, feeling a little sticky and deciding to change and shower once she got back...


    ...


    Sun Shiqing, dressed in home wear, sat cross-legged on the sofa, manipting the drone controller in her hand and asionally popping a chip into her mouth.


    Seeing the normal operation of the transportation route on the screen, she began to adjust the drone''s position.


    But then her expression shifted slightly, and with a look of surprise on her delicate face, she turned towards the entrance, seeing her sister walk in through the door.


    Although Sun Shiyu''s face showed no particr expression,pletely calm, Sun Shiqing furrowed her eyebrows and said,


    "Sis, are you in heat?"


    "Almost. I encountered a very interesting skill."


    "Tao Yu''s?"


    "The very one."


    Hearing what Sun Shiyu said, Sun Shiqing let out a sigh of relief,


    "Well, that''s not too bad. His background is clean, and if his MAX Dynamic Vision can be confirmed, that wouldn''t be too bad."


    Sun Shiqing then appeared puzzled,


    "But it''s not like you. You have such high standards. Last time I was just trying to motivate him a little."


    "Heh, it''s a very interesting skill. I''ll let you give it a try next time, and you''ll know. I''m going to take a shower, suppress the seal. If I hadn''t been lying down, I almost revealed my tail..."


    Sun Shiyu seemed to remember something, showing a rare hint of flirtatiousness and a slight morbidity on her face.


    Usually very serious, her facebined with this expression, along with her figure and looks, had a different kind of charm, as if a single nce could evoke desires.


    But Sun Shiqing across from her was very calm, without any strangeness, instead saying with some gravity,


    "Then don''t waste time. Although it''s just the two of us for now, precautions are still necessary. If our family affairs be known, it would probably be quite troublesome."


    "Tch, in this world, you still have to rely on strength. We represent sess. Even if they know, so what?" Sun Shiyu retorted with disdain shing across her pretty face. She quickly took a deep breath to calm the unusually flirtatious expression, and then exhaled deeply,


    "But you''re right. To avoid unnecessaryplications, we should minimize trouble. Investigate that kid. Does he have a girlfriend or a childhood sweetheart?"


    Sun Shiqing, upon hearing this, stiffened her expression, then said helplessly,


    "Isn''t that a bit much?"


    "What are you thinking? I''m just a subus, not a demon. Just p some money in his face, and it''s done. You have such a dirty mind."


    "Actually, I think if you just pped some money in his face, it would be faster..."


    "Heh, can he handle it now?"

 Chapter 119: Chapter 109 Blocking Someones Livelihood

    In the dead of night, Tao Yu opened his eyes inside the RV.


    "The body during puberty really is troublesome, but the Qi-Blood is just too strong, should I reward myself?"


    Tao Yu sat up somewhat helplessly and then took a bottle of "fat house water" from the fridge to dab on his face.


    He sighed after returning to bed.


    During the day, Sun Shiyu hadin here for a while, and maybe it was the mental strain he had ced on her twice that made her sweat quite a bit¡ªhe always felt that there was a fragrant scent here, making him somewhat irritable.


    It gave him the urge to grab the sheets and take deep whiffs of them.


    It was like being poisoned¡ªinstant fantasy the moment he closed his eyes.


    "Even though I also had a hormonal surge during middle school in my previous life, it wasn''t this exaggerated."


    He cracked open the can with a ''pop'' and downed the coke, but the chilled beverage couldn''t suppress the restlessness of his Qi-Blood.


    Tao Yu simply decided not to sleep anymore and directly got out of the RV.


    Little ck, who was keeping watch outside, got a scare, waking up and looking at Tao Yu in confusion, not knowing what his owner was up to.


    Then it saw Tao Yu get out of the car and start throwing punches with a fierce vigor, and it also heard themand.


    "Go, bring me some more food."


    This made Little ckin with a couple of howls¡ªcalling Alien out to look for food in the middle of the night wasn''t human.


    Nheless, it quickly darted off into the night, blending into it in no time¡­


    ¡­


    "Let me check out the Corpse Refining when you''re done, don''t know if this thing of yours can be learned, but if possible, I''ll pay the tuition."


    "Talking about tuition feels a bit hurtful to our feelings, just give me something like ten or eighty thousand."


    Tao Yu watched Sun Shiyu ride away on the jet ski with a smile, but couldn''t help his gaze from drifting toward a few key areas outlined by her tight suit.


    Once she left, he rubbed his nose.


    "Hiss, is this little minx flirting with me? No, that''s not right, she didn''t do anything... Why is my body''s reaction getting more and more exaggerated? After all, I''ve seen quite a few little videos..."


    He had been practicing Corpse Refining for more than twenty days now.


    During these days, with the help of ample Yuan Force, he was steadily digesting the gains of the stable period.


    With the Meditation Technique growing stronger, as long as skills could be practiced simultaneously, he could train them together!


    Even though the Yuan Force was depleting quickly, the improvements were equally rapid.


    Meditation Technique - Modified and Myriad Streams Breathing Technique - Modified had both reached lv3, while Basic Breathing Method - Modification II and Myriad Streams Stance Skill - Modified were at lv4.


    Each form of Myriad Streams Five Forms had also reached lv4.


    Shadow Maniption - Modified had advanced to lv2, although it had been practiced less.


    One could say he had fully utilized the potential to get stronger through spending!


    The most obvious reflection of this...


    Tao Yu nced again at Little ck lying bored beside him.


    Seemingly noticing Tao Yu''s gaze, Little ck suddenly bolted and ran off.


    However, Tao Yu was faster; with a burst of energy in his legs, he kicked up a whooshing sound in the air and was upon Little ck in a couple of strides, grabbing its tail.


    With a single flick of his wrist,


    a blended force transmitted straight through, creating wave-like ripples along Little ck''s body.


    With just a flick, he forcefully vibrated Little ck into the air, then swung it around like a meteor hammer.


    "Awesome!"


    After unloading the force and letting go, Little ck was flung into the bushes of the park, motionless for a long time.


    "Back then, Wino with his Alien-imnted strength was hardly any better."


    Tao Yu clenched his fists, and even the air popped with the pressure.


    "The cost of Wino''s Alien imnt, even with a connection, would approach a hundred thousand, plus the hundred thousand Yuan Force enhancement at the start, and some skills he learned as a kid, matched with that temporary enhancing drug, his physical side was definitely strong."


    Tao Yu pondered, then looked at his own palms.


    "And here I am, from the assassin lineage, already able to suppress the physical side of an Inner City neer with an Alien imnt purely in terms of physical strength, which is quite good indeed."


    And that''s not even counting the mental impacts from Fist Intent, Meditation Technique, and Basic Combat, just purely physical damage.


    Not considered were Shadow Maniption, Stealth, and so on.


    Even the bonus damage fromyered force strikes was too dangerous for Little ck, so he didn''t use it outright!


    After venting his frustration on Little ck, Tao Yu managed to suppress some of his agitation and let out a sigh.


    In the past twenty-something days, Sun Shiyu had visited four or five times, and each time she would just stay for a while to chat about "Meditation Technique," "Taming Technique," and "Corpse Refining Technique" before leaving.


    However, their interactions had be much more natural.


    Apart from some ripples on the first day, the following visits had been quite proper.


    But for some reason, Tao Yu always found his thoughts wandering whenever he smelled her faint scent.


    He had never felt like this before.


    "It seems like ever since I met her, I''ve been having fantasies frequently, the richdy''s effect is just too strong."


    Tao Yu pped his face and started practising his punches with renewed vigor.


    Oddly enough, her visits didn''t decrease his training efficiency; in fact, it seemed to enhance it to some extent, leaving Tao Yu unsure whether tough or cry.


    "Although during the height of puberty, the sight of an Angel Beast would get me all fired up, now it must be because of the Qi-Blood, as well as her being exceptionally outstanding."


    Tao Yu hade to some conclusions about himself.


    It wasn''t a big problem, though, as with the "Meditation Technique" growing stronger, he wasn''t exactly bing more rational, but he was at least finding it easier to control some impulses.


    At times, Tao Yu was quite d that his "Mental Immunity" didn''t suppress some of his body''s instincts, just like it didn''t suppress pain; otherwise, he figured life would be a lot less fun.


    "It''s a pity about the status issue, otherwise a bit more initiative would actually be okay."


    While Tao Yu continued to polish his punching techniques and expending Yuan Force,


    the walkie-talkie on the folding table suddenly buzzed to life.


    "Brother Tao, are you there?"


    It was Panda''s voice, sounding a bit weary.


    "I''m here, what''s up?"


    Tao Yu picked up the walkie-talkie.


    His ability to dedicate nearly all his time to nurturing corpses here, along with rapidly digesting his gains, owed much to Panda''s efforts.


    Not only had Panda advanced him a sum of Yuan Force, with the one-month deadline soon to arrive, but Tao Yu could also expect an ie of at least seventy to eighty thousand Yuan Force.


    "I''ve run into a bit of trouble, can youe over?"


    "Sure, where?"


    Throughout the month, Tao Yu had beenrgely hands-off, lending the Suns'' reputation by association and giving some indirect support to Panda''s side.


    But Panda had never bothered him up to now; since he was asking for help this time, Tao Yu couldn''t refuse.


    Ever since thest time he had taken a call from the youngdy in their presence, Panda would use the walkie-talkie to chat when passing nearby, hardly ever disturbing Tao Yu.


    It seems like he must have really run into trouble this time.


    While closing up the RV and taking the walkie-talkie with him, Tao Yu went to the corpse nurturing site to water the noon portion, all the while listening to Panda''s wordsing through the walkie-talkie.


    "The location is at the LAS6 warehouse district; things are a bit troublesome, Qimen is injured..."


    After Tao Yu finished pouring the essence blood, he began to devour the canned food Little ck had brought to recover.


    "You mean to say, the bnce has been broken now, and that guy still wants to crap and pee on our heads? Wait for me."


    Twisting the throttle on his motorcycle, Tao Yu then shouted in Little ck''s direction,


    "Stop ying dead, follow me."


    Following a roar of the engine, the motorcycle shot out in a sh.


    After nearly a month of Pioneers and natives moving like ants, the zombies on the streets of Las Vegas were bing fewer, and likewise, the easily obtainable high-value goods were dwindling.


    LAS6 is the code for a warehouse that Panda had once mentioned to Tao Yu, having spent a lot of effort to clear it of zombies into a treasure trove.


    He even had Qimen guard it with people; there had been convoysing and going these past few days, making it one of the currently rare high-value cargo areas.


    The total value of the goods there might be around two hundred and fifty thousand Yuan Force.


    Taking out various expenses and rewarding the subordinates, just by clearing out this warehouse, Tao Yu would be able to pocket about fifty thousand Yuan Force.


    It should have been about halfway done by now.


    Thanks to this warehouse, Panda even estimated that after subtracting the five thousand Yuan Force advanced earlier this month, he could still give Tao Yu an additional seventy to eighty thousand Yuan Force.


    But now there were problems!


    "Goddamn it, someone really wants to cut off my money..."


    Tao Yu floored the throttle, leaving Little ck further and further behind...

 Chapter 120: Chapter 110: Understand?

    ```


    The LAS6 warehouse district boasted an expanse ofrge white storage facilities.


    Inside, a dazzling array of supplies filled the space.


    Due to theplete variety, there was a substantial demand for these items in the settlement.


    Even many of the items transported to the present world could be exchanged for a significant amount of Yuan Force.


    Previously, this warehouse may have attracted survivors hoping to retrieve supplies, only to result in hordes of zombies besieging the area.


    It was one of the most zombie-infested regions in Las Vegas.


    However, Panda was a top-notch fighter from the Inner City and managed to enlist a group of indigenous Motorbike Gang members, along with numerous Pioneers from outside the city, whose cooperation led to an effective clearance of the area.


    But today, three convoys faced off against each other here.


    Each convoy had several heavy trucks, with Panda''s eight heavy trucks being the most in number, enough to match the total of the other two teams.


    But now, Panda was closely aligned with one of the convoys, confronting the group that only had four heavy trucks.


    Qimen, who had originally partnered with Panda,y on the ground beside them, sparks flickering from his body while Judy tended to him.


    A closer look revealed a stark difference between the two sides, with Pioneers from the outer city standing fully armed on top of the vehicles, while the Inner City Pioneers were the ones leading the convoys.


    "Taff! What the hell do you mean by this? Young Master Sun has emphasized time and time again to show restraint!"


    Panda watched warily in the direction of the warehouse za, where a rather ordinary-looking figure around 1.7 meters tall stood casually.


    With blond hair and headgear reminiscent of a boxer''s face protection, he wore a set of ck, fiber-material bulletproof vests and tactical gloves on his hands.


    It was precisely this figure thatpelled him to temporarily join forces with another group on the site!


    "Heh, if it weren''t for Young Master Sun, do you think that idiot would still be alive?"


    The figure in the center of the area scoffed, his face full of disdain and indifference.


    "I gave you all a chance. I wanted to join your side originally, but you were too arrogant to realize it."


    Taff spat out contemptuously.


    This made Panda''s expression turn rather ugly.


    "You''re asking for half of our earnings right off the bat. You''re new here, and you didn''t help with anything before. Why should we give it to you?!"


    "Why? How can you ask such childish questions? Is it not based on strength?"


    A mocking expression crossed Taff''s face before he looked up at the armed personnel standing on the trucks of the opposing side, raising his voice,


    "Listen up, all you country bumpkins from the outer city. The Inner City also has its hierarchies, with an even greater disparity than in your outer city. Think carefully whether you want to wade into these troubled waters."


    Taff''s voice was reckless, his attitude arrogant.


    Yete, the more he said, the worse the expressions of the fully armed outer city Pioneers became.


    In this high-mortality Development Zone, they had chosen to stay despite some having significant abilities and backgrounds, yetpared to the big shots of the Inner City, there was still arge gap.


    Taking on zombies and moving cargo was one thing, but getting involved in the strife among Inner City heavyweights...


    "Captain Panda, this... We''re just trying to make a living. We never agreed to be enemies with other Inner City heavyweights..."


    One of the Pioneers spoke up bravely, though clearly unwilling to get involved.


    Panda coldly nced back but said nothing.


    In terms of numbers alone, his side still had a considerable advantage.


    If they were willing to pick up their guns, even Taff would be wary!


    Despite his tactical suit, there would always be unprotected parts, and with grenades and hand grenades, there was enough to create a deterrent.


    But now, he himself had effectively dissolved his side''s greatest advantage in numbers.


    Though appearing arrogant, he was not as brainless as he seemed.


    "Brother Panda, we agreed to team up and take down the opposition. Look, Taff showed up, and he''s a real headache."


    The person beside Panda, whose face resembled crocodile skin and cradled aposite helmet in his arms, wore a high-end tactical suit but only reached Panda''s shoulders in height, sighed.


    He didn''t get along with Taff or Taff''s backer, and the two sides had always been at odds.


    Little did he expect Taff to suddenly appear in the settlement, let alone join his sworn enemy''s team, spelling disaster for him.


    "That''s nonsense. When Taff joins, it will be your team, not much use, right? The problem is still with him."


    Although Panda was temporarily cooperating with this ''Crocodile man,'' he still saw the crux of the problem clearly.


    Taff hade to him asking for half of the profits, which was obviously uneptable. But then, Taff switched to another team, leveraging hisbat prowess to exert pressure.


    ncing at Qimen, Panda sighed.


    Qimen was left alive on purpose, because killing him might have angered Young Master Sun. Now, however, he''d been maneuvered into a tricky position.


    "Ahem, Brother Panda, when will Backdrop Bro get here..."


    Qimen, despite lying on the ground with asional sparks emanating from his body, didn''t feel much pain due to his mechanical enhancements, though his voice carried an electronic tone.


    "He should be here soon."


    Panda sighed inwardly; even if Tao Yu arrived soon, at best, he could ensure a safe retreat for his team. The warehouse was likely lost to them.


    "Oh? So there''s outside help as well? Interesting."


    Taff raised an eyebrow and smiled.


    Meanwhile, a slender figure d in tight metallic armor walked up from behind him, giggling,


    ```

 Chapter 121: Chapter 110 Do You Understand? _2

    "Big Brother Taff, I know who that guy is, he''s probably the Outsider rumored to have some connection with Young Master Sun."


    Upon hearing about Young Master Sun, Taff was taken aback, but he scoffed at the mention of an Outsider.


    "Connected with Young Master Sun? Have you lost your minds? Does doing a favor bypleting a task count as having connections? Fools, waving a big g to scare you all."


    A look of mockery spread across Taff''s face, the part not covered by his boxing headgear.


    "I was received by Young Master Sun himself when I arrived, but you don''t hear me iming to have connections with him, do you? Invoking a person of high rank''s name as if it''s candy, and you took it seriously."


    At this point, a look of realization also appeared on Taff''s face.


    "Oh, so it''s because of him that you have the guts to refuse me? Interesting. If he really shows up, I''ll break his limbs and see if Young Master Sun will punish me for his sake."


    Just then, the roar of a motorbike grew louder as it approached.


    Apanied by the sound of drifting, Tao Yu pulled up in front of the convoy, stopping right beside Panda.


    He then looked up and saw Taff standing alone in the middle


    "Brother Panda, is that him?"


    Just as Panda nodded, Taff on the other side gestured towards Tao Yu.


    "Come take a look, kid. You''ve got a pretty face; you don''t think that by unting it, you''ll catch the eye of the nobility, do you?"


    Looking at the other''s peculiar gaze and expression, Tao Yu suddenly felt a bit nauseated.


    This was eerily simr to that Lizard guy''s look, but damn, this Taff is a man!


    Seeing Taff beckoning, Tao Yu gestured Panda to stay quiet and walked forward.


    "Wait a second, this guy is different, as long as he doesn''t kill you, I''m afraid Young Master Sun won''t say a thing."


    Panda hurriedly tried to hold back Tao Yu.


    But Tao Yu''s shoulder trembled slightly with strength, causing Panda''s fingers to go numb and release their grip.


    "I have a measure of it."


    With that casual shake, not only did Panda feel a numbness in his palm, but Taff''s facial expression also became more solemn, and he said with a touch of surprise,


    "Strength? Interesting."


    Then, watching Tao Yu approach, with a somewhat yful expression, he said,


    "Kid, you don''t think that mastering a technique of strength makes you remarkable, do you?"


    "Really taking the nobles'' approachability for granted, as if it were license for your own insolence..."


    Watching Tao Yu rapidly approach, Taffughed heartily and lifted his hand towards him,


    "It might be impressive in the Outer City but, in the Inner City..."


    Taff''s hand turned into a w, aiming to lock onto Tao Yu''s shoulder.


    It seemed like a simple grab, butbined with his footwork and rhythm, it was particrly subtle.


    Tao Yu had to either disrupt his rhythm and retreat hastily or be caught under the grip of the w.


    But Tao Yu didn''t pause for a moment; his hand turned into a tiger''s w, and with a sudden side step, he brushed past the w strike, directly reaching back towards his attacker.


    Power exploded from his feet, strength burst forth.


    The cement pavement cracked, with pieces flying!


    The sudden burst of speed genuinely startled Taff. Is this an Outsider?


    But before he could adjust, a sudden tiger''s roar resounded in his head.


    As if a fierce, vibrant tiger was pouncing directly at him, his entire field of vision filled with tiger shadows.


    The w hadn''t arrived, but the roar came first, pure thoughts driven by the Fist Intent,pletely overwhelming Taff before even making contact!


    To the bystanders, there was just a faint sound of a gust of wind apanying the w strike, and then they saw Tao Yu''s w smash hard onto Taff''s face.


    Strength erupted, instantly sshing blood.


    While Taff''s head was protected by a boxing headgear-like Yuan Force item, his entire face appeared torn, drenched in blood revealing white bone, the eyes turned into bloody holes.


    The entire man fell backwards.


    Tao Yu casually tossed the eyeball he plucked out onto the ground, shaking off the blood on his hand with the vibration of his strength.


    Ignoring the shock of the others, he drew his AT200 from behind his back, raised the muzzle, and started spraying bullets towards the metallic woman in body armor and her team behind her.


    Ratatat~


    Blood sprayed wildly, screams rose and fell in session.


    There were a few stray counter-shots fired haphazardly into the air.


    But they were all meaningless!


    [Intuitive Shooting - Modified]+[Basic Shooting - Modified],bined with the AT200''s AP (Armor-Piercing) bullets, instantly resulted in a bloodbath.


    "What?"


    The woman d in the metal armor had not anticipated that Temor would be taken down with just one encounter!


    Her shock caused her to be half a beat slow when it was her turn to fire.


    She could only barely manage to draw the short knife from her waist and hold it out horizontally for defense.


    Her mind was racing.


    "AT200, probably armor-piercing bullets, damn it! I can''t get hit too many times..." Discover hidden tales at m,v l''e-NovelBin


    As this thought shed through her mind, she was continuously retreating, trying to take cover behind the truck.


    But by then, a bullet had already struck the de of her knife.


    Dang~


    It felt like a heavy hammer striking her head, as if she was being torn apart.


    It was as though she was trapped inside a giant bell, being struck repeatedly.


    The Shadow Force attached to the bullet erupted like sshing ink, even the tough knife de was left with a ck crack.


    Paired with the armor-piercing bullets, the second and third shots followed in quick session!


    ng~


    The knife de shattered, the bullet struck her forehead, leaving a crack on her armor as well!


    "No!"


    Despite the tearing pain in her head and seeing double, she still let out a final cry of despair.


    Pu-chi~


    The subsequent bullets tore through the armor, drilling directly into her skull...


    It was just because of her initial shock, a half beat''s slow reaction to the first shot, that there was no aftermath!


    She was instantly killed by the spray of gunfire!


    Even a fully armed Inner City Pioneer met this fate, let alone the others who were powerless to fight back.


    As the gunfire ceased, and the sound of empty casings falling was heard,


    Tao Yu casually ejected the magazine and inserted a new one.


    Then he methodically loaded bullets into the empty magazine, one by one.


    He turned to look at his own team and casually pointed at his eye, then at Taff who had been concussed and was still twitching, and said


    "He''s not dead yet. One by one, you all go. No one gets left out, understand?"


    Witnessing Taff struck down by Tao Yu in one hit, and the team decimated in less than a minute,


    Everyone left, including Panda, was nodding their heads incessantly like pecking chickens.


    "Understood! We understandpletely! Boss Tao, rest assured, the rest will be arranged by me..."


    Panda immediately pulled out his gun and fired two shots at Taff''s legs, then turned back with a malicious grin and said


    "We''re allplicit in today''s incident. The boss is merciful for sparing our lives. Don''t be ungrateful..."


    The crocodile man also quickly stepped forward to deliver the second finishing blow, and also turned to roar


    "What are you waiting for? Want to die, is that it?"


    Even Qimen, who was lying on the ground, propped himself up with his hands and crawled over rapidly, aided by his Mechanical Arm, letting its de stab into Taff.


    Then, looking up at Tao Yu, he added


    "Boss Tao, rest assured. Taff''s family is indeed powerful in the Inner City, but collectively, we three families are not weak either. We''re all in the same boat."


    "In the Abyss, death is normal,"


    Panda kept a watchful eye on the others, urging them to step forward while also reassuringly addressing them.


    If Tao Yu was an Inner City person, he wouldn''t really have anything to fear! Everyone knew their own limits.


    But with an Outsider acting so ruthlessly and not knowing the situation in the Inner City, he was afraid that caution would lead to eliminating everyone present.


    That would be a truly wrongful death...


    No need to eliminate us, in the Abyss a few deaths are manageable!


    In Floating City, many have died in the Abyss, not to mention a new generation from the Inner City?


    After all, it''s all just a matter of relying on good talent, a decent background, and having ess to more resources¡ªthat''s all. Together, we''re not inferior, and not many would go to great lengths to avenge a dead person...

 Chapter 122: Chapter 111 Qi-Blood into a Pill

    "Big Brother Tao, you were one of the first Pioneers to enter, and you''re actually a few days older than me. This is this month''s dividend. Please ept it with a smile..."


    Standing at two meters and thirty centimeters, even when Panda tried to lower himself, he was still a head taller than Tao Yu.


    That expression left Tao Yu somewhat speechless.


    "You were the ones who killed him, so why be so cautious?"


    Tao Yu really didn''t mind the situation at the scene. Taff was incredibly resilient; everyone had to stab him once, and in the end, it was the joint effort of three Inner City Pioneers that finished him off.


    Aside from the first strike by Tao Yu himself, the rest had little to do with him.


    The main pressure was borne by Panda and the others, but looking at Panda''s expression now, it seemed like he was scared he might identally kill him.


    Upon taking the two maic cards and feeling the sum of one hundred and twenty thousand Yuan Force inside, Tao Yu''s eyes also lit up slightly.


    "This is rather embarrassing."


    While saying that, he also quickly absorbed the Yuan Force inside.


    "No, if it weren''t for Big Brother Tao''s critical intervention, the warehouse''s future profits would be gone. This sum also includes some form of expression from Han Lin."


    Panda cracked a smile.


    Han Lin was the one with crocodile skin grafted onto him.


    "Bro Tao, I''ve been on bad terms with that woman for a long time. When she called off the engagement back then, it brought great shame to my family. Good riddance to her."


    Han Lin came over, thumping his chest in gratitude.


    This left Tao Yu utterly baffled. It turned out that he was also a powerhouse who had been through a broken engagement.


    However, Tao Yu wasn''t particrly surprised by this kind of thing. In Outsider regions, it was quitemon for engagement agreements to be made and then called off due to discrepancies in the awakening of talents.


    So, to avoid trouble, his family never got involved in such matters.


    It was likely the same case with Han Lin right now.


    "You''re too kind."


    Tao Yu patted him on the shoulder.


    "Not at all, I''m also looking to join Big Brother Tao''spany now, if you would allow it."


    Han Lin chuckled, standing humble before Tao Yu although both were Inner City Pioneers!


    Strength represented status!


    Even if they might harbor resentment or envy deep down, reason taught them what choices to make!


    Why should an Outsider have such strength?


    Just because of good talent?


    No!


    It was because he truly caught the eye of someone influential!


    "I have no objections."


    Tao Yu nced at Panda beside him, prompting Panda to quickly say,


    "Don''t worry, Big Brother Tao, your shares will always remain the same. Thepany''s expansion will be arranged and distributed using our own shares."


    This made Tao Yu nod as well.


    What a great deal!


    Even though he wouldn''t be able to match up with future profits, it was still an extra source of ie!


    And most importantly, apart from times like these where appearances mattered, he could mostly free up his own time.


    So, even if the dividend amount was a little less, it was still pretty good.


    "I need toplete tasks for Young Master Sun and Miss Sun most of the time, so I may not be able to show up often. Please bear with me."


    "Not at all, as long as we have such a mainstay, how much time can we spend on daily tasks?"


    Qimen, still emitting sparks of electricity from his body, also conveyedughter in his words.


    Watching the three smiling Inner City Pioneers in front of him, Tao Yu couldn''t help but think of Joseph and Wino from back then.


    Then, the words Uncle Hu had said to him shed through his mind.


    As long as he was strong enough, everyone around him would be good and kind.


    Yes, they were all Inner City Pioneers, and all of a sudden, they all became quite reasonable, didn''t they...


    However, Tao Yu didn''t let it get to his head.


    He had a clear understanding of himself. The main reason for the mass ughter other than his own abilities and initial kills was actually because everyone was still quite green!


    Even the earliest among them had only been awakened for about three months.


    Yuan Force eleration wasn''t omnipotent; it also took time to assimte.


    "There''s a catch; he spent a significant amount of Yuan Force as well. If that doesn''t guarantee a crushing victory, it would be unreasonable, but those veteran Inner City powerhouses should never be underestimated."


    Not to mention the veteran Inner City powerhouses, even the Wolf King who was killed in seconds and Li Hui, the deputy captain of the security team who was ambushed to death, actually had quite strong abilities.


    "For humans with fatal weaknesses, I am indeed a specialized attacker, a god of civil strife."


    Tao Yu also had his thoughts. In fact, the speed and explosive power that the Wolf King had disyedpletely surpassed his own, but he still died from a shot to the head.


    This Taff, based on that previous grab, had an all-around advantage in speed, strength, and reaction, and Tao Yu''s Spirit Perception also sensed a dormant yet untriggered force, which might involve the supernatural.


    But if Taff died without even using that force, it''s pretty useless.


    "If you need anything, find me; I''m heading back."


    With the problem resolved and the dividend received in advance, Tao Yu waved his hand and left promptly.


    Watching Tao Yu depart, Panda''s face showed a hint of sentiment.


    "Impressive, another big shot is emerging from the Outsider ranks."


    "Solving Taff with a single move, regardless of whether Taff was careless, is enough to prove his ability. It''s only been three months..."


    "He''s too strong. I waspletely outssed by Taff."


    Qimen sighed.


    "The talent should be more than just Grade A Dynamic Vision, but now he has grown."


    "As an Outsider with a clear background, the Suns family will surely want to cultivate him heavily, I wonder how many resources they will allocate..."


    "Even a mere favor from the nobles of Floating City can''t possibly be worse than what we Inner City people get."


    At that moment, Panda pped his hands.


    "Alright, let''s wrap things up here, clean up the bodies and everything else properly."


    While deaths weremon in the Abyss, it was still necessary to be cautious and not leave behind anything too incriminating.


    If no one speaks out, who would know that Taff and the others have died?


    By the time something seems amiss a few monthster... it would be toote.


    ...


    "Luck really does favor the bold."


    Feeling the presence of tens of thousands of Yuan Force, Tao Yu also felt somewhat emotional.


    His first sizable sum was from discovering the ''Chosen One''; it was good luck and he obtained arge amount of Yuan Force and the Stealth skill all at once.


    The money he earned afterwards was from legitimate hard work.


    And this time, simply by showing up, not only did he secure his original profit but also saw the dividend surge by 50%.


    "With an ie of a hundred and twenty thousand all at once, I have more options now..."


    He sensed his Yuan Force and skills.


    Although his daily consumption of Yuan Force was also substantial, he was already through most of his stable growth period, and efficiency was beginning to drop.


    So a second Deification of his skills was inevitable.


    "Originally, I didn''t have many choices. Aside from daily expenses, Stealth had the best cost-performance ratio, but now even Myriad Flow Stance Skill and innate talents are worth considering..."


    Tao Yu pondered.


    He was now just a bit short of the second Deification for Bullet Time, and he could potentially save up for it if he stopped his current training.


    However, such a decision to halt training and deplete all resources is too extreme, leaving nothing for emergencies.


    Innate talents offer only limited immediate improvement and might not be entirely suitable.


    Continuing to push the limits and enhance my attributes constantly remains the best strategy; otherwise, even a second Deification of my talent might not fully realize its efficiency.


    Myriad Flow Stance Skill requires even more resources than a single stance to be Deified. The first Deification cost five hundred, while the second requires a hundred thousand!


    It''s far more expensive than the Basic Breathing Method, but its effects should be notably superior, and there will still be some Yuan Force left for daily consumption.


    "Stealth is indeed great, but Shadow Maniption has already filled the gap where Shadow Force could not be stored, and stretching my limits further after entering the stable period will increase my efficiency even more."


    Now that he had an extra windfall, Tao Yu no longer hesitated. After returning to his trailer, he began eating canned food and chose the Myriad Flow Stance Skill.


    The newly acquired Yuan Force evaporated by a hundred thousand in an instant!


    A terrifying force of Qi-Blood burst forth from beneath his feet, rooted itself along his leg bones up to his spine, and then surged into his mind!


    Creak, creak~


    Aching and the sound of bones could be felt throughout his body.


    Under the pressure of this force, Tao Yu naturally assumed the stance of the Stance Skill.


    As his body moved, the Qi-Blood around him gathered, converging towards his abdomen and forming a Qi-Blood elixir...

 Chapter 123: Chapter 112: The Rising Corpse

    ```


    "Thank goodness I learned from the issues with the Meditation Technique..."


    ```


    Tao Yu looked at his arm that had slimmed down and felt a bit anxious at heart.


    Truly worthy of Deification for a second time!


    The skill of Shadow Maniption earlier was not focused on bodily abilities, but more on technique.


    The Basic Breathing Method was rtively cheaper and didn''t feel as intense.


    This time, just by preliminarilypleting one set of the Myriad Flow Stance Skill, the effects were already quite evident!


    "It might also be rted to my Stance Skill already reaching level 4, you get what you pay for..."


    Tao Yu quickly started eating to replenish himself, while also pondering things over.


    For the moment, the burden of a second Deification was still somewhat overwhelming for him...


    "Once Corpse Refinement is done, this wave of improvement should about end, and I should be able to go and hunt Aliens more freely..."


    After making this n in his mind, Tao Yu''s eyes also began to sparkle.


    The second month''s dividends from the transportpany were bound to plummet, and this decline was sure to continue.


    It seemed future ie would mainlye from the back-and-forth between the current world and the garrison.


    While Aliens were still valuable and plentiful, it was time to get his talents fully developed via a second Deification!


    If he was lucky enough to catch an Alien Queen, that could bring in a good amount of money...


    "Actually, I should be able to apply for the Empress, but there would definitely be some restrictions involved. Better to rely on myself..."


    Then, Tao Yu''s gaze returned to the Myriad Flow Stance Skill of the second Deification.


    Very good, very strong!


    "Myriad Flow Stance Skill ¨C Improved II": Condense Qi into Pills, able to stimte the whole body''s energy, greatly increase training effectiveness, significantly enhance the adaptability and learning ability of various moves, and when standing on the ground, slowly recover physical strength, substantially increase physical limits. As the skill level increases, further increase physical limits.


    Excellent!


    Every effect was quite remarkable, worthy of a Deification.


    Greatly increasing the training effect meant saving more time, and the Stance Skill''s inherent ability to reduce the difficulty of movements had also undergone a qualitative change.


    The key was that after condensing Qi into Pills, he could stimte the whole body''s energy,bined with the energy ovey from the Myriad Streams Breathing Technique, which had resulted in a qualitative improvement in closebat destructive power.


    "It feels a bit like the Muscle Changing and Bone Forging Scripture. In the future, when Ie across other simr abilities, I should be able to master them quickly, and with the unified energy throughout the body, energy from the Qi and Blood Pill can be stimted, greatly increasing both the amount and speed."


    Tao Yu punched out into the air, making a booming noise.


    "And the ability to slowly recover physical strength by standing on the ground..."


    Tao Yu maintained the stance of the Stance Skill, feeling the trickle of energy entering his body from the Yongquan acupoint, then joining the subtle cirction within his body, before opening his eyes.


    "It''s a bit like the free energy absorbed by the Basic Breathing Method, the effect is slightly better, stacked together it''s enough for daily activities. This feature is a nice bonus; I won''t starve to death in the future."


    Very well, next up is the time to wring out all my potential!


    ...


    With the full moon overhead, although deep into the night, the city without lights still had certain visibility.


    Dark buildings rose unevenly, devoid of any life, now even the zombie numbers on some main roads had greatly diminished.


    Under the moonlight, a figure was fluidly executing a series of Fist Techniques, the force stirring up the wild grass in the park, as an Alien cowered tremblingly at one side.


    "The Stance Skill truly is the foundation of the Five-Form Boxing, with the structure of the Stance Skill as the scaffold, methods and techniques of the Five-Form Boxinge naturally..."


    Tao Yu looked at each of his Five-Form Boxing skills, all of which had reached level 5, even "Five Forms as One" had reached level 4. He felt somewhat emotional.


    He hadn''t expected that these skills would be the first to reach level 5, all thanks to the solid foundational structure of the Stance Skill.


    "Thest day, it''s time to raise the corpse."


    Tao Yu arrived at the Corpse Refinement site.


    With the ready-made Corpse Refinement site and his own blood essence as nourishment, the nearby yin energy became even more chilling.


    Especially now, under the full moon, even the temperature seemed to drop suddenly.


    "I don''t expect it topare to the one killed by the Suns siblings, but it shouldn''t be worse than the one I killed before."


    As Tao Yu formed hand seals and his mental energy surged.


    ```


    "Rise!"


    With a flick of his fingers, two corpses burst forth from the ground, standing ramrod straight on the spot!


    Unadorned with clothes, but their bodies were already well-concealed by needle-like ck hairs, bringing a look of joy to Tao Yu''s face.


    "It wasn''t in vain to wait; they even grew hair."


    He felt it over, and although the ck hairs weren''t as hard as the fragmented corpse he had encountered before, which could still be snapped, they were nheless quite remarkable, akin to wearing reactive armor.


    Tao Yu then closed his eyes and manipted the corpse-controlling spell.


    "Retract!"


    The hard ck hairs moved back into the bodies of the two corpses like shadows, and afterward, Tao Yu pinched their rigid bodies.


    "Good grief, although their strength isn''tparable to mine now, their bodily defense should be much higher, it wasn''t a waste of time."


    He knocked on them, satisfied with the metallic sound.


    It''s certain a typical corpse refinement wouldn''t have had this effect, but this particrnd itself was too outstanding.


    Tao Yu picked up a regr handgun and fired several shots at the two zombies as if testing them, and bullets with sparks were all deflected!


    He then switched to an assault rifle and began to fire. Seeing that the bullets could only prate the epidermis, Tao Yu nodded in approval.


    AP bullets could probably prate their flesh, but that would be about it, it would hardly have any significant impact on their bodies. Find your next read on m_v l|e-NovelBin


    "Although there are still significant deficiencies in flexibility, I myself am in need of a meat shield, and when necessary, they can shadowize..."


    Tao Yu was self-aware; his offense was seriously overflowing, but when it came to defense, without wearing this bulletproof vest, he wouldn''t be able to withstand bullets.


    Even with a bulletproof vest, he probably couldn''t stop an alien''s tail sting.


    However, these two zombies, specialized and refined, could have such an excellent effect.


    "The fragments from that first zombie are important as nourishment; the effects of thisnd have already decreased a lot."


    Tao Yu had knowledge in corpse refinement and, observing the ck earth after the corpses emerged, he knew that thend''s utility had significantly dropped.


    The effect was this significant with a whole city''s worth of people, to be honest, this efficiency was really low.


    But for the ''Fortune Thief,'' they probably didn''t care at all. As long as it brought a slight improvement, no amount of deaths would matter!


    Tao Yu focused his mind on Cao Shaolin, and following a twist, those ck hairs reappeared, different from before. The ck hairs now seemed like shadows of intangible things.


    Cao Shaolin''s originally rigid arms also softened and iled as if they were noodles.


    "The shadowization effect is good, but it drains too much mental power. If not for the ''Meditation Technique,'' it would hardly be usable inbat, it can take enemies by surprise."


    Having made his judgment, Tao Yu then dressed the two zombies in the sports outfits and bulletproof vests he had prepared.


    Subsequently, a ck shadow started to wrap around Wino''s body, transforming into a puddle of ck water and melding directly into the shadows.


    He closed his eyes to sense it, and the speed at which Shadow Force was being absorbed was twice as fast as with the hastily made zombies seven days before!


    Half a day was enough to fully replenish the Shadow Force.


    From now on, Wino would be his personal bodyguard, passively absorbing Shadow Force for charging while also serving as an emergency defense, disying Cao Shaolin openly as a legitimate tool.


    "Disying a decent level of power can lead to better benefits, just need to handle it properly."


    Previously, killing one troublemaker had instantly increased his Yuan Force ie by tens of thousands; all these were the benefits brought by power!


    "Go back to the base for a while, lend the car to Jack or Miss Sun, then I can start umting resources for talents..."


    Tao Yu exhaled slowly.


    The first time he entered the Abyss, he already had the ability to contend with aliens.


    But at that time, he could only withstand one hit from an alien, now was the best time to start hunting them!


    He could act without restraint as long as there were enough aliens, and if so, the efficiency could be greatly increased.


    "Although transport ie has decreased in the second month, it should still bring in at least fifty to sixty thousand. If I catch another Queen, I''ll strive to gather enough for a Deification''s consumption in a month, hoping the rewards for the hunting tasks haven''t decreased..."


    Looking up at the sky, Tao Yu decided not to travel through the night.


    It had been grueling work for so long, resting well for a night to adjust was better.


    Turning back, he looked at Cao Shaolin. Tao Yu pondered if it was possible to teach this thing to drive...


    "It seems more reliable to teach Little ck to drive than to teach a zombie..."


    ```

 Chapter 124: Chapter 113: Changes in the Base

    "Idiot! Brake, brake!"


    A military green RV, resembling a truck, awkwardly veered down the highway, Tao Yu watched as Little ck nervously gripped the steering wheel, his face contorted with ferocity.


    Aren''t Aliens supposed to be smart?


    Despite having a mind-link, they could still manage to meander in the shape of an eight on such a straight stretch of road.


    "If you can''t drive straight by the time we get back to base, there will be punishment! But if you can, there will be a reward!"


    Tao Yu offered both carrot and stick.


    Sure enough, the effect was quite good. Although stillcking, at least now they could maintain a straight line on the straight highway.


    Even though it was still bad, it at least validated Tao Yu''s idea of coaching Little ck to be a driver in the future.


    Looking ahead at the gate of the base, which had already changed a lot, with many more peopleing and going, Tao Yu also felt somewhat emotional


    "The base can get this busy in two months. They''re working hard. There must be quite a few new Pioneers, but probably more survivors..."


    With no cannon fodder quota in the new Development Zone, and the high mission rewards, there were likely many willing to take the risk.


    And even those from the Outsiders who were willing toe must have had some resources. With the task of weing neers and the cleansing of Aliens, the survival rate should have gone up¡­


    Tao Yu thought to himself, when already someone came over to wave and signal.


    When that person saw Little ck driving, fear visibly shed across their face, and they instinctively grabbed their gun, but they didn''t take any drastic measures.


    Before he could say anything, Tao Yu thought of something and fished out a pass specially delivered to him by Panda, showing it briefly.


    Then he was quickly allowed through.


    "Not bad at all, the registration management is orderly, with both Pioneers and natives."


    Tao Yu looked at the people at the base entrance, then drove towards the interior of the base, which was clearly much more popted.


    Soon, someone like a security officer began to signal, guiding Tao Yu towards a parking direction. It seemed thatrge vehicles like theirs could not enter further and had to park at the outside parking lot.


    Tao Yu didn''t mind at all andplied with the directions, parking in a spot reserved forrge vehicles.


    Turning his head, he saw thepany''s trucks parked nearby.


    "Look after the house with Little Cao."


    Tao Yu admonished Little ck before he opened the door, got out of the car, then picked up the walkie-talkie and adjusted it to a certain frequency to speak inside,


    "Are you at the base?"


    "Yes, boss, you''re back?"


    Panda''s voice came through the walkie-talkie.


    Since the trucks were parked here, Panda and the others must have been dealing with matters at base.


    "Yeah, I''m done with my stuff for now."


    Tao Yu said while chatting through the walkie-talkie and walked toward the interior of the base.


    At this time, some handmade signs were hanging around the base, albeit with a bit of an ad-hoc feel to them.


    However, arrows for the new registration office, mission office, warehouse, and trade center had already been marked.


    After entering the base, several adolescents ran up and asked in broken Common,


    "Sir, is this your first time here? Do you need someone to show you around? Just some food in return will do."


    Tao Yu looked at those kids around fourteen or fifteen and knew they must be surviving natives. He casually asked,


    "What''s the matter? No work station?"


    "It''s too tiring..."


    Such a straightforward answer, but indeed, it matched thepany''s style.


    Even though zombies brought a lot of danger, in the past, survivors who found a food storage point could live off it for a long time.


    But under thepany''s management, they truly had to work every day.


    Safety was indeed improved, but undoubtedly it was exhausting.


    For survivors who only barely managed to stay alive, they almost exclusively felt the fatigue. The dead wouldn''te back to life to suggest a swap.


    "Sooner orter, you''ll have to face it. I''m not new here, find someone else," said Tao Yu, casually tossing a can of food out. It was something Little ck had randomly picked up, and Tao Yu himself didn''t really care about it.


    He paid no mind to their profuse thanks. The canned food was not for those few words of gratitude; it was purely for his own satisfaction.


    But Tao Yu knew that if they wanted to survive here, they would sooner orter have to adapt; saving someone temporarily won''t save them for life.


    "Boss, this way."


    Tao Yu heard Panda''s voice and walked towards him.


    At 2.3 meters tall, Panda''s height was the best form of identification, and no one nearby dared to get close.


    Inner City Pioneers were now definitely big shots here, not to mention Panda was quite famous himself.


    The owner of Dada Transportation Company, his fleet of more than a dozen heavy trucks, had been making a killing during this period.


    The Outsider Pioneers who followed him also reaped pretty good profits.


    "Not bad, you''ve gotten stronger."


    Tao Yu nced at the glowing Panda with Spirit Perception, vaguely sensing the explosive strength beneath his towering frame.


    Although he couldn''t be more specific, he must be much stronger than thest time they met.


    "I can''tpare with the boss, but after all the Yuan Force I''ve invested, there should be some effect. Besides, I went back once and got another organ imnted."


    Panda chuckled hehe.


    This was the convenience of xenogeneic imntation¡ªbeing able to withstand another imnt at an early phase is transformative.


    Even so, Panda was very honest in front of Tao Yu.


    At least for now, he was no match for Taff, and the man before him was the one who had killed Taff.


    "How''s the situation recently?"


    "It''s going well, but the profits can''t stop declining. It''s estimated you can take about eighty thousand this month, Boss, but it could drop to twenty or thirty thousand next month, and after that, it might be ten thousand a month. The main profitse from two-world transport..."


    Panda gave a straightforward estimate.


    Indeed, their job was a short-term bonanza.


    "However, a monthly profit of around ten thousand for about a year shouldn''t be a problem. I won''t be following the team next month; I''m going to look for new revenue streams. There are opportunities everywhere in the beginning."


    "Yeah, earning this much is already enough. How about the alien hunting situation? Has the subsidy for each alien been reduced?"


    Tao Yu was not surprised. As an Inner City Pioneer, the ie from the first few months was indeed enough to allow him full surveince, but it would be a bit of a loss if he continued to focus on thatter on; it was better to take it slowly.


    As profits diminish, to some extent, so does the danger.


    "No, the situation over there is actually not very optimistic. The Suns have made several special trips, captured two Queens, and just managed to prevent the alien numbers from growing massively.


    "The Rainforest has too many creatures, and most of the neers'' casualties are caused by aliens. Now the extra reward for killing has risen to 150 per alien."


    Panda seemed to have also caught the aliens'' attention and was very knowledgeable about them.


    "Besides, the current price for Alien Tails is around 150 Yuan Force, and Alien Mouths 300. If you can put together a set, you can ask for about a ten percent markup. We''re also buying now, not sure if we can make it work."


    "While we can make money now, it''s best to earn as much as possible before it bes toomon."


    "That''s true. I dare not buy liberally for fear of being stuck with it."


    Panda shuddered at the thought of the aliens'' expansion and reproduction capabilities. If it hadn''t been for the Suns being strong enough to target the Queens from the start, by now probably all neers would be dead on arrival.


    Even now, with the neers having some capabilities, the death toll still exceeds fifty percent.


    "Alright, I''ve got a good understanding now."


    "Boss, are you nning to hunt aliens? Together?"


    Panda''s interest was piqued, and he asked tentatively.


    "No, I''ll try it alone first."


    With Little ck and Cao Shaolin around, and considering his current strength, he naturally didn''t need to tread on thin ice as before. Going alone actually allowed him more freedom to act.


    If he joined a team now, the efficiency and profit would probably be even lower.


    Hard training up to this point was precisely for the sake of safety and efficiency¡­


    "Alright then, call me anytime when you''re free."


    "Sure."


    After chatting with Panda for a few moments, Tao Yu went to the mission hall alone.


    Looking at the LED disys and various liquid crystal screens in the mission hall, in terms of ss, it was much more upscale than the mission hall in the current world''s fortress.


    However, there weren''t many people; overall, it was still in the early stages. But because terminals had been brought over, information from the current world was transmitted here regrly, allowing the same opportunity to earn various points.


    Tao Yu came mainly to systematically understand the recent situations, because even though he listened to the broadcast every day, not every single detail could be reported...

 Chapter 125: Chapter 114 Temporary Camp

    "They haven''t stopped either, but maybe they''re just restraining the Aliens and guarding the settlements, activities have decreased a bitpared to before..."


    Tao Yu was checking some public intelligence and tasks, continuously digesting new information.


    The Suns siblings, with their hovercraft, were fast enough to have a natural advantage in exploration. They had already circled around upon entering, marking out much of Pandora World.


    However, so much time had passed now that they probably only made it to the eastern edge of Zombie World, crossed the Antic Ocean to Africa, and then discovered the boundaries of the fragments.


    "The description seems to indicate a world from the time of the Republic of China. It''s possible that it''s the world Cao Shaolin is in, also upied by zombies, but not nearly as severe as this one."


    As Tao Yu read the intelligence, thoughts were forming in his mind.


    Actually, when you think about it, it''s normal. In a world where transportation isn''t convenient and there''s no unified water source, a widespread outbreak like the one in this world would be quite difficult.


    These zombies weren''t very mobile, and their individual strength was mediocre, so they couldn''t possibly spread to every vige and town.


    That world had only a few exploration missions, and they required crossing the ocean, a far too great distance, with little apparent benefit. Tao Yu directly ignored them, content with just a basic understanding.


    "There doesn''t seem to be any threat for now, but that style might belong to Uncle Jiu''s world, who knows..."


    The thought of zombies put some pressure on Tao Yu.


    But fortunately, even if zombies managed to cross oceans, and the world barriers didn''t hold them back, there would still be a rather lengthy buffer period.


    At such times, one must have faith in the capabilities of the strong.


    "People have already gone to Pandora World? Wow, someone managed to get a transnt that can adapt to Pandora''s air. Not sure if it was pre-existing or imnted on the spot, butpleting it in a little over two months must have involved the use of Yuan Force..."


    Looking further, Tao Yu found that a very small number of elites had entered Pandora and collected some information.


    "The frozen world shouldn''t be Wandering Earth. Wonder if it''s post-apocalyptic..."


    After updating the information, Tao Yu still focused on the Rainforest, the world he first arrived in!


    Even though the Aliens originated from the ins, now the Rainforest was the hot zone of the Alien infestation, with high survivor rates for Pioneers whonded in the grasnds.


    "In open terrain, prepared Pioneers in the outskirts with weapons could face them one on one, but in the Rainforest, it''s all down to luck, and there are too many species."


    Tao Yu then downloaded a predictive map of Alien activity in the Rainforest.


    Though it was just an estimate, it divided the area into three major sections where three to four Alien Queens were presumed to be present.


    "Alien development is indeed fast. If it hadn''t been for those siblings'' swift action, there might have been even more by now. The Rainforest is too rich in resources; there are no rted tasks for Blood Orchid for now, not sure if they want to clean it up before mining or if someone is already guarding it..."


    Tao Yu didn''t ponder much; the flowering cycle of the Blood Orchid was too long, and he hadn''t nned much on it. His main focus was still on hunting Aliens toplete his Talent''s second Deification!


    Tao Yu then headed to Jack''s dormitory, pulled out the key, and opened the door.


    The guy wasn''t in the dormitory, but all his stuff was still there, toothbrush and cup untouched, though the room looked a bit messy.


    "What a fool."


    He tidied up casually, then left his RV keys and the maic card on the table.


    Just about to leave a note or something, he heard a noise at the door.


    "Yo, kid, you finally decided toe back? Haven''t seen hide nor hair of you for a month or two."


    What met his eyes was Jack''s familiar big nose with its ugly scar.


    "Hey, been caught up with stuff, here, my RV. Keep an eye on it for me."


    Tao Yu tossed the keys and maic card over to him.


    "Looks pretty high-end."


    Jack fiddled with them in his hand for a moment.


    "Suppose so."


    "You heading out again?"


    "Yeah, need to make money, you seem to have made good progress recently."


    Tao Yu sized up Jack, who had clearly bulked up a bit and whose muscle contours were smoother.


    As the ''Chosen One,'' Jack couldn''t strengthen specific areas but indeed grew stronger by killing monsters.


    "Fought Aliens? Zombies should take too long."


    "Yeah, there''s an Alien Queen at the base; they have me kill some Aliens every day, works much better than zombies."


    Jack happily struck a Crane pose there and then, smoothly beginning to move.


    This surprised Tao Yu, who noticed the Spirituality; Jack was already at a high stage of lv3, so fast!


    "Is that how it is?"


    "Uh, not exactly, I''m most familiar with the Crane shape. I actually wanted to go out, but they wouldn''t let me, which is kind of boring."


    Jack also sighed a bit. Now that he was the only Chosen One at the base, it was indeed impossible for him to take risks. He had even been given the position of the overall manager, and theoretically, all the natives were being managed by Jack.


    "Once the number of ''Chosen Ones'' increases, they''ll rush you out. For now, hurry up and improve your strength¡ªthat''s what really counts."


    Tao Yu flicked his finger against Jack''s body, and when he touched him, a burst of energy made half of Jack''s body go numb, nearly bringing him to his knees before he steadied himself.


    Afterward, he looked at Tao Yu with astonishment.


    "Man, you''ve gotten stronger, and it seems like a lot stronger."


    "Hanging out there for so long, that''s normal, right? I''ll be on my way, remember to watch my bike for me."


    Tao Yu waved his hand and left the dormitory, which made Jack a bit envious.


    But thinking about what Tao Yu had said, he still quite agreed with him and continued to practice...


    ...


    After posting a task to reassure his family that he wouldn''t being back in the short term, Tao Yu replenished some supplies and set off on an off-road motorbike directly towards the direction of the rainforest.


    Cao Shaolin, with a packed bag on his back, sat in the rear, coldly leaning on Tao Yu, while Little ck could only run alongside with all its might.


    This strangebination asionally attracted some attention on the road. Seeing the alien, Little ck, tamed by Tao Yu, many people revealed fear and some reactive behavior. Fortunately, no violent incidents urred.


    "It shouldn''t be just me who has tamed an Alien; this species is indeed tamable. However, their stubbornness is too much."


    Tao Yu looked at the back of Little ck''s head and his mouth twitched.


    When Yuan Force is abundant, the skills for riding and Taming Technique can undergo Deification again.


    However,pared to that, increasing one''s strength is of the highest priority.


    One''s own power is the foundation!


    Tao Yu didn''t go through Henderson''s highway this time but found another, more direct route based on the information from the mission hall.


    Along the way, he asionally encountered other Pioneers, some heading to the base and some towards the rainforest.


    Those going towards the base usually walked on foot, dusty and dirty. Sometimes it was one person, sometimes groups of several people.


    The vehicles headed towards the rainforest, on the other hand, would appear asionally.


    Read thetest on m_v-l''e|-NovelBin


    The Pioneersing towards Tao Yu would keep their distance, probably due to the deterring presence of Little ck.


    They might not even know that Little ck was tamed by Tao Yu. As long as it didn''t attack them, they didn''t want to draw its attention.


    The base wasn''t too far from the rainforest, but because of Little ck''s speed and the road conditions, by the time Tao Yu reached the edge, it was already evening, and night was about to fall.


    From afar, one could see the world of the rainforest meeting the end of the highway, with arge number of vehicles of various models parked there, and a dense array of tents set up nearby.


    There were tents of contemporary styles as well as many native ones, making it look like a tent festival. Additionally, some simple enclosures with wire fencing and the like had been set up in the vicinity.


    Tao Yu slowed down his motorbike as two armed figures approached him, warily eyeing the Alien creature by Tao Yu''s side.


    Seeing that Little ck had no intention of biting anyone and indeed appeared to be tamed, they forced a smile and said,


    "Fellows, this is a temporary camp organized by Lord Masu, specially serving Pioneers who want to enter the rainforest for hunting.


    "We offer vehicle storage, supply restocking, tent rentals, and purchase of trophies. It''s getting dark now; do you want toe in and rest a bit?"


    Thanks to the reputation brought by Little ck, the fully armed personnel spoke in gentle and cautious tones, as if fearing to anger Tao Yu.


    "How much does it cost, and can I bring a pet?"


    Tao Yu was also curious about the profitability of this business. If it were high, he would consider bringing Panda to join in.


    "Pets are allowed; we''ve hosted friends who have tamed Aliens before, but pets must be restrained. Otherwise, if other Pioneers attack them, we won''t take responsibility. And if a pet injures someone,pensation is required,"


    exined another in a soft voice, before continuing,


    "For someone as capable as you, sir, we don''t charge. We can even look after the vehicle for free. However, if you wish to rent a tent, it''s 10 Yuan Force for one night..."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu immediately lost interest, as the profits seemed rather ordinary.


    But the free vehicle watch must hold some gains; if a person dies, their vehicle bes theirs, right?


    Earning a margin on purchases is also a business. Since this ce is a distance from the base, Tao Yu himself would be willing to sell here for around a twenty percent discount on the revenue.


    Probably many Pioneers rest here at night and enter the rainforest during the day. They would only have the choice to sell here, despite the distance.


    The volume should still be decent, but as Tao Yu previously discussed with Panda, there is a risk of crash, with too many Aliens potentially keeping the reward price the same, or even increasing, but the value of the skills would definitely diminish significantly...

 Chapter 126: Chapter 115: Warning

    Tao Yu had no intention of striking out in the middle of the night. After a day of travel, he prepared to rest here for the night.


    With so many people around, if something really happened, all that mattered was running faster than the rest.


    He guessed many others shared the same thought.


    Tao Yu entered the campsite, parked his motorcycle in the ''parking lot'', took the packages off it, and hung them on Cao Shaolin and Little ck, himself going into action with light gear.


    "The World Barrier is really important, just don''t know if there''s any other way to bring Yuan Force creatures over here besides Pioneers..."


    Looking up at the rainforest foundation that was a dozen meters higher than this side and the gloomy trees of the rainforest, Tao Yu also felt the protective power of the World Barrier.


    But with the Suns siblings often taking action, they should be keeping the number of Aliens in check...


    Inside the camp, it was actually quite lively, with many people still looking to find some strong teammates, gathered around four or five bonfires.


    Tao Yu, ''a pair'' with an Alien, still attracted some attention.


    Perhaps because they stood out too much, yet no one approached to bother them immediately.


    Only after a while did people realize that there were apparently only ''two'' people at Tao Yu''s site, did a bold leather-armored beauty walk over.


    Her chest-protecting leather armor was so tight it bulged, showing off her healthy midriff, and her skin was a healthy wheat color. She wore nothing but leather shorts on the lower half of her body, leaving her unprotected thighs bare.


    This made Tao Yu feel somewhat speechless. Going into the rainforest with this kind of attire?


    Looking to be a leech''s best friend, huh?


    She was very attractive¡ªwith a bare face rating of 7.5 and a very healthy figure.


    In the outer city, she would definitely be considered well-nourished at home, probably from a not so poor family background. Yet, this was just too protective, pure and naive.


    Just by looking, Tao Yu had already made a judgment about this person approaching him.


    "Friend, there are just the two of you, want to team up? There are four of us, and we all have level 4 battle talents with main Skills."


    The naive beauty came up to Tao Yu, first ncing at Little ck warily and then curiously sizing up Tao Yu and Cao Shaolin.


    "No thanks, you''d better change your clothes."


    Tao Yu casually gave her a piece of advice, then found his own tent number and went straight in for a rest, starting the rtively low-magnitude, less consuming Meditation Technique.


    Since the supply of food was limited, Tao Yu would not quickly exhaust his supplies when entering an area where food couldn''t be stably acquired¡ªhe had to control the rate...


    ... Discover hidden tales at m,v l''e-NovelBin


    Elsewhere, the proactive girl returned with a gloomy face.


    "Haha, Bai Ya, even you failed," chuckled a much more robust woman, who could even be described as burly, seeing Bai Ya return dejectedly.


    "Yeah, I thought if his job was Taming, we could totally team up and cover for each other, you know," heh, Bai Ya giggled, then added another sentence,


    "Though, both guys were quite handsome, just that the one with the eye patch had a very cold face, and staring with no expression was kind of creepy."


    "What''s the use of being handsome, it''s all about strength."


    A man even more muscr than the burly woman muttered, but thinking the other party could tame an Alien, his strength didn''t seem too bad, and he didn''t know what to say anymore.


    "That''s true, anyway, you don''t have anything to do with handsomeness either, might as well settle for Ah Ji."


    Aparatively more handsome man started chuckling as he threw some twigs into the firepit.


    "Stop it, the one I fancy is you, Ying little brother, hehehe."


    Ah Ji, the burly woman called out in a tinklingugh, sending shivers down the burly man and the handsome man''s spine.


    However, it was clear that the rtionship among the four was harmonious, likely already quite familiar in the current world.


    "Get some rest, let''s recharge our energies. We need to be on alert all day tomorrow."


    Bai Ya, with a smile on her face, didn''t mind the subtle rivalry between the two male teammates while her gaze drifted again towards Tao Yu''s tent.


    Too bad he didn''t take the bait; otherwise, his value might be higher than these two guys.


    Thinking this, Bai Ya took out a long-sleeved shirt from her bag and put it on over her light armor, reducing her charm significantly.


    After lying down in her tent, Ah Ji said to Bai Ya,


    "Bai Ya, have you decided yet? Both are good; why the hesitation?"


    "We should make the most of our youth and passion, it''s hard to get these chances again. Of course, I still want to weigh my options," Bai Ya was very direct with Ah Ji, obviously close.


    "I''m not as indecisive as you. I can only go for someone withpatible talents and drag them straight home."


    "Stop trying to indoctrinate me with your theories, sigh..."


    Bai Ya also sighed. Her talent wasn''t inbat but rather a Perception C, significantly inferior to Ah Ji''s. She only had the opportunity to take a chance here because her family had good conditions!


    While she was still okay with mastering and training in various basic skills, due to her talent, she mainly just yed a supporting role in teams.


    This was mainly because in the new Development Zone, which was mostly about pioneering work, a Perception C was rtively more useful.


    She knew that in the old Development Zones, there were no opportunities for advancement. She would just have to honestly get married, bear children, and be a breeding machine!


    Her own pride in her looks meant nothing in the face of talent; this was the reality.


    Her only chance to change her destiny was to find someone with high talent and potential and, while still young and full of passion, achieve her goal.


    "My only chance!"


    With this obsession at heart, Bai Ya slowly drifted into sleep...


    ...


    "Hm?"


    Tao Yu opened his eyes, and the tent ceiling was the first thing he saw.


    Little ck was still lying honestly to one side, resting, while Cao Shaolin stood like a door god at his position behind him. Besides them, Wino was also released and stood on the other side.


    Going to sleep had always been full of a sense of security.


    But suddenly, Tao Yu''s Spirit Perception became restless, as if something was about to happen.


    "This isn''t just my imagination. Have the Aliens lost control? Is there a Pioneer in the tent that has been parasitized by an Alien?"


    Tao Yu pondered within his heart.


    A Pioneer who had been parasitized could of coursee through the world barrier!


    It''s just that after being parasitized, since they were ''attacked,'' they couldn''t meditate to return to the real world.


    So even if there were Aliens lurking around here, or even attacking, it wouldn''t be too surprising for Tao Yu. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have chosen to stay in the camp where there were many human sentinels!


    "Would it just be Aliens that make me feel this way?"


    Tao Yu''s sense of unease inexplicably began to rise, making him feel somewhat irritable.


    What is it?


    Just hesitating for a moment, Tao Yu had Wino retreat back into his shadow and then vanished like an ink painting, diving straight out of the tent.


    No matter what it was, it was best to check it out first!


    As the speckled shadow view flickered, just as he left the tent, Tao Yu was slightly startled, because without knowing when, a gray fog had enveloped the entire campsite.


    The fog wasn''t too thick yet, and the firelight from a few bonfires could still be seen, but the entire campsite had suddenly be eerily quiet.


    All the voices of the people who had originally been chatting by the bonfires and all other sounds of conversation seemed to havepletely vanished.


    There were only some heavy breathing and snoring sounds.


    With just a nce, he saw some figures sprawled out on the ground near the bonfire, and the guards at the entrance of the campsite were also lying on the ground, with their fates unknown.


    "There''s something wrong with this fog... Mental Immunity..."


    Tao Yu realized why he had suddenly awakened¡ªthe Spirit Perception warning and Mental Immunity had made him immune to this disturbance.


    Hypnotism?


    Tao Yu only hesitated for a second before swiftly diving into a nearby tent.


    Inside were two sleeping women, one big and burly, snoring thunderously. The other woman, who had previouslye over to invite him, was sleeping soundly with a flush on her face, as if she was having a sweet dream.


    Tao Yu walked straight over and picked her up, first gently tapping her face.


    She didn''t wake up, and then he gradually increased the force, p, p -


    She slept like a dead pig, even moaning a bit dreamily with a slightly troubling voice. Her legs were also together, lightly twisting and turning in her sleep.


    She was sleeping so deeply that it seemed anything could be done to her without her waking up.


    Casually tossing her aside like a dirty rag, Tao Yu crouched at the edge of the tent, closed his eyes, andmunicated with Little ck via ''heart-to-heart,'' causing the still-in-his-own-tent Little ck to perk up and awake.


    "Seems it''s only targeting humans? No, Little ck has been affected too; otherwise, it wouldn''t have slept so heavily during night watch, and I wouldn''t have had to call it..."


    Ordering in his mind, Little ck unhesitatingly rushed out of the tent and started to madly growl and bark.


    Not knowing what the situation was, it was best not to act recklessly. Many new threats could be very dangerous, and Tao Yu was careful with his feathers.


    Letting Little ck scout ahead should at least reveal something...


    _____

 Chapter 127: Chapter 116: The Sacrificial Rite

    The temporary campsite was enveloped in a faint mist, with many people passed out beside the fire, some sprawled eastward and others westward.


    But from the rise and fall of their chests and the asional snoring, it was clear they were still alive.


    It was in this eerie atmosphere that seven or eight people were gathered in the central tent of the camp.


    Surrounding a grotesque ck stone idol, they continuously kneeled and prayed.


    The ck idol was strange, abstract in shape, a chaotk of symmetry that induced feelings of revulsion just by looking at it.


    Tentacles, serpentine heads,pound eyes, multiple facets¡ªit naturally evoked a sense of disgust.


    Scattered haphazardly around it were gray candles burning with a faint blood-colored me, beneath which were graffiti-like chaotic patterns that appeared to be smeared with blood, connecting them to the stone idol.


    However, the expressions on the faces of most people praying were extremely fanatical.


    Only the figure at the forefront, draped in a ck cloak, remained calm under the shadow of the hood, their lips moving continuously as if in prayer.


    It wasn''t until a roar came from outside that their prayer was interrupted, and they slowly raised their head.


    Without a word, another figure, who had also stopped praying, hurriedlyy prostrate on the ground, and stammered,


    "Lord Masu, an outsider came into the camp earlier, having tamed an alien, and it must be that one."


    "Although it is not human, it managed to stay awake during the ritual, which suggests the alien has great potential."


    Masu lifted the hood, revealing a face that was handsome to an almost superhuman degree.


    While the face was quite charming, there was always a hint of fakeness to it.


    "I''ll take people to subdue it right away, but what about its owner..."


    "A pet that has lost control and killed its owner, to be finally captured by us¡ªdo I really need to spell it out?"


    Masu''s face was full of indifference.


    The one who had spoken turned pale and, not daring to say another word, could only keep their head down and back away before leaving the tent.


    Two others promptly followed suit.


    The alien waspletely abat weapon; capturing it alive was a high difficulty task, thus they dispatched three of their best hands.


    "Lord Masu, why do we keep dying the blood sacrifice? Today''s numbers have reached a new high, there''s no need to wait any longer. We must please the Master!"


    At this moment, a woman positioned slightly below Masu in their prayer began to babble insistently. Her originally delicate face bore only a twisted fanaticism.


    Bulging eyes and a ghastly expressionpletely ruined what was otherwise a rather attractive countenance.


    This elicited a look of faint disgust from Masu.


    Waste that cannot control their sanity.


    It seemed they were on the brink of losing control; such waste, once they snapped, would inevitably blow up the entire team.


    With this thought, a trace of murderous intent surfaced within Masu, but still, he spoke in a calm tone,


    "We have no clear idea how strong the Suns siblings really are, but as the representatives of the Suns in this generation, they are among the top in their peer group within the Floating City. A rash move that alerts them would undermine all we have aplished. For now, slowly umting power is the way to go."


    "But the Master needs our pleasure!"


    The woman seemed to be overly excited from just finishing her prayers.


    "Perhaps, you could perform a self-sacrifice. I am willing to preside over the ritual for you."


    Masu seemed willing to offer what sounded like a reward, which made the woman start to talk nonsense, her breathing growing heavy.


    "Thank you, Lord Masu! Thank you for granting me this opportunity!"


    However, just then, Masu furrowed his brow and looked outside¡ªwhat was going on?


    It was too quiet!


    There should have been some noise from capturing the alien!


    "Be careful, something''s not right. Everyone, raise your alertness."


    With Masu''s warning, except for the woman, the other two present were quick to react as well.


    It was too silent outside!


    Even the slightly mad woman now seemed to have calmed down considerably, her face taking on a sickly ferocious look.


    "Damn it! How dare they interrupt the Lord''s ritual! Damn it! Damn them all!"


    "Then go and check what''s happening, kill anyone who''s a problem."


    Without any hesitation, Masu made use of this waste of flesh. Although the woman lost her sanity too quickly, what she gained in return was not a weak strength, second only to himself on the field.


    If she went mad, perhaps even he would have a headache; however, using her to probe was...


    But just then, before they could take the initiative to strike, the tent on both sides was suddenly torn apart.


    Two figures shot in straight, lunging towards them.


    Such grand movements, such arrogant actions, they were indeed caught by surprise!


    Bang bang~


    The first to respond were a few gunshots.


    Apart from Masu and the woman, the other two immediately returned fire with their guns.


    Their reactions, speed, and uracy were all extremely fast!


    Yet the figures that were continuously shot at acted as if nothing had happened to them.


    The guns they used were loaded with specially made bullets, highly lethal even to bulletproof vests.


    But even as shots exploded on the two figures, they didn''t stop at all!


    "Die!"


    Ultimately, it was that woman holding daggers in each hand who, with the speed of a cheetah, deftly moved behind one of the somewhat stiff figures.


    Her legs hooked around the figure''s waist from behind, and her daggers plunged viciously into the opponent''s eye sockets!


    Bodies that could block bullets were clearly powerful, and the eyes were still the best way to take down such prey.


    Mad as she may be, this instinct for battle without thought truly demonstrated her strength.


    After the daggers prated, a sick smile spread across her face, and she then began to twist them violently.


    "Aren''t you dead yet? Dead yet?"


    On the other hand, Masu was even more direct. With just one step forward, the de at his waist unsheathed instantly, and with one sh, he beheaded one of the figures!


    From the moment the two figures burst in, the counter-attack with gunfire, and the subsequent lethal blows by the woman and Masu, it all unfolded within a few short seconds.


    They took down two targets capable of withstanding bullets in an instant.


    "Master Masu is truly..."


    One of the gunmen was about to say something but was immediately impaled by the hands of the headless figure, his body rupturing!


    His blood had not yet poured from his mouth as he looked down in disbelief at the bloody palms. Before he could resist, he was torn in half with a forceful spread of the arms.


    Blood and guts sprayed everywhere!


    The headless corpse was still capable of killing, scaring the other person who quickly retreated, only to be impaled by an unexpected alien tail that pierced his body and dragged him outside the tent, leaving behind only his distant screams.


    "Watch out!"


    Masu''s voice had just warned them when his body was still moving towards the front.


    The figure whose eyes had been pierced by the woman suddenly twisted its head, turning into an invisible shadow that bit down on the woman who was clinging to its back.


    Pu-chi~


    The woman''s head was swiftly swallowed by the shadowy maw; her legs, still hooked at the figure''s waist, did not loosen as her headless body leaned backwards, blood gushing...


    And Masu, who had just taken action, suddenly felt a terrifying chill run through him.


    Completely out of the ordinary, even arguably defying thews of physics, he stopped moving forward and burst back to dodge a de''s shadow that appeared like a stroke in an ink painting.


    "Huh?"


    Tao Yu used two zombies and Little ck to distract attention, creating conditions for his ambush, and yet he couldn''t deliver a fatal blow on the first attempt. This guy had high Perception.


    And his body was strange, capable of making such moves to avoid the attack.


    He didn''t hesitate afterwards and leapt back again, dispersing like an ink drop hit by water.


    This guy''s de was fast, caution was paramount...

 Chapter 128: Chapter 117: Annihilation

    Masu looked at Tao Yu''s dissipating figure once more and his entire countenance seemed extremely grave.


    Evading that attack just now had note without a price!


    He kept retreating toward the statue and said in a deep voice,


    "Friend, your abilities aren''t exactly aboveboard either. There''s no need for us to fight to the death. I only follow the Heretic God for power, and there''s no conflict between us¡­"


    There was no response. Masu maintained a high level of vignce, faintly feeling that the other was always looking for a breach around him.


    "These ghostly times are not peaceful; it''s understandable to seek power. There''s no need to risk your life for the big shots of the Floating City. People should live for themselves! Am I right?


    "I only joined the Heretic God Church for self-protection too. I can quit. I still have my wits about me. What do you say to shaking hands and making peace?"


    Masu kept up his beguiling speech, which seemed to have a strange effect that easily persuaded others.


    However, to Tao Yu in the shadows, this waspletely meaningless!


    Moving continuously to the side, he found that Masu was always facing him directly.


    Thinking about Masu''s previous strike that had decapitated Wino, Tao Yu knew he wouldn''t withstand a simr blow.


    After several tentative attempts, the next moment, Tao Yu began to rapidly retreat, while the headless Wino and Cao Shaolin with corpses still hanging from his body both pounced toward Masu.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu himself drew his AT200 and started to fire at Masu from a distance.


    If he couldn''t take him down in closebat, then he would just start shooting!


    Streams of shadows clung to the bullets, turning them as soon as they left the barrel into a thick coat of ink!


    The moment Tao Yu retreated, Masu ducked behind the statue, shouting fiercely,


    "You forced my hand! You''re asking for death!"


    Many bullets hit the statue but couldn''t prate it at all.


    The shadow force, like ink, sshed onto the statue, seemingly seeping into its many cracks and spreading the fissures.


    Evenbining the bullets with armor-piercing capabilities failed to break the statue.


    However, several bullets, focused with Tao Yu''s mental force, moved in an arched trajectory the moment they left the barrel. As they approached the statue, they had gained enough of an angle to envelop Masu from behind!


    ng~


    The statue was cut down by Masu himself, and at the same time, a session of bullets prated Masu''s head.


    Before Masu''s body hit the ground, Tao Yu''s pupils contracted at the sight of a strange, arc-shaped ripple spreading rapidly from the broken center of the statue,


    The all-epassing mode of coverage left no room for Tao Yu to dodge, even in "Bullet Time."


    He barely managed to slip into the shadows using "Bullet Time," hoping the shifting form could buffer the blow.


    His bear formyered his inner strength, and the Qi and Blood Pill was activated, covering his whole body.


    His mental force was highly concentrated, and his Yuan Force was ready to restore at any moment.


    Then...


    "That''s it?"


    Pierced by the ripple, Tao Yu blinked as if nothing had happened.


    It turned out to be a mental attack, quite startling...


    But in just an instant, it had severed the connection of two zombies close by, enough to show the strength of the mental impact.


    After going back and using his spirit and blood to reboot the zombies, Tao Yu also saw Masu''s body lying on the ground, eyes wide open, unwilling to close in death.


    "Inner City Pioneer Masu doesn''t seem to be very famous, always very low-key, but his strength is not inferior to Taff''s¡ªa gift from the Heretic God Church, perhaps¡­"


    Tao Yu also felt a trace of solemnity in his heart.


    "It''s just that I have many methods at my disposal. If one doesn''t work, I switch to another. If it were purely closebat, his high perception, high speed, and high damage really sort of counters me. That tachi is too long, and my Fist Intention from a distance probably wouldn''t have been enough to incapacitate him..."


    Picking up Wino''s head and looking at the sleek cut, Tao Yu couldn''t help but feel moved by the power of that strike¡ªenough to split an armored car, let alone a zombie''s resilience, certainly not something he could resist either.


    He ced the head back onto Wino''s body and then let him dissolve into a shadow to recover. Tao Yu proceeded to control the eyeless Cao Shaolin to start scavenging the bodies.


    The closest to the statue was Masu. Not only had his head been hit by bullets, his wide-open eyes showed he had died in disbelief, and the direct hit from the intense mental assault was like a coup de grace.


    Nevertheless, Tao Yu continued to make Cao Shaolin crush his skull before starting to search for any items on his body.


    Then, Tao Yu discovered that the flesh and blood vessels on Masu''s body were wriggling like ck worms, still retaining a semnce of life!


    It was unclear whether it was a remnant of his previous prayers or if the proximity to the statue and the mental impact had reactivated them.


    After carefully checking the nearby dead matter and other bodies to ensure there were no major issues, Tao Yu ultimately decided to have Cao Shaolin pile up several bodies, pour gasoline on them, and light a fire.


    Looking at the raging fire before him, Tao Yu saw Little ck returning, and through "heart-to-heartmunication," he could feel that Little ck had still suffered some mental shock despite having run far away.


    The people who had fainted in this temporary camp were probably all somewhat injured, and the nearest few tents were already without the sound of breathing.


    After checking the recently shaken-to-death bodies inside the tents and finding no signs of any abnormalities, Tao Yu also breathed a sigh of relief.


    Indeed, it''s just an ordinary statue of a god; it shouldn''t be so exaggerated.


    "The distance leads to significant attenuation, but a self-destruct of an Evil God statue could make even the clean-up person hesitate..."


    Tao Yu estimated that if it weren''t for his Mental Immunity, even the Pioneers stronger than himself would have a hard time getting away unscathed when dealing with this problem!


    No wonder Sun Shiyu''s admonitions were so solemn at the beginning.


    "To build a temporary camp, and perhaps put on a show like this every night; I wonder what they''re up to. Are they attempting to convert people into followers? Or are they able to absorb or collect something?"


    Tao Yu thought of the woman he encountered in the first tent, who seemed to be in the midst of an indescribably pleasurable dream given her terrible state.


    Amping up desires? Eroding willpower?


    Or is it just simply to please?


    "Earlier I heard something about a blood sacrifice; it seems Masu intervened to stop it. It looks like he wants to y the long game and stay undercover..."


    Thinking of this, Tao Yu actually felt some pressure.


    Internal and external troubles indeed! Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin


    But upon further thought, if he were a follower of the Heretic God, he would probably start from the new Development Zone as well, given that it''s where management is weakest and forces are still not strong enough.


    It''spletely a potential breakthrough point.


    "I just don''t know how many there are; even the Inner City people joined the Church of the Heretic God, what are they after..."


    Tao Yu sighed.


    He felt that the Outsiders really provided fertile ground for the growth of the cult of the Heretic God; their situation was indeedplicated.


    But as for Masu, being from the Inner City...


    "Perhaps their family originally rose to power by these means. Judging from their strength, joining the Church of the Heretic God is probably beneficial."


    Although Tao Yu possessed Godhood and Mental Immunity, when it came to Evil Gods and Demon Gods of the Abyss, he had no intention of testing his limits.


    Who knows how powerful those things can be?


    There''s no need to take risks when a clear path is alreadyid out.


    "Let the big shots worry about it; I''m just a small fry like Karami, no need to stir up trouble. Tsk, does this mean I have to go back again? I wonder if I can find a telegraph or radio..."


    While Tao Yu was mulling this over, Cao Shaolin had alreadye over with the corpse-looting gear.


    All was still well; it turns out Masu wasn''t some sort of suicide bomber maniac.


    Er, perhaps other people would be more at risk from the statue''s explosion, but for Tao Yu, it was rather good news.


    "This knife is quite nice..."


    The first thing Tao Yu got his hands on was Masu''s tachi-like long sword, an unquestionable Yuan Force item, and its attributes were quite impressive.


    Treasonous de: [Sturdy][Sharp][Armor-Piercing][Self-Repair], capable of absorbing one thousand two hundred points of Yuan Force.


    Four-fold traits, and theyplement each other nicely.


    Actually, Tao Yu''s current Colossal Lizard''s Fang was also very good, but the Colossal Lizard''s Fang was a short weapon. Having a longer weapon toplement it was quite beneficial.


    The main reason he hadn''t attempted another closebat attack after his first failed attempt was the gap in weapon length.


    The influence of Fist Intention from a distance was reduced quite a bit beyond the range of one''s arm plus the length of a de.


    After all, the maximum destructive impact of Fist Intention was after a sessful hit, and the effect would decrease with distance.


    So, he temporarily switched to using a spear.


    "After taking down a Heretic God nest, the rewards won''t becking, right? It can''t be less than what I got for killing an alien, surely..."


    After fiddling with the Treasonous de for a bit, Tao Yu unapologetically hung it at his waist, disying it openly.


    Compared to some equipment that seems shady, this one is absolutely above board.


    What could be a more legitimate source than spoils of war from smashing a Heretic Godir?


    But then Tao Yu''s expression became rigid as he thought,


    "Er, wouldn''t that possibly draw retaliation from those zealots of the Church of the Heretic God..."


    Thinking this, he silently tore off some strips of cloth and wrapped them around the sheath and handle of the Treasonous de, deciding it''s better to keep a low profile...

 Chapter 129: Chapter 118: Mopping Up

    "Found it; since they set up a temporary base here, I thought there should be one."


    Tao Yu scavenged some remaining spoils of war and still found a hand-cranked radio box in the neighboring tent, which should be able to maintainmunication with the base.


    "I just knew it, although they may secretly hold that ceremony every day without us knowing what for, they wouldn''t want to be at a loss of Yuan Force..."


    Tao Yu briefly examined the hand-cranked radio box.


    The temporary camp was established by Masu, a Heretic God Follower, and while the main purpose was still uncertain, they definitely wanted to make a profit every day.


    As such, instantmunication with the base was very important, as they couldn''t always rely on foot.


    "The frequency they are currently connected to should be their people; I don''t know if they are core followers..."


    After roughly figuring it out, Tao Yu began turning the knobs to tune in, adjusting to the base tower''s receiving frequency, then cranked the handle while picking up the walkie-talkie and deliberately used force to affect his vocal cords to produce a deep voice,


    "Calling the base, can you hear me?"


    The base had two public frequencies besides the one for externalmunication, and there was also a search and rescue channel, which was usually silent, used for reporting incidents, and asionally there would be information provided by caravans and Pioneers.


    The main purpose was actually to prevent some emergency situations, such as discovering a zombie horde or an alien army, and Pioneers outside would asionally use this frequency for nearby teaming andmunication.


    However, since it''s a semi-public frequency, they wouldn''t be discussing any confidential matters on it.


    This was one of the more convenient ways to directly contact the base, and Tao Yu didn''t have many other options.


    It wasn''t long after Tao Yu''s inquiry that he received a feeble response,


    "This is the base tower."


    "Heretic God Follower discovered; please report immediately..."


    Tao Yu was straightforward, and there was no immediate response from the other side. After a moment, apanied by static noise from the walkie-talkie, another much steadier voice came through,


    "Who are you? Where are you now? How did you find out?"


    Starting with a rapid series of questions, Tao Yu guessed that it might be one of the Inner City Pioneers who had been recruited.


    "At the end of Highway Three in the Rainforest camp; Inner City Pioneer Masu is a Heretic God Follower. He has been taken down, but unsure if any fish slipped through the."


    This was a semi-public frequency after all; who knows how many people were listening in the channel at that time? It was just that the severity of the incident Tao Yu reported meant nobody dared to interject, so Tao Yu didn''t reveal his identity, and his voice also remained altered.


    After a moment, the tower came back with a conversation much more soothing in tone, without any further inquiry about "who are you".


    "Masu''s camp, right? I know of it; I will report it to the two leaders immediately. I hope you can hold on for now, and if it''s dangerous, feel free to leave."


    "Not in danger for the moment; everyone here seems to be unconscious because of the ceremony."


    Tao Yu said this but still stealthily slipped outside the camp after reporting.


    After all, it was a semi-public frequency; who knew if any Heretic God Followers were listening?


    Although he believed that those who shunned the light would not likely take risks at such times,


    He still had to be wary of any die-hard lunatics poking around.


    It was just better to hide and watch for a while.


    What he could confirm now was that Sun Shiyu, who had taught him the legitimate Meditation Technique, was definitely alright.


    It didn''t take long for Tao Yu to see Sun Shiyu flying quickly towards him on a motorboat, relying on his exceptional eyesight.


    As she arrived nearby and saw the gradually dispersing gray fog and the people sprawled in disarray, Sun Shiyu did note down immediately but circled around the base.


    It was then that Tao Yu began waving his hands frantically,


    "Miss, over here, over here."


    Upon seeing Tao Yu, Sun Shiyu''s pretty face shed a look of surprise, and she descended directly.


    "Did you file the report? Did you do all this? It indeed smells of a Heretic God Follower." Explore stories at m,v l''e-NovelBin


    Sun Shiyu wrinkled her cute nose, seemingly disgusted by the gray fog.


    "It was me, yeah; I was nning to stay here for the night. I sneaked out for a bit, and when I came back, things were awry."


    Tao Yu casually said.


    This gray fog carried a kind of spiritual hypnotic effect, and Tao Yu had roughly gauged that someone normal who practiced the Meditation Technique and was vignt could enter from outside without an issue, just don''t stay too long.


    After all, it was just a minor ceremony; it couldn''t be too powerful, or else they would have just chosen the base for it.


    "Well done; I haven''t taught you in vain,"


    Sun Shiyu''s mouth curled into a smile, then nced at the smudge on Tao Yu''s face, wiping it off with her smooth finger.


    "You''re all ruffled; remember to put safety first next time."


    The familiar fragrance wafted into his nose, causing Tao Yu to shudder.


    Was she flirting with him? Damn it.


    In fact, over the recent encounters, the rtionship between Tao Yu and Sun Shiyu had be quite good, and there had even been some idental touches, but this time, it all seemed intentional...


    "I don''t know what they were doing, but everyone passed out, and in the end, the statue was shattered, giving me a real headache."


    Tao Yu said half-truthfully.


    "You shattered the statue? No wonder; it seems your progress with the Meditation Technique isn''t bad. Did you shoot it to pieces?"


    After a moment of silence, Sun Shiyu nced back at Tao Yu and then continued,


    "You are indeed lucky; if you were too close, even with the Meditation Technique, the impact wouldn''t be small, and death could not be ruled out."

 Chapter 130: Chapter 118: Tidying Up_2

    ```


    "Is it that serious?"


    "Let me know if anything happens in the future, don''t just rush in without telling me."


    With a flick on Tao Yu''s forehead, Sun Shiyu started checking the burned-down ritual site with her hands behind her back.


    "Very cautious, and clever to burn it, but it''s just an ordinary ritual effigy, so it shouldn''t cause much pollution. I''ll arrange for someone to log it, you don''t have to worry about it, I''ll keep an eye on it."


    "Heh heh, what about the reward..."


    Tao Yu rubbed his hands like a fly, his face full of anticipation.


    Poor people, no choice.


    If it weren''t for the reward, I''d have bolted, no way I would''ve stayed.


    "Take this for now, I''ll think about itter."


    He casually tossed a card to Tao Yu, who felt his heart leap when he sensed the fifty thousand Yuan Force inside.


    Damn, that''s heart-racing.


    That was about what my second month''s transportation dividend''s guaranteed minimum was. It undoubtedly saved me a ton of time, and my talent''s path to Deification moved one step closer!


    "What do you n to do now? Come back with me first?"


    Sun Shiyu tilted her head and nced at Tao Yu.


    She had juste over to deal with the situation, which had been handled very well, and the rest could be wrapped up by the fleet arriving overnight.


    No need to do everything myself.


    Go back with you?


    Tao Yu was first stunned, then he looked at the curves outlined by Sun Shiyu''s tightbat suit, nced at the motorcycle, and his whole body shivered.


    Can''t hold back, really can''t hold back, this woman is toxic.


    Tao Yu suspected she sprayed some kind of banned substance on herself. But wait, that wasn''t right. His Spiritual Immunity should be able to handle that, unless it was like a pain reminder or something.


    In his head, Tao Yu knew he shouldn''t mess around, but his body honestly nodded in agreement.


    "It would be wonderful if Miss could give me a ride, I was just about to go collect payments from Panda and the rest."


    Tao Yu quickly found an excuse.


    It wasn''t time for the dividend yet, and he hadn''t nned to keep drawing on it in advance. He originally nned to hunt Aliens, umte enough, thene back for this ie. The timing would have been perfect.


    But since he now had some extra cash and was going back anyway, he used it as an excuse.


    Panda was easy to talk to, he''d probably agree to an advance.


    "Collecting payments? They owe you money?"


    Sun Shiyu called the motorcycle back and gave Tao Yu a sideways nce.


    "No, we started apany together. It''s a partnership, young Master Sun witnessed it."


    "Oh."


    Sun Shiyu said oh, and then looked at Tao Yu skeptically.


    "What are you staring at? Get on."


    Tao Yu looked at the curve she struck on her motorcycle, feeling quite rebellious within.


    "Damn, I''m not a rookie, what''s going on? This body is too active."


    Cursing inwardly, Tao Yu closed his eyes and swung himself onto the back seat.


    The snug stic touch sent a chill down his spine, and the faint scent from her flowing hair almost made him grasp the back, but instead, he ended up wrapping his arms around Sun Shiqing''s waist.


    After he wrapped his arms around her, Tao Yu came back to his senses and was surprised at his own boldness, but seeing that she didn''t object and was calmly starting the ascent, he sighed in relief.


    Although he was quite familiar with Sun Shiyu now, and there were asional touches when discussing Skills and testing, this kind of situation was a first.


    As the motorcycle sped along with her hair fluttering in front, Tao Yu was tempted to bury his face in it, but he subdued the urge with the mental strength brought by the Meditation Technique, and he managed to control his wandering hands.


    ```


    Sitting upright and serious, he immediately started practicing the Meditation Technique on the spot, emptying his mind.


    "Wake up, we''re here."


    It wasn''t until the voice reached his ears that Tao Yu jerked awake and quickly rolled out of the car.


    Only then did he realize they had arrived at the siblings'' residence. Sun Shiqing, dressed in casual home wear, curiously nced at the two of them. Experience more content on m v|l e''-NovelBin


    "So you''re the informant."


    "Yes, Mr. Sun, I just hitched a ride."


    Tao Yu didn''t know why he felt the need to exin, but back then Sun Shiqing had seen some of his minor actions. Now, she was smiling at him like a sly fox, her expression somewhat yful.


    "Ahem, I''ll be off then, thank you, Miss Sun."


    Tao Yu coughed and nced at Sun Shiyu, who seemed perfectly normal as if she didn''t really care about giving him a ride back.


    "Don''t be so formal, you''re quite capable and you''ve been generous in teaching Skills, with no one else around, just call me Shiyu."


    Sun Shiyu appeared nonchnt.


    "Me too."


    Sun Shiqing smiled and waved from the side but still added a warning,


    "Still, if you don''t want to die young, be mindful in front of others."


    Tao Yu''s heart, which had begun to thump wildly, chilled immediately upon hearing Sun Shiqing''s reminder, and he quickly reined in his somewhat inted and airy thoughts.


    "Got it, I''m off now."


    "Alright, are you heading out to hunt Aliens?"


    "Yes, the convoy''s earnings have started to decline."


    "Oh, be safe."


    Sun Shiyu seemed to be pondering something and absently warned him.


    "Be careful not to die."


    "Thank you for your concern, Miss Sun~"


    Tao Yu turned around with a big smile and waved as he sped up his pace, sighing to himself,


    "This youngdy is quite nice. I almost feel like she''s taken a liking to me. Hmm, but I''m clean-cut. It''s normal for her to want me by her side. It''s just a pity¡ªif only she craved my body, too..."


    ...


    "Sister, how did it go?"


    After watching Tao Yu leave, Sun Shiqing moved closer to her older sister and whispered with a giggling smile.


    "His physiological reactions are pretty normal, but he''s also quite the scaredy-cat. You scared him, so now he''s done for," Sun Shiyu said, looking down at her curvy figure and resting her chin on her hand, somewhat helpless.


    "No way. Don''t the books say that boys his age are all monkeys? He didn''t cross any lines? How did he resist? You''re such an embarrassment..."


    Sun Shiqing widened her eyes in disbelief.


    "I really don''t get it either. Could my Subus lineage be fake? He was even practicing [Meditation Technique] in the car."


    At this point, Sun Shiyu was also puzzled. Usually, she restrained her innate abilities, but that didn''t mean her lineage was weak. Theoretically, it was a top-tier ability that could even diminish concepts like attack and harm.


    "That''s how you taught him to use the [Meditation Technique]?"


    Sun Shiqing was also a bit baffled and blinked her eyes.


    "How should I know? Don''t you have any references?"


    "What can I do? I''m an Angel, without that kind of thing. I''m quite curious, though. Maybe you could let me watch when you two do it..."


    Sun Shiqing''s eyes suddenly turned dark gold, exuding a pure aura as her face showed a trace of curiosity.


    "Scram!"

 Chapter 131: Chapter 119 Trap

    ```


    Da-da-da~


    The sound of gunfire rang out continuously as bullets spewed from the assault rifles Tao Yu dual-wielded, sshing blood sma from the aliens that reared their heads in front.


    In the dense jungle ahead, shadows asionally flickered, as if the rustling of leaves surrounded them from all sides.


    Amidst the leaves and behind the treetops, those dangerous and cunning figures lurked, their numbers definitely exceeding ten!


    The aliens, facing the barrage from regr assault rifles, showed a considerable resistance, even though Tao Yu possessed "Intuitive Shooting".


    Without the need for ballistic correction, he still scored highly urate critical hits, but it took an average of ten bullets to take down one alien!


    The continuous fire from the two assault rifles could notpletely stop the aliens'' approach.


    By Tao Yu''s side, Cao Shaolin and Wino stood guard like mighty generals, while Little cky in wait on a tree branch.


    Whoosh~


    With an explosive leap from Cao Shaolin, he shot forward like a cannonball and collided with an alien that had rushed through the barrage.


    The immense force instantly burst the unsuspecting alien!


    Acid blood sttered!


    But in the next instant, another alien pounced on Cao Shaolin from behind, who, relying on his own dexterity, began to grapple with it, entwined in close quartersbat.


    Zombies were thick-skinned and immensely strong but moved rather rigidly in detail.


    Conversely, the aliens had weapons all over their bodies and moved nimbly, but they also had difficulty handling the zombies.


    It seemed like an equal match.


    With Wino''s zombie entering the fray and getting tied up by another two aliens,


    the protection around Tao Yu greatly diminished, prompting the forest aliens to go all out and fully reveal themselves.


    What initially appeared to be just enough to create the illusion that Tao Yu could handle was actually a fa?ade for many more behind the scenes!


    "I''ve seen this scenario before."


    With a light chuckle, Tao Yu released the assault rifles that had run out of bullets and casually drew the AT200, pulled the grenade pin, and squeezed the trigger.


    Boom~


    An explosion erupted from the front, almost simultaneously shredding two aliens.


    Then, with a shadowy figure, an ink-like darkness spread along Tao Yu''s own shadow and coated the gun.


    Bullets imbued with the power of Shadow Force burst from the chamber one after another!


    The aliens, which could typically withstand an average of ten shots from ordinary assault rifles, now faced the enhanced shooting of the AT200 and were hunted down almost instantly with just one or two shots!


    Even though he had switched to a gun with a slower rate of fire, its dominance far exceeded the previous.


    The attacking aliens quickly dwindled in numbers as none could hide from Tao Yu''s Dynamic Vision!


    "It''s all about fishing, just a matter of who has the higher skill."


    Tao Yu casually pressed the trigger, and as more aliens hid behind the sturdy trunks, he had no choice but to expend a great deal of mental force to correct the trajectory of his shots, just as he had done with Masu.


    But now that they had been lured out, they were much easier to kill.


    "This gun is really handy, though the bullets are a bit pricey."


    Tao Yu continued to pick off the aliens.


    That was at a time when alien carcasses fetched a high price. If they ever became as cheap as cabbages, with only the value of the inherent Yuan Force being worth something, those with poor aim would certainly lose money...


    However, just as Tao Yu was mercilessly ughtering this group of aliens who didn''t know who had set the trap for whom,


    a long tail, far surpassing ordinary aliens in speed, suddenlyshed towards Tao Yu from behind.


    Little ck, quick to react, lunged at the tail but was sent flying by the tremendous force!


    However, as the long tail swept over where Tao Yu used to be, there was only a wisp of ck mist dissipating like an ink painting ¡ª Tao Yu himself had vanished!


    Soon after, a colossal Python-like alien that resembled a giant trilobite encased in exoskeletons and spanning over twenty meters in length, slowly emerged from the attacking position.


    ```


    Constantly surveying his surroundings, he kept opening his mouth to let out angry roars.


    Finally, he fixed his gaze on Little ck and the zombie that was still entangled by the alien.


    Roar!


    A roar erupted from the Python alien''s drool-dripping jaws, as the viscous, disgusting saliva sttered.


    The next moment, a sh of the de passed, and the Python alien''s head was cleanly sliced off.


    Green acid blood sprayed everywhere, followed by the heavy thud of the serpent''s body hitting the ground.


    Tao Yu, holding the Treasonous de, flicked the de, looking at the slight corrosion marks on it which disappeared after self-repairing, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.


    "Melee weapons have their advantages. Using the Colossal Lizard''s Fang would have been tough to handle such arge creature, and the Self-Repair function is nice too."


    The material of the Treasonous de was intrinsically of good quality, corrosion-resistant, and also featured the Sturdy characteristic, making the acid blood of the alien hardly noticeable.


    Coupled with Self-Repair, it became nearly immune to damage.


    ncing over the ravaged battlefield, Tao Yu casually moved to dispatch the aliens still grappling with the two meat-shield zombies.


    Looking at the two zombies, tattered and torn, their clothes and bulletproof vests shredded haphazardly but with only superficial wounds on their flesh.


    Tao Yu couldn''t help but feel speechless; in terms of stats, his two zombies absolutely overpowered the regr aliens, but their rigid movements had them ensnared.


    "Relying on their thick skin and massive strength, they make excellent tanks for dying the enemy, especially when they metamorphose unexpectedly. But without metamorphosis, theirck of dexterity is indeed a headache..."


    Previously, among the Heretic God Followers, there was a capable one who directly lost his head to a bite under metamorphosis.


    Without metamorphosis, they were quite ordinary. After all, Tao Yu himself had initially killed zombies by leveraging his dexterity and burst advantage. If they didn''t have that weakness, he might have ended up on the ground himself.


    It seemed that this creature could hold its own against strong opponents, but against not-so-strong but agile enemies, it could only manage to hold them off.


    "This must be a trap specially set up by the aliens. No idea how many Pioneers got caught."


    Tao Yu released Wino and Cao Shaolin, letting them work with Little ck to search the bodies.


    Aliens are not ''automatically refreshed'' monsters; they are cunning creatures.


    In the three days that Tao Yu let loose, he only found a few scrawny cats.


    And it was likely that those few were just bait, and now stepping into the trap, they faced an ambush.


    A rough look showed about thirty or forty regr aliens and one Python alien ¨C quite a formidable lineup.


    All around, the sizzling sound of the acid blood and its various pungent stenches filled the air.


    "With rewards included, the price now should be over ten thousand Yuan Force, right? Selling them should just about cover the Deification of Bullet Time, although I can''t squeeze out all the Yuan Force. Need to save up a bit more."


    While Little ck and the others were collecting the corpses, Tao Yu also approached the Python alien, pulling out its huge jaw which was concentrated with Yuan Force.


    At over a hundred Yuan Force, it was five or six times more than a regr alien.


    However, Tao Yu did not absorb the jaw to acquire new Skills.


    "ording to updated intelligence, this jaw could possibly grant the ''Ambush - Alien'' Skill. Its intrinsic value alone is over two thousand, and even a quick sale at a discounted price would be at least one thousand five hundred, with a kill reward of five hundred."


    Python aliens were not unique; there were even some casually killed by the siblings, so the intelligence was prettyprehensive.


    Since it was a redundant skill, Tao Yu certainly wouldn''t waste it ¨C nearly two thousand Yuan Force in profit!


    "Although there wasn''t much harvest in the first three days, if every three days brings this much, then the earnings are really not bad. But it''s a pity there''s only so much I can carry, it''s getting hard to fit any more."


    The mouths of the aliens were manageable since they were rtively small, but the alien tails where Yuan Force was more concentrated took up too much space.


    Over there, Little ck, Wino, and Cao Shaolin were all fullyden, as carrying too much could impair their movements.


    "I can tame a few more aliens temporarily to act as porters. If it''s just for a short time, adding four or five won''t affect daily life too much. I hope to strike lucky and find a Queen to try it out..."


    Tao Yu started to think about increasing the number of porters.


    "Panda has been pretty good too, giving me advance payment before time."


    Thanks to the rewards from the wealthydy, the time for the Deification of his talent could be significantly shortened. Also, because she took him home for a trip, Tao Yu reckoned he almost had enough money saved, so he specifically sought out Panda to get the second month''s dividend in advance.


    Originally, he had nned it would take at least a month to gather enough for the Deification of Bullet Time; there was no doubt it had been significantly expedited...

 Chapter 132: Chapter 120 Pioneer Squad

    ```


    The rainforest was teeming with danger, especially after knowing that aliens roamed, the Pioneers who had left the world barrier of Zombie World and arrived here were all exceedingly careful.


    Most teamed up, and there was at least one member with a perception talent in each group.


    Those who dared to venture into the new Development Zone and hunt aliens within were certainly no mediocrities!


    At that moment, a team of more than ten Pioneers was cautiously making their way through the rainforest.


    Each member of the team had a specific role, watching vigntly over their assigned areas of vision. The two in the middle constantly looked up, observing the rainforest canopy, while others swung the guns in their hands.


    This sustained expenditure of energy and physical strength meant they had to take shifts to rest.


    But this mutual support also allowed them to rx their tense spirits as much as possible when resting.


    "Lin, your talent is really outstanding, especially in the new Development Zone, where its importance greatly increases when facing various pioneering tasks. Although we respect your efforts for your own society, that doesn''t mean you can''t join other teams,"


    said a figure with a Mechanical Arm, his back extending two mechanical ws that held spinning machine guns above his head, swaying them left and right, smiling at Lin Chao.


    "Huang is right, which is why I''d like to invite Huang to join Chaoyang Society. Our president has entered Inner City, and Huang should know him,"


    Lin Chao didn''t reject the idea but instead invited the Inner City Pioneer, Huang Jian, making Huang somewhat speechless.


    However, the talent of Intuition was truly excellent and a Cure-all Salve, especially with a B-grade ranking, which was quite rare even in Inner City.


    Even in the old Development Zone, where one could easily be a sought-aftermodity, faced with areas of unknown risk, a mystical talent like Intuition could be more useful than any visual, auditory, or olfactory perception skills.


    "You''re quite the slick one, turning the tables and inviting us instead. But if it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t even set foot in alien territory, it''s far too risky."


    Another figure, robust and decked in full armor, alsoughed heartily.


    "Haha, that won''t do, you''re the bait! It''s easier to draw out a swarm of aliens that way; hunting them one by one would take forever."


    Huang Jian teased his friend in jest.


    Although both were Inner City Pioneers, it was evident that they were quite amiable towards Lin Chao from the Outer City.


    The team consisted of only the two Inner City Pioneers and Lin Chao with his B-graded Intuition. The others had ordinary battle talents from the Outer City, like Lin Chao''s sister Lin Xue with her B-graded Instinct, which was also quite strong.


    Zhang Wei had D+ Endurance, but his primary role was to wield an assault rifle, just carrying arger backpack and wearing a bulletproof vest with te inserts.


    The mixed-race Tom, who had previously teamed up with Zhang Wei, was also armed and in line.


    The others included Bai Ya and her four-person squad from the temporary camp.


    Not a single weak link, the lineup was formidable; even if they encountered dozens of aliens, the advantage of covering fire could likely see them through!


    But just then, the armored figure at the front paused, and then raised a hand.


    "Seems like there''s something up ahead."


    "I don''t sense any danger, but everyone be alert,"


    Lin Chao reminded in a quiet voice.


    As they cautiously approached, the armored figure lifted his shield and used his war hammer to push aside the brush in front, revealing an expanse of alien corpses and pits eroded by alien blood.


    "Aliens?"


    "So many¡­"


    "They''re all dead!"


    "Did some powerful team pass by here?"


    "¡­"


    This scene was something they had never encountered before in the rainforest!


    The aliens had died, their acidic blood altering thendscape!


    "So many, we would have struggled to cope¡­"


    Huang Jian''s tone was serious, and the sound of his electronic eye focusing could be constantly heard as if searching for something.


    "Nuosen, go check out front to the right, see if there''s the corpse of a Python alien."


    "What? A Python alien?"


    Nuosen was startled, then cautiously assumed a shielded posture with the war hammer in hand and edged closer.


    Only when he saw the severed head of the Python alien did he breathe a sigh of relief.


    "It''s there, but it''s dead. Impressive! Wino said he was ambushed by this thing¡ªsuch a massive size, truly a war machine."


    Nuosen kicked at the corpse of the Python alien to gauge its weight.


    "I teamed up with Brother Wino before, ah, what a pity."


    At that moment, Zhang Wei also tried to chime in appropriately, but no one paid him any heed.


    "Who knows where that kid''s gotten to these days, he better not have gotten mixed up in that Wild Wolf Gang mess. That would be a bit embarrassing¡­"


    "Indeed, but he''s desperate,"


    ```


    The two Inner City Pioneers checked their surroundings and casually struck up a conversation.


    "Was it him who gave the locator for the Empress?"


    At this time, Lin Xue was also a bit curious.


    As Lin Chao''s sister, she herself possessed a B-gradebat talent; their patience was evidently much greater. Unlike the way they disregarded Zhang Wei, they spoke amiably instead.


    "Yeah. He was unlucky. The first time he came here, he got caught by an alien and probably something got parasitized inside him, but he left a locator beforeing back. We can still roughly figure out the location from that."


    While saying this, he also took out a detector with a green grid screen that consistently shed with a red dot, although Lin Xue couldn''t understand the range indicated on the detector.


    "For that guy''s sake, we''ve all undergone some enhancements specifically to deal with aliens, and also prepared a lot of anti-corrosion coatings. Then that kid suddenly vanished, which was a bit unlucky..."


    Huang Jian also felt somewhat powerless toin, and also, the cannon fodder that the Wild Wolf Gang had originally brought along was gone.


    Without the pressure of local gangs and without an official cannon fodder list, it was difficult for the two of them to force anything.


    So, partly topensate for some of their losses, they chose toe here to hunt aliens.


    Without necessarily having to venture into the alien nests, a team this strong could coordinate with each other to hunt near the nests, which was totally doable.


    If the eradication of enough aliens was aplished, a direct assault on theirir wasn''t out of the question...


    "Now that so many aliens have died, considering the distance, it''s very likely that it was Wino''s ce. Should we give it a try?"


    Nuosen was somewhat tempted.


    A Python alien had died, along with many ordinary ones. If there was a chance to capture the Alien Queen, that would earn them points with the two big shots.


    "Safety first, let''s scope out the situation first, clear out more in the vicinity. If we encounter that team and can coborate, it''ll be safer."


    Although more people meant fewer benefits to go around, for Pioneers, most preferred stability.


    Otherwise, a wreck is a true loss!


    Being prudent is the key to a longer life!


    In the back of the group, the burly woman Ah Ji whispered to Bai Ya beside her,


    "Even the Inner City Pioneers know it''s better to team up. Those two alien guys from before were really tough."


    "It might be just like what we had prepared for, a round trip within a day..."


    Bai Ya also sighed.


    In fact, she wasn''t very keen on adventuring overnight in the rainforest, but who would have guessed they''d be so unlucky as to run into a cult causing trouble.


    It was also fortunate that where they were staying was far away, affected less. Otherwise, they probably would have suffered significant aftereffects.


    The tents that were close by were all wiped out!


    Nheless, they had to go through registration and scrutiny.


    Luckily, at that time, two Inner City Pioneers came looking for capable hands to enter the forest, so after registering, they signed up on the spot and used the two Inner City Pioneers to help them get out.


    However, Bai Ya''s gaze flickered towards Lin Chao.


    B-grade "Intuition", that was an explosive potential. It was a shame that the journey had been too tense to foster any connection, and his personality seemed a little odd...


    And at this moment, Zhang Wei began to speak again.


    "Actually, I know of a ce nearby that might have some good stuff. One of mypanions ate a red flower there when we first came in that significantly enhanced his physical fitness, not sure if there''s still some."


    Zhang Wei remembered what Tao Yu had said during his time at the dojo and took the opportunity to bring it up, hoping to please them.


    "An item that can enhance physical fitness? Are you sure?"


    Nuosen, dressed head-to-toe in armor wielding a shield and spiked hammer, appeared quite interested.


    "He said so himself, but it should be true. We''re all Outer City Pioneers. Afterpleting our first mission, he got really strong."


    "Hey, that''s kind of interesting."


    Nuosen chuckled heartily, and Huang Jian, his eyes flickering, seemed to be pondering something.


    The Blood Orchid was a valuable item. While the location of the Blood Orchid remained secretive, Tao Yu had already made sure to spread the word.


    But those who hadn''t reached a certain status or position wouldn''t even know what a Blood Orchid was, nor would they have relevant missions.


    At least the typical Inner City Pioneer families obviously couldn''t get this information...


    "Well, we might as well check it out since it''s on the way..."


    Inner City Pioneers also need to earn a living. Otherwise, they wouldn''t be forming teams and taking risks to hunt aliens.


    However, at that moment, a ''ding-a-ling~'' sound rang out, and then Nuosen looked down to see that he had touched a thread with a bell attached; the bell was hanging from a tree branch, previously unnoticed.


    "An rm? Are there people camping nearby..."


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 133: Chapter 121 Letting Go

    Tao Yu was setting up the tent, with a campfire already kindled in front of him, preparing to spend the night there.


    In the event that more aliens decided to deliver themselves, it would save quite a bit of effort.


    Next to the campfire, several racks supported by branches were set up, covered with the slender tails of aliens that resembled air-dried cured meat.


    The main purpose was to dry out the sticky sensation, so carrying themter wouldn''t be so disgusting.


    Besides that, a few plump capybaras had also been skewered. These supersized rodents, once skinned and gutted, unfolded like small tables, and four capybaras almostpletely covered the fire pit.


    Little ck crouched beside the fire, asionally rolling them over and had even learned to sprinkle salt on top.


    After all, these capybaras had been caught by it.


    In addition to this, a number of fat-tree grubs were wrapped in leaves, roasting on the side of the fire pit.


    Dingling~


    The crisp sound of a bell came from afar, immediately drawing Little ck''s attention.


    Tao Yu, who was in the midst of setting up the tent, was somewhat surprised, and casually said to Little ck,


    "You stay here, keep watch, and roast the meat."


    Then he let Cao Shaolin lead the way, following behind toward the direction of the noise.


    With his exceptional Dynamic Vision, Tao Yu had already noticed the shaking of the bushes, quite a number of them.


    But the glimpses through some gaps seemed to suggest that they were humans who had entered the rainforest, most likely Pioneers.


    Even if they were Pioneers, Tao Yu didn''t let down his guard.


    In such a ce, humans were not necessarily a safe species, especially since he had quite a few spoils of war with him.


    Having often ovee stronger enemies through stealthy ambushes, Tao Yu had no intention of bing the one who was taken out.


    Luckily, with his ''Spirit Perception'' amplified several times over,bined with Bullet Time and Stealth, Tao Yu had a rather unique advantage when it came to dealing with ambushes.


    "This must be what they mean by ''the boldness of an artist'', huh? If it had been my first time here, I would have either hidden or stood my ground with a gun waiting..."


    Tao Yu also felt the confidence that came with strength, a kind of fundamental self-assurance!


    "Who''s there?"


    Tao Yu didn''t brazenly approach; upon almost pinpointing the other party''s location, he stood next to the trunk of a huge tree and asked in a stern voice.


    As Tao Yu spoke, Lin Chao, who was in the team, suddenly felt a surge of extreme danger clouding his mind, leaving him gasping for breath for a moment.


    "Wait..."


    The moment Lin Chao spoke up, the two Inner City Pioneers, who had been somewhat rxed, had a change of expression.


    Nuosen, who was about to push aside the branches in front, also stopped and ducked behind a nearby tree trunk.


    The others also tensely raised their guns, as if ready to attack at any moment.


    "Stop, stop! Don''t point your guns, put them down!"


    Lin Chao felt the sense of crisis escting, as if someone was holding a de right before his eyes!


    "Put them down, stay alert."


    Huang Jian found cover for himself and ordered, following Lin Chao''s advice.


    Afterward, he responded to Tao Yu in a deep voice,


    "Friend, we mean no harm, we''re Pioneers who came in to hunt aliens."


    "Lin Chao?"


    Tao Yu recognized Lin Chao''s voice from before, recalling the Pioneer he had met once.


    The Pioneer with a child''s heart had made a good impression on him.


    "Tao Yu?"


    Lin Chao was initially startled by the sudden sense of crisis, but now he also recognized that it was Tao Yu''s voice.


    The knife-edge sensation at his eyeballs also lessened considerably.


    Er, it turned into having a knife held against his throat.


    "Tao Yu?"


    Zhang Wei also recognized who it was from this reaction.


    "Do you know each other?"


    Huang Jian asked.


    "Yes, it''s thepanion I told you about before, the one with Grade A Dynamic Vision."


    Zhang Wei didn''t conceal it.


    This made both Huang Jian and Nuosen rx a bit.


    "So it''s him. I know him. Wino wanted to invite him to join the rescue team before, Grade A Dynamic Vision with strong Perception, though not as good as Lin Chao, but he''s still quite the talent," Nuosen said.


    Upon discovering a familiar face in the wilderness, the sense of caution in each of them eased somewhat.


    "Brother, we were also about to rest. Can we join your team?"


    Nuosen regained his confidence, suddenly feeling good again.


    He came out brazenly from behind the tree, lifting the bushes in his full body armor, and appeared in front of Tao Yu; meanwhile, he also saw Tao Yu and Cao Shaolin ''the two of them'' standing next to him.


    Quickly assessing the two and their gear, Nuosen made his judgment. Read thetest on m_v-l''e|-NovelBin


    Their strength must not be weak, but at this distance, I should be able to handle it.


    If a real conflict erupts, I just need to rush with a shield to knock one person flying, then swing the hammer at another¡ªI won''t say it''ll be resolved in an instant, but I can control the situation.


    ''Carrying guns and such long des in this kind of rainforest is really inconvenient. With des that long, you''d need a talent like Masu''s to make it work, a bit of a show-off, this kid...''


    ''And that guy with the ck cloth over his eyes, a poker face¡ªwonder who he''s showing that to.''


    Nuosen pondered in his heart, but all his expressions were hidden under the helmet, revealing nothing.


    "Are you the friends from the Inner City that Wino Big Brother once hired?"


    Hearing the previous conversation, Tao Yu thought of some information Wino had mentioned to him before.


    The man is dead, and now still protecting him from the shadows, Tao Yu still maintained respect for Wino in his words, then continued,


    "Do you have a way to find Wino Big Brother''s nest?"


    "What, interested in the Queen? We can coborate with our two teams, but the specific division needs to be negotiated."


    Huang Jian also spoke up gravely, as the group slowly made their way over and gradually saw Tao Yu and Cao Shaolin.


    From their perspective, since these two were so close by, they were very likely members of the team that had eradicated those alien beasts up ahead; being able to handle so many aliens means their team must be quitepetent.


    Bai Ya''s squad also seemed somewhat surprised at this moment¡ªwere these not the two handsome guys raising alien beasts? So they did have a team, no wonder they turned down the invitation.


    But for some reason, the handsome guy with the eye cover suddenly went from a single eyepatch to ck cloth covering both eyes¡ªwas it some special talent?


    Tao Yu sized up everyone and judged them, feeling a bit disdainful.


    Adding them might save some trouble, but if they couldn''t solve a problem he couldn''t, they didn''t seem of much use.


    However, they should have a means of locating the aliens'' nests¡ªsomething Wino had mentioned before, which could save a lot of time.


    It''d be much more convenient than aimlessly searching through the rainforest.


    "Come over, we can talk."


    Tao Yu turned and walked casually ahead of Cao Shaolin, positioning Cao Shaolin''s figure behind him.


    Lin Chao and his team were also following behind, walking toward the faint light of the fire ahead.


    Lin Xue cautiously asked Lin Chao,


    "Bro, what happened to you just now? I didn''t feel anything."


    "I don''t know, I just felt like if we didn''t put down our guns, we would die..."


    Lin Chao was still a bit nervous, wiping the sweat from his forehead.


    He didn''t know why he had such a delusion, but it was there; Intuition was always a bit mystical, inexplicable.


    Huang Jian also exchanged a silent nod with Nuosen, who turned to look back at him, preparing to have a good talk with the leaders of their team soon.


    "I''ve raised an alien beast; don''t attack it," Tao Yu mentioned first, lest their conditioned reflex upon seeing an alien in the rainforest would be to attack.


    "Oh? Brother, you''ve raised an alien beast. Are you preparing for a breeding task?"


    Nuosen, who had been somewhat disdainful of Tao Yu in his heart, now lit up with enthusiasm.


    A Grade A Dynamic Vision, plus being able to raise an alien, able to shoot from the back with the alien taking the front¡ªshould the alien die, it could even burst with acid blood¡ªhis strength and status had instantly soared!


    "By the way."


    Tao Yu didn''t borate much.


    He merely parted the branches blocking the way and, upon seeing the crude campsite and campfire ahead, everyone present was taken aback.


    The scene was much smaller than imagined, and aside from an alien being roasted by the fire, there were no other people?


    Then, the alien''s tail hanging in front of the fire, being roasted like a sausage, also dazzled their eyes for a moment.


    Damn! So many are just lying there casually?


    The trophies from the earlier killings?


    But where is everyone else?


    A small personal tent, a bonfire, hanging ''sausages'', plus the alien warming by the fire and the fragrant meat grilling.


    This scene looked bizarre from any angle!


    At this moment, Tao Yu took a seat by the fire in the prime spot, Cao Shaolin stood quietly to the side, and Little ck eagerly handed over a hot capybara foot.


    While taking a bite of the capybara foot, Tao Yu casually said,


    "All this roasted meat is mine; if you want to buy some, it won''t be cheap¡ªeat what you brought for yourselves."


    Then, Tao Yu settled on a rock and casually scanned Huang Jian and Nuosen before him,


    "I have two negotiation suggestions. First, sell me the coordinates¡ªI''ll give you five alien tails in exchange. Second, we team up¡ªthe Queen is mine, and I take seventy percent of the other spoils. Choose."


    In an instant, the jovial expressions on Huang Jian and Nuosen''s faces stiffened, and then everyone else also began to slowly realize something.


    Wait, the so-called team is just the two of you?!


    The team that wiped out that group of aliens just consisted of you two?!


    In just a moment, everyone had the urgent words of Lin Chao echoing in their minds.


    ''Put it down!''


    This...


    If we don''t put down our weapons, could we die¡­?

 Chapter 134: Chapter 122 Targeting the Empress

    "Fair winds, and if fate allows, we shall meet again."


    Tao Yu smiled and waved to the team as they carried the alien tail away into the night.


    "They turned out to be quite decent, helping me clear out my stock."


    Looking at the empty wooden shelf before him, Tao Yu took another bite of roasted capybara.


    Selling all his earnings for ten thousand was a steal for them, but in exchange, he got a locator that revealed the position of the nearby Alien Queen''s nest.


    His demeanor had made it clear that he was not interested in teaming up with them; Huang Jian and Nuosen, the Inner City Pioneers, were clever as ghosts.


    No matter how Tao Yu ''and hispanion'' had managed it, the fact that they''d dealt with so many Aliens spoke for itself. That was a representation of strength, and they definitely didn''t want any conflict to arise.


    Now that both sides stood to gain, it was a win-win situation, really.


    Once they had the goods, they didn''t want to test Tao Yu''s ''character''; it was clear that thebined strength of Tao Yu and hispanion was at least not weaker than the sum of their ten-plus person team!


    If they stayed together long-term, the more powerful individual or party could ensnare them in a surprise attack, leading to an instant copse.


    Being self-aware, Huang Jian and Nuosen naturally remained alert while taking what they got and leaving once the going was good.


    Tao Yu was of course happy with this arrangement as well.


    As for them knowing that he was not to be underestimated, that didn''t bother him at all.


    Wasn''t this convenience obtained by showing off his ''remarkable strength''?


    Such a level of disy waspletely within Tao Yu''s eptable range.


    "If we truly teamed up to explore the nest, it could have been troublesome."


    Exploring the nest could have led to any number of problems, possibly exposing much more than just the ''general'' knowledge they had now.


    "The Empress, huh? I didn''t expect to find her location on my first strike out."


    Tao Yu thought of the previous Queen he had sessfully dealt with.


    Back then, he was too weak to physically overpower the Queen, let alone apply any Taming Technique.


    Now, what was lost must be regained...


    ...


    "Brother Lin, you must inform us ahead of time if there''s any danger."


    Huang Jian, moving quickly through the woods, reminded Lin Chao.


    "I will, but I don''t think Brother Tao would."


    "Er, I was worrying about other kinds of danger."


    Huang Jian smiled awkwardly, well aware that Lin Chao was a rather principled fellow, which was reassuring to have in a teammate.


    "How is an Outsider so strong?"


    Nuosen pondered this question without finding an answer.


    Even with a Grade A Dynamic Vision Skill, how was it possible?


    His own talents might be slightlycking, but how could otherspete with his advantages from umtions and imnts?


    "I did a quick scan of the Alien bodies earlier; most of them had gunshot wounds. His shooting skills are exceptionally good.


    Combined with armor-piercing bullets, and the cooperation of their other abilities, as well as the cannon fodder of more Aliens, it''s not impossible."


    Huang Jian hypothesized as well.


    There''s only one Alien left now, but that doesn''t mean there was only one during the fight.


    "''The Chosen One'' in the base must have been his discovery, probably earning a significant reward."


    That''s when Zhang Wei shared another piece of information.


    At that moment, his expression became distant, as if he were in a dream.


    The two Inner City Pioneers he had been fawning over had actually been outdone in the presence of Tao Yu?


    What had he done?


    He had been the first to meet him in the Abyss!


    He had had such a good opportunity!


    Now, Zhang Wei was somewhat dazed, recalling the first time he met the other, the time he was almost swallowed by snakes before being rescued.


    They had actually cooperated well on the way, and he''d even been willing to teach him the Basic Breathing Technique.


    It had all gone wrong when he first met Inner City Pioneers because of that dead jerk''s attitude, leading to his misjudgement.


    What exactly had he missed out on!


    Zhang Wei''s face turned pale as he sniffed and unconsciously touched his nose, trembling as he tried to pull something out of his chest, but ended up forcibly stuffing it back in.


    After all, the Inner City Pioneers were no good!


    Scoundrels!


    But now it was toote; he had no choice but to see this path to the end.


    He hoped to exchange this information for favor with the bigwigs of the Inner City.


    In terms of depth, the Inner City Pioneers definitely had a stronger foundation!


    Luck like finding ''The Chosen One'' couldn''t always be relied upon; ultimately, it was all about the foundation.


    And thinking of this made him taste bitterness.


    His group had also encountered Jack and his team before, but s, they had had no idea of ''The Chosen One'' nor that such boundless riches were right before their eyes.


    It was only after the fact that he realized the other must have made his start with said fortune.


    "The Chosen One? No wonder, that exins it all. Perhaps the two nobles also bestowed Skills upon him. Wino must have offered him some benefits too; remember how he wanted us to wait longer? He was probably allowing him time to assimte."


    Slowly piecing together the puzzle with different fragments of information, they arrived at a reasonable exnation.


    But even so, it didn''t diminish the strength of those two!


    Identity, background, and patronage certainly hold significant sway, but in the Abyss, might is always the most important!


    Avoiding their sharpness was the right thing to do.


    "They''re just a bit too arrogant, showing no friendliness towards us."


    Nuosen muttered, recalling the initial encounter with Tao Yu and Cao Shaolin, and the preconceived notions he''d had about dominating the situation. He couldn''t help but feel a bit abashed.

 Chapter 135: Chapter 122 Targeting the Empress_2

    And this time, the strong-armed choice he was coerced into making also left him somewhat displeased.


    In a world where strength spoke loudest, especially in the newly established Development Zone where even familial leverage was scarce, if you were no match for others, you just had to hold back.


    Luck itself is also a manifestation of strength!


    "Are we heading back just like that?"


    "Let''s go back and deal with the goods on us first, then check out the ce that young brother Zhang Wei mentioned, and finally go take a look at the results in the Alien nest. Who knows, we might stumble upon a pleasant surprise..."


    Huang Jian made ns with reason.


    From the tone of it, Zhang Wei''s continuous efforts were finally starting to pay off, catching their attention.


    For someone with an Endurance rating of D+, achieving this effect was actually quite remarkable.


    This finally brought a faint smile to the somewhat deste face of Zhang Wei, showing that there were indeed rewards!


    "That''s true, although you are a bit less gifted, brother Zhang, your talent for Endurance might actually withstand the Alien''s rejection. It''s just that it will certainly be more costly for you."


    Nuosen also nodded in agreement, appreciating the point.


    "By that time, we siblings may not be able to join."


    However, at this moment, Lin Chao indicated his intention to leave, which made Zhang Wei anxious¡ªafter all, he had just established a connection with some Inner City figures!


    "Brother Lin, you''ve misunderstood. We''re not nning an ambush; we''re just going to see if there''s an opportunity to gain something, nothing more."


    Knowing Lin Chao''s personality, Huang Jian sincerely tried to persuade him to stay.


    His words reflected his true intentions.


    After all, Pioneers wouldn''t explode with Yuan Force; ambushing them would be a loss, but they wouldn''t mind picking up the remains of a mutual defeat.


    "Yes, brother Chao, if brother Tao encounters trouble, we might be able to lend a hand and ask for some benefits in return."


    Zhang Wei also offered a word of persuasion.


    "And I''ve promised the two brothers to take them to find some entertainment."


    "If you want, you can stay behind, or you can just give them the location."


    Lin Chao showed no sign of wavering and didn''t pressure Zhang Wei to do anything.


    This made Zhang Wei, who had just established a rtionship, show a bitter expression, but in the end, he decided to rify the information about the valley and pass the message on to them.


    After suffering a loss once, Zhang Wei didn''t want to miss out again.


    Inner City Pioneers were mostly cold-hearted and bad sorts, far less reliable than brother Chao!


    By giving them this information, it should stabilize the situation, at least they wouldn''t bear a grudge against him...


    The Bai Ya squad that followed closely behind also had diverse thoughts.


    Although they did not know Zhang Wei and the others from before like they had met briefly at the campsite.


    Back then, the other two had seemed very aloof, and they also knew that the others hadn''t tamed many Aliens¡ªit was just that one barbecued beast!


    The burly Ah Ji, who had previously denounced the importance of appearances by the fireside, now desperately wanted to shrink his head into his neck.


    Being able to tame an Alien was already a sign of remarkable ability in the eyes of Outsiders. At that time, he could barely console himself that his own strength was what mattered most.


    But now, trulypared, he felt like The Fool!


    Thinking back to his mindset at that time, it was truly embarrassing.


    The rtively handsome He Ying also had a bitter look at this moment, whispering softly to his friends beside him,


    "I really couldn''t imagine they were such important figures before; Outsiders suppressing Inner City is beyond belief."


    "Yeah, Inner City dignitaries are incredibly precious."


    The sturdy female warrior Ah Ji, watching the two Inner City figures retreat in a pathetic state, asionally looking back, also felt aplete overturning of her worldview.


    Inner City people are supposed to be high above, a notion deeply ingrained in their bones!


    Teaming up with the bigwigs of the Inner City, even just to run errands, is an honor, a recognition of one''s strength. They wouldn''t even spare a nce for an ordinary Outsider!


    But now what?


    Toppling the Celestial Pole?


    At that moment, Bai Ya was hurrying along silently, her eyes, however, sparked with fervor.


    No wonder she didn''t look down on herself before; such beings truly wouldn''t care about her appearance!


    However, this was also her closest chance to real power, to being recognized as a true talent.


    If there''s really a chance, she wouldn''t mind even if it''s at her own expense, offering herself for free!


    It''s fine even if they don''t acknowledge her after pulling up their pants.


    Such talent, to leave behind a seed is a huge profit; it''spletely worth betting on the chance...


    ...


    The next morning, emerging early from his tent, Tao Yu also smelled Little ck''s breakfast being cooked.


    "He''s still kind-hearted after all."


    Tao Yu stretchedzily and then began his morning exercises.


    There was no conflict; he also didn''t like to kill without reason.


    Although, in theory, those two Inner City Pioneers and the dead Wino could be remotely linked, he didn''t need to find such an excuse just to convince himself.


    If they''re all gone, unless it''s absolutely necessary, there''s no point in doing things he dislikes...


    "Maybe with some luck, next time I could encounter them again, help transport some goods. And now that Little Miss Rich could use some extra hands, good deeds should bring good rewards, right?"


    Tao Yu felt refreshed after finishing his punches and then started to show off the capybara meat.


    "The cost of a second Deification of the Swallowing Fluid Technique isn''t actually high. Everyone can undergo Deification now, but I''ll still wait until I''ve saved enough talent points."


    Tao Yu felt the heat being digested, turning into energy to replenish what he had spent on his training.


    As his Qi-Blood moved and merged into his dantian.


    The priority for the Swallowing Fluid Technique should have been higher, but now the digestion speed was sufficient. The real problem was theck of high-energy food, which was why it was postponed.


    "First, I''ll catch a few of thosemonborers, then go and see what kind of creature Wino could cultivate..."


    ...


    Thump~


    With what seemed like a light palm strike from Tao Yu, an Alien was sent flying and smashed against a tree, causing the sturdy trunk to tremble.


    The force of the strike didn''t leave any visible wounds on the Alien''s surface, but from its cherry-sized mouth, it spat out greenish acidic blood,pletely discoloring its clear, viscous saliva.


    Soon after, the Alieny trembling on the ground, sumbing to Tao Yu''s authority, who then approached and performed a routine of punishment and reward.


    By then, including Little ck, Tao Yu already had five Aliens by his side!


    Along with Cao Shaolin and Wino, he had essentially formed a small team!


    "Common Aliens just take up space, they can serve as cannon fodder."


    Tao Yu considered for a moment, then hesitated as he looked at Little ck.


    The creature had been with him the longest; setting aside affection, its loyalty was unquestionably the highest, and it might even be able to apany him between two worlds after a while.


    Furthermore, it could drive, make fire, catch fish, and even cook meat; it could pass as support staff, at a stretch.


    "You, follow itsmands, go now, to yourir..."


    Tao Yu had a recollection fromst time that these temporarily subdued Aliens wouldn''t necessarily revolt upon seeing the Queen.


    But due to the influence of the Queen''s pheromones, they would be hesitant.


    Fortunately, as long as they weren''t ordered to attack the Queen, using them as cannon fodder was of no matter...

 Chapter 136: Chapter 123: Harvest

    ```


    In a dark cave, there wasn''t a trace of light, and underfoot was a sticky substance like crusted snot that made squelching noises with each step.


    The air was filled with a sour and strange odor.


    However, for Tao Yu, this was hardly an issue, as the pitch-ck cave did not affect his vision.


    It was only upon seeing two aliens on the ground with their acidic blood sttered all over from being sted that Tao Yu couldn''t help but feel speechless.


    "Next time, I should get some paint to mark the aliens, to easily identify them¡­"


    With a locator, Tao Yu finding the alien nest was only to be expected.


    With the help of temporary recruits, the narrow confines didn''t give the aliens any chance to rush at them.


    It wasn''t until the interior of the alien nest sensed something wrong and increased their reconnaissance that the cannon fodder aliens began to suffer casualties.


    But the most tragic was the one in front of him, which was entangled in a fight with another alien right before Tao Yu, its tail iling wildly.


    Because it was a hasty conscription, the connection was nowhere near as tight as with Little ck, leaving Tao Yu momentarily stunned.


    A tiger-shaped strikeyered with force hit its mark, and between two choices, it directly hit his own side.


    Even the hostile alien it was fighting seemed equally stunned before being casually struck by another of Tao Yu''s punches.


    Turned into two clumps of pixels.


    "It''s just the mutual understanding that''s gone, otherwise I wouldn''t have known I hit the wrong one."


    Tao Yu looked at the temporary recruit on the ground, remained silent for three seconds, then stepped over the sizzling acidic blood in the corrosion zone and continued forward.


    Alien corpses oozing acidic blood littered the path. Although Tao Yu was careful to step on their shells, his tactical boots still revealed his big toe.


    "I hopeter..."


    Before Tao Yu could finish his thought, a sudden sense of impending danger alerted him through his Spirit Perception.


    What was that?


    The next moment, Tao Yu''s Dynamic Vision caught a streak of silver light flitting through the darkness.


    Bullet Time!


    Without hesitation, he activated it, and the scene before him slowed to a frame-by-frame sequence.


    A high-speed rotating boomerang, following the turn of the corridor with incredible throwing skill, automatically curved towards him.


    In Bullet Time, the trajectory of the boomerang was clear, along with the distorted air flow hugging its surface.


    An alien cannon fodder just grazed by the boomerang was sliced through the middle like butter.


    After that, without losing momentum, it bore down directly on Tao Yu...


    A tilt of the head, the fierce wind of its passing sliced by, taking with it a few strands of hair.


    A cut also formed on Tao Yu''s earlobe.


    "This must be Wino''s leftover boomerang... that big fellow..."


    Touching the cut on his ear, feeling the slight pain, Tao Yu''s breathing began to change.


    The sound of his heart pumping seemed almost audible, each beat carrying a thick, sma-rich impact.


    The Qi and Blood Pill at his dantian swirled, warm streams spreading to his limbs and bones, stimting the birth of strength throughout his body!


    Strength was different from inner strength, more aggressive and domineering, but it was also very immediate in its existence.


    Just like the enormous burst of energy when ATP rapidly hydrolyzes during an anaerobic exertion in a normal person.


    Before the second deification of the Myriad Flow Stance Skill, Tao Yu used to stimte and employ strength simultaneously. Even after the first deification of the Myriad Streams Breathing Method allowed for theyering of strength, it was essentially still the same, except that the instantaneous burst of strength could stack even more powerfully and be stronger!


    But now with the Qi and Blood formed into a pill, although not to say that strength could be kept for extended periods, the ability to stimte the energy in all body cells to transform at a critical moment was not out of reach.


    The consumption was great, and it must be used up in a short time, but it could also aplish short-term storage!


    "Since the formation of the Qi and Blood Pill, I haven''t used it to its full potential, but now it''s time to see what you''re made of..."


    Pop a Qi Replenishing Pill into his mouth, and Tao Yu, who was slowly walking forward, vanished the next moment like ink dispersing in water.


    Boom! Experience more tales on m v|l e''-NovelBin


    A powerful burst of air swept through, and when Tao Yu reappeared, he was already behind arge alien, subsequently shaking off the acidic blood from his hand in disgust.


    The green acidic blood, along with the ck mist dissipating from Tao Yu''s hand, was easily scattered by the force.


    And with the Owlskin Gloves he always wore on his hands, not a single trace remained.


    "I prepared so thoroughly, yet this is all you''ve got?"


    Tao Yu muttered to himself, looking at therge alien corpse with a through-and-through hole in its head, which fell to the ground following his flick of the wrist.


    "You''ve made me waste a Qi Replenishing Pill, better not let me down."


    Crouching down, Tao Yu also took a closer look at the lifeless alien.


    Unlike the slender feel of ordinary aliens, this one gave Tao Yu the impression of ''sturdiness'' as soon as it appeared.


    ```


    It was somewhat reminiscent of a Predator that had been parasitized.


    And indeed, the uracy with which he had swung the boomerang before was quite impressive.


    It was precisely that boomerang that made Tao Yu opt for a very cautious fighting style, raging Qi-Blood throughout his body to addyers of force,bined with stealth and Shadow Maniption, draining nearly half of his stamina in the process.


    He even preemptively swallowed a Qi Replenishing Pill just in case.


    As a result...


    One strike!


    "This Alien, born from Wino, was stronger than Wino had been originally, and yet it died so carelessly..."


    Tao Yu''s fingers flipped, producing a dagger, and then he cut open the Alien''s chest at the gathering point of Yuan Force, letting the ordinary dagger sizzle as it pried out an object resembling a heart.


    This was the product of the Alien''s Yuan Force.


    "I wonder if it has any suitable skills."


    Tao Yu shook the heart clean with some anticipation, then held it in his hand to sense it.


    The Yuan Force was around four hundred, the amount of twenty regr Aliens, even higher than the one from the Empress he had killed before.


    "Does this mean it''s stronger than the Empress? But Yuan Force isn''t purely a measure of strength; perhaps its functionality is stronger?"


    Tao Yu found it rather unexpected, the output from the Python Alien wasn''t as high as this one.


    Flipping his hand, he swatted away a Facehugger trying to sneak attack him, and then picked up the heart.


    He then called over Wino, Cao Shaolin, Little ck, and thest cannon-fodder Alien to guard him as he unhesitatingly absorbed the Yuan Force of the heart.


    A stream of chaotic information was suppressed by Mental Immunity; the impact of the data was quite disordered andplex, with high levels of contamination.


    "Without learning the Meditation Technique or having rted innate talents, an ordinary person probably couldn''t withstand it..."


    Tao Yu was surprised by the flow of information.


    He then sensed the rough details of the skill information¡ªit seemed to be an ability that enhances the heart, almostplete but just short of a little, though the rest could be filled in directly with Yuan Force.


    Without hesitation, Tao Yu filled in the remaining gap with the few hundred Yuan Force he had just absorbed,pleting the skill.


    Heart Strengthening: A product of fusing a Pioneer parasitized by an Alien after an Alien imntation, it can increase heart function without rejection.


    "Hey, not bad."


    Tao Yu felt that this ability was a pleasant surprise; while not top-notch, it was quite practical.


    Alien imntation and mechanical enhancements were quite strong, and could even be considered shortcuts!


    The painstaking effort of improving through Breathing Techniques and cultivating various abilities could easily be surpassed by a single imntation surgery.


    Years of arduous training to reach the limits of the human body and then continuously breaking those limits could be easily eclipsed by the innate strength of a brown bear with a single p.


    Uncle Hu was actually a good example.


    Past hard training was inferior to one arm recement!


    But Tao Yu had always politely declined such enhancements, opting to possibly consider them for his Zombies, but not for himself.


    Yet now, these imnts, once optimized by the Alien, had turned into products of Yuan Force, eliminating the side effects!


    "Goodness, if based on different Alien imnts, could there be enhancements for other organs? This..."


    Tao Yu pondered, aware that the Suns siblings had not yet captured such prey, and the only special Alien information made public was that of the strongest Python Alien.


    This skill could potentially be useful to both siblings.


    "Forget it, let''s pretend I don''t know."


    His eyes flickered briefly, and Tao Yu ultimately sighed; he could deal with any offending Alien imntster.


    Looking at the one hundred Yuan Force consumed for Deification, Tao Yu knew that this ability''s Deification might not bring many surprises.


    As the Yuan Force flowed in, he felt his heartbeat bing more pronounced and more intense, blood flow elerating, and blood pressure rising.


    But a momentter, it slowed down again, even beating slower than before!


    However, the amount of blood pumped out with each beat increased, surpassing the efficiency of before.


    And when necessary, it could speed up again, pushing the heart rate beyond the original limits of the heart!


    Heart Strengthening ¡¤ Improved: Omitted, increases the speed of Qi-Blood generation, elerates physical recovery, and increases certain physical limits.


    The increase wasn''t very significant, but the two attributes were important, making it a minor treasure.


    What confused Tao Yu the most was that this level 1 skill had no training technique!


    Even if he wanted to invest Yuan Force, the efficiency was quite low.


    Trying to stimte it with the Basic Breathing Method, Tao Yu''s eyes brightened slightly


    "It''s like a solidified ability that can improve with daily training. While using Yuan Force to speed up is not cost-effective, everyday practice can help incidentally, and its potential is not small..."

 Chapter 137: Chapter 124: Clue

    "Roar~"


    The towering Alien Queeny humiliated on the ground, letting out a roar of unwilling submission.


    There were still many shrieking alien guards nearby, and many wriggling eggs on the ground, but none of this could stop Tao Yu in the slightest.


    "You do have some insight, smoother than I imagined."


    Seeing the other aliens that didn''t dare to approach and the Alien Queen who had chosen submission, a trace of a smile hung on Tao Yu''s face.


    It wasn''t in vain that he had brought over the body of the mutated alien.


    The effect of killing one to warn the others was excellent.


    "Although I was confident I could suppress it, subjugation isn''t aboutshing out and killing with one strike. Even relying on Fist Intention to wear it down would probably take some time, and I''d need to use quite a few Qi Replenishing Pills. Best to save where I can."


    The Alien Queen clearly was ''smarter'', and its will to survive far exceeded that of an ordinary alien.


    Tao Yu could feel the resentment of the Alien Queen, whose loyalty didn''t even reach passing grade, at most fifty¡ªa category that would revolt and offer a ''kiss'' anytime given the chance.


    But no matter, for Tao Yu, as long as the Alien Queen could briefly give up her resistance, that was enough!


    "After you''ve tasted this, you won''t believe how difficult it is to get rid of it..."


    Already adept at the dual heavens of reward and punishment, Tao Yu quickly brought the Queen to the passing line, and her behavior became much more docile.


    But being able tomunicate ''heart to heart'' with his mount, Tao Yu raised an eyebrow.


    "After all, it is a Queen. The improvement is far less than an ordinary alien. I''ll have to grind a few more times..."


    He reached out and pressed on the Alien Queen again, and in the next moment, the Queen started iling, while Tao Yu popped another two Qi Replenishing Pills into his mouth.


    "The second Deification for taming must also be scheduled, but if it stays by my side all the time, it can be stabilized."


    When Little ck underwent this same treatment, it immediately began to withstand the Queen''s pheromones and fight back.


    But now, the Alien Queen was at most slightly better than the previous cannon fodder aliens and was barely obedient.


    "Go, kill the other aliens."


    After stroking the sleek exoskeleton of the Alien Queen, Tao Yu coldly pointed to the other guardian aliens nearby and issued the order.


    The Alien Queen roared dissatisfiedly, but feeling the intense pain from deep within its soul, it ultimately sumbed and pounced on the aliens nearby.


    With a body size far surpassing ordinary aliens and even bigger than the mutated alien that had parasitized Wino, the dominant Alien Queen indeed settled one alien with each swipe.


    The acid blood of the aliens couldn''t affect the exoskeleton of the Queen in the slightest.


    Under the natural suppression of the Queen''s pheromones, those aliens were likembs to the ughter, one swipe, one kill.


    Eventually, under the relentless killing and furious roars of the Alien Queen, the guardian aliens abandoned her and scattered in all directions.


    Tao Yu did not intend to stop them; he could feel that it was the Queen''s orders thatmanded the aliens to run, a clear-cut case of letting them loose.


    "Heh, clever move. Since you let them escape, you can deal with these eggs yourself."


    Tao Yu''s voice was somewhat cold, causing the Alien Queen to stiffen.


    But before it could react, Tao Yu''s hand was on its sleek exoskeleton again, causing it to howl in pain.


    Seeing this, Little ck shuddered with fear.


    That punishment from deep within the soul was Little ck''s nightmare, ensuring it would never again dare to defy its master.


    Now, witnessing the plight of this new member, it was reminded of those terrifying memories etched into its bones.


    Eventually, the Alien Queen''s thick saliva turned to bubbles, and once again it chose to submit, staggering and twitching as it stomped all its own eggs to pieces.


    "Good, if you had fulfilled your first task from the beginning, then I wouldn''t necessarily have needed to get rid of these eggs. Remember that."


    Comforting the Alien Queen with a pat, Tao Yu used rewards to disperse her sadness and resentment, and distinctly felt the ''heart-to-heart'' connection be a bit clearer.


    It was still far from Little ck now, but already much higher than the cannon fodder aliens.


    "Kill it."


    With a casual point towards the only remaining cannon fodder alien other than Little ck, the Alien Queen, without any hesitation, pierced its head with a flick of her tail!


    Then it turned its bloodthirsty gaze towards Little ck.


    "From now on, you''ll be Da Hei. When I haven''t given orders, temporarily follow Little ck''smands."


    Tao Yupleted naming the Alien Queen.


    And quite against the norms of alien society, he arranged for a division ofbor.


    This unexpected joy caused Little ck, which had been shivering fearfully, to suddenly feel a surge of happiness.


    The Alien Queen still hissed in dissatisfaction a couple of times, but ultimately also bowed its head humbly to Little ck.


    Preliminary training, sessful...


    ...


    "It can stilly eggs after leaving the ovipositor, but the consumption is much greater, and the speed slower..."


    Riding on the Alien Queen''s back and leaving the nest, Tao Yu also preliminarilypletedmunicating with the Queen and understood a bit more about the situation.


    The Queen could detach itself from the ovipositor and continue to grow by consuming energy, but after it regrows, it shouldn''t move lightly to maintain the high efficiency ofying eggs.


    Without the ovipositor, it could stilly eggs, but the burden and pressure on the Alien Queen would be quiterge, akin to overdrawing its life.


    "Let''splete the second Deification of talents first. Moreover, Stealth, Myriad Streams Breathing Technique, Meditation Technique should be prioritized. Taming, Riding, and Swallowing Fluid Techniquee afterward..."


    He couldn''t be sure that the second Deification would ensure the Alien Queen could stay away from him for long.


    If not, wouldn''t that mean he''d be tied to it, essentially bing its keeper, which would be somewhat of a loss.


    "Follow me for now. Everything that needed to be umted is ready; it''s a good time to experiment more..."


    Riding on the broad back of the Alien Queen, the sensation was much better than the bony Little ck; it was indeed a viable mount.


    "I''ll find a cushion to put on itter; the effect should be even better..."


    Tao Yu rode the Alien Queen away from the nest.


    Having just left the dark nest and returned to the rainforest, Tao Yu immediately turned his head toward a certain direction and said in a t tone,


    "You''vee at just the right time. Look, there''s another batch of materials I can sell to you..."


    Following him were Cao Shaolin, Wino, and Little ck, each draped with Alien tails, resembling three tentacled creatures.


    Upon hearing Tao Yu''s words, several members of Huang Jian''s team emerged from behind the bushes with expressions of embarrassment and shock.


    Lin Chao and his sister Lin Xue, those guys from the Chaoyang Society, were no longer with the team, leaving behind the other seven members.


    Even though Huang Jian and Nuosen had the guts to haggle with Tao Yust time,


    this time, seeing the Alien Queen under Tao Yu''s butt and the three figures behind him festooned with Alien tails like tentacled monsters, they were somewhat afraid.


    Still selling to us?


    Are you nning to trick some Yuan Force out of us and then ughter us?


    Unbelievable!


    How long has it been?


    Having sold the materials overnight, they had hurried back, hoping to find a good deal.


    They had even fantasized about the best scenario being a situation where both parties ended up losing.


    But what''s this situation now?


    The Alien Queen was ridden outright, her strength not reduced but increased!


    As the threeborers dumped the Alien tails in front of them, everyone also realized that Tao Yu''s group had unexpectedly gained a new member.


    Tall and muscr, his demeanor was identical to the previous one, butpared to the handsome face of the first one, this new face was hideously disfigured as if it had been ravaged by acid, one look at him was enough to give people nightmares.


    Huang Jian and Nuosen were just friends of Wino, and seeing this face they didn''t recognize at all, they truly didn''t make any associations.


    Such a burly figure wasmon; those imbued with different forms, aside from taking the agile and dexterous route, mostly ended up looking like this.


    "Last time, I sold it at a low price because I had specific intelligence. It won''t be so cheap this time."


    Tao Yu gave them no chance to ponder as he sat astride the Empress, looking down at them with a grin that revealed his gleaming teeth.


    "If you''re staying here, it''s not because you want to ambush me, right? It''s to buy my goods?"


    The pressure he applied made everyone shake their heads rapidly.


    Bai Ya''s team felt powerless toin internally.


    Unbelievable, no wonder Lin Chao and his sister made excuses and ran away; they must have sensed something was off!


    Bai Ya was surreptitiously scrutinizing Tao Yu with fiery eyes, as if she wanted to devour him.


    This intense emotion caused Tao Yu''s Spirit Perception to stir, prompting him to take an extra look at the woman.


    He had some recollection; she had invited him when he entered the camp, and then during hypnotism, she seemed to have had a very bad dream.


    "We''ll buy, we''ll buy, at the original price..."


    Huang Jian wore a pained expression, but ultimately decided to take a gamble.


    Hearing this, Tao Yu, who had been presenting a stern face, started to rx a little.


    "That''s more like it. Don''t worry, we''re in business. I won''t be so cruel; I''ll let you make twenty Yuan Force on each deal¡ªeveryone gets what they need..."


    "No, the original price! We agree to the original price! Consider it an apology for our offense!"


    Nuosen shook his head insistently at the side, firm on buying at the original price.


    "Well, I''m really sorry about that then."


    As Tao Yu spoke, he pulled out a nk Yuan Force card with a friendly smile on his face,


    "Let''s use mine this time. It''s okay to transfer slowly; take your time, no rush. Let''s count the amount first..."


    After getting the cash this time, he could directly upgrade Bullet Time to Deification, and he''d even have a surplus of ten or twenty thousand to maintain his daily training and emergency needs, simply perfect.


    Lucky star...


    Just as they rushed to count and Huang Jian and Nuosen worked together to transfer a total of twenty-one thousand Yuan Force to Tao Yu, who was quite satisfied with thepletion of the transaction, suddenly there was a roar from the sky. Experience more content on m v|l e''-NovelBin


    The sound caught Tao Yu by surprise.


    It wasn''t the familiar sound of hoverbikes but a more intense sound of tearing through the air!


    "An airne..."


    Tao Yu looked up to the sky, the majority of which was obscured by dense foliage, but he located the source of the sound through the gaps.


    He could vaguely see a fighter jet appearing to be out of control, spinning as it plummeted toward the forest.


    Then there was a pop¡ªthe ejection seat wasunched, a parachute opened in mid-air, and the ne itself disappeared from sight, crashing into the woods. Soon after, an explosion could be heard, and even slight tremors of the ground were felt.


    "Armed with live ammunition... where did ite from? Zombie World? But the direction''s wrong..."


    Tao Yu quickly pondered. The direction of the airne waspletely opposite; it seemed to havee from the other side!


    "Is this one of the original world''s fighter jets, or is it from a new world?"


    Watching the parachute in the sky, Tao Yu also pondered, then turned his gaze back to the group of Pioneers, who were just as surprised.


    "Shall we all go take a look?"


    Faced with the clue of an unknown new lead, Tao Yu decided to spread the risk.


    He mainly figured this group could take the pressure...


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 138: Chapter 125 Inherent Time Control

    Roar~


    The Alien Queen was running through the rainforest, asionally letting out a fierce roar, her enormous ws leaving a trail of footprints in the ground as she ran, reminiscent of a Tyrannosaur.


    Nothing along the way dared to disturb her.


    Although the Alien Queen''s two smaller forews were quite dainty, used only to assist with feeding, she also had two other, much sturdier arms that constantly pushed aside branches along the path to prevent them from scratching Tao Yu on her back.


    Wino and Cao Shaolin also clung to the Alien Queen''s body;fort was hardly a concern for these two creatures.


    Little ck, with its agile frame, kept running on the trees beside them, much like a monkey.


    With the Alien Queen clearing the path, the group led by Huang Jian followed tirelessly along this route.


    Even Bai Ya''s Inner City Pioneer team, though strong among the Pioneers of the Inner City, found it strenuous to keep up while each carrying an Alien tail, but they managed to hold steady.


    "This, running like this, I can''t perceive anything, all of you need to be careful."


    Out of breath, Bai Ya said to herpanions.


    With Lin Chao running off and taking his sister with him, the team was now relying on Bai Ya''s "Perception" to make do.


    But obviously, this Perception ability, which added almost nobat bonus, was significantly less effective once she started to run strenuously.


    Bai Ya, gradually falling behind the group, felt a chill in her heart.


    It was too dangerous to run at such high speeds through the jungle without scouting ahead!


    Especially for herself!


    If an attack came, she would likely be the first to suffer, buying the others time to react, which was why they dared to run like this.


    She wasn''t cannon fodder, but she was serving the function of cannon fodder...


    Fortunately, Bai Ya, taking advantage of her slight physical appeal, ''reminded'' her teammates, and two of the male members of the four-person squad slowed down to guard by her side.


    "It should be fine, we have the Alien Queen leading the way; we''ll be there soon, you can slow down."


    No sooner had these words been spoken, they could see the parachute growing closer ahead.


    Crack, crackle~


    A series of snapping sounds from branches being crushed, and the parachutist, caught by tree branches, was left swinging in mid-air.


    The pilot also saw the approaching Alien Queen, as well as Little ck jumping over from the branches.


    Although his helmet obscured his expression, the fear of the pilot was palpable.


    No matter how much training a fighter pilot goes through, the experience of crashing, bailing out into the rainforest, and being immediately confronted by face-hugging aliens was utterly terrifying.


    His mouth was filled with panicked ''curses,'' and he seemed to be fumbling for a weapon he barely ever needed to use.


    Pilots were usually armed only with a pistol at most; the most useful thing for survival was actually a surrender document in multiplenguages.


    But the problem now was, he didn''t think these creatures would understand a surrender document!


    Tao Yu also heard the pilot''s fluent use of Nan Bangnguage and was somewhat surprised.


    Based on the equipment on his person and the fighter jet model he had seen indistinctly before, the pilot should be from Nan Bang.


    Well, what was a Nan Bang fighter jet doing in the Amazon rainforest? There must have been an incident.


    Either something major happened in this world, or it was the New World!


    Unable to understand Nan Bangnguage, Tao Yu didn''t care about the cost of trantion benefits, and just shouted,


    "What''s your situation?"


    Huang Jian and the others following behind also looked up at the pilot.


    Although they didn''t understand him either, they could tell it was different from the English they had heard previously.


    Huang Jian, who had self-taught some everydaynguage with the help of technology, was also speechless and could only use Yuan Force to listen.


    "Do you speak Korean? Are you one of us? That''s great, please, hurry and get me down, what''s the deal with these monsters, do they bite?"


    Seeing Tao Yu riding on the back of the Alien Queen.


    The pilot grew a bit bolder, especially after hearing Tao Yu''s words, thinking he had found a fellow countryman.


    Tao Yu signaled to Little ck to cut the parachute cords and then had Little ck hold the rope to bring the pilot down from the tree.


    "What exactly happened, how did you fly here?"


    Tao Yu didn''t reveal too much and took advantage of the other''s distress to ask again.


    The pilot, whose fears of the aliens were put on hold, wasforted by the fact that Little ck had saved him. Indeed, the pilot had strong psychological resilience.


    "I''m Captain An Zhijie from the 35th Squadron, and honestly, I don''t know what happened. Suddenly, auroras appeared in the sky, and then the auroras seemed to slice the sky apart...


    "After that, the sea andnd around our country changed abruptly, turning into this forest..."


    An Zhijie took off his helmet while speaking, revealing a in face.


    As a pilot, it''s impossible to have cosmetic surgery during service, so his appearance was quite natural.


    Hearing this, Tao Yu also had some thoughts in mind, but he turned to look at Huang Jian and Nuosen, who knew more.


    "I''m just a country bumpkin from the Outer City, what do you guys from the Inner City think?"


    Upon hearing Tao Yu''sment, Huang Jian felt like he was about to crash. A country bumpkin from the Outer City, huh...


    But he dared not ignore Tao Yu''s words and spected,


    "It must have been the debris fall we just encountered; such urrences are normal in the Abyss. It''s not the forest that fell on them, but rather their ce that plunged into the Abyss, happening to fall into the rainforest.

 Chapter 139: Chapter 125 Inherent Time Control_2

    "This is also why the base needs the ''Chosen One''; it seems the fragments nearby are still quite active..."


    Huang Jian exined while some thoughts flickered in his eyes.


    A world with arge number of natives and, apparently, not a bad level of technology?


    This was good news for him!


    Tao Yu and the others babbled on in themonnguage, causing An Zhijie next to them to show a bewildered expression.


    Aren''t you my fellow countrymen? What kind of birdnguage are you speaking?


    Then he also started to notice Huang Jian''s mechanical arm, saw Nuosen''s towering figure and his unusual full-body armor, along with Cao Shaolin with a zombie-like face hanging on the Empress and the unsightly Wino.


    The fully armed outsiders, the Pioneers behind them, also looked somewhat abnormal.


    And the various alien tails hanging from everyone, which caused An Zhijie to feel some familiarity, then stealthily nced at Little ck''s tail next to him,pletely unable to grasp the current situation.


    "This... have I crossed into another world?"


    An Zhijie was somewhat astonished.


    As a modern person, and with Koreanics about traversing other worlds and fantasyics being prevalent, An Zhijie''s reaction speed was top-notch.


    Suddenly a rainforest descended from the sky and filled the sea; what else couldn''t be epted?


    "You''re quick to ept it; your world seems quite nice, already starting to pursue spiritual enjoyment," Nuosen said with a voice deep as a jug.


    "How about we take the chance while it''s not yet chaotic over there and have a good time?"


    Nuosen looked up at Tao Yu, who was on the Empress''s back, and asked tentatively.


    "Let''s go and have a look first, but whether we can have a good time is another matter," Tao Yu said.


    Encountering a new world, Tao Yu didn''t mind exploring it first.


    In the early days, when pioneering the base, he had obtained a fragment of the ''Heart of the World'' and gained his third talent!


    During the pioneering phase, there was a chance to gain unexpected surprises; anyway, his goal was to make money, and [Fist Intent] was waiting for him.


    It wouldn''t hurt to take a look.


    ncing at Huang Jian''s team, with so many people around, the margin for error was still manageable.


    It was just a shame that Tao Yu had only watched some Koreanics and movies like Train to Busan that were internationally known; he wasn''t sure if he would encounter a world he recognized.


    But while traveling, [Bullet Time] could be deified a bit, just in case.


    Riding on Da Hei, some of the reactions during deification could be concealed, as talents and skills were different¡ªthey did not increasebat strength directly. Based on previous experiences, it should just cause a brief spell of dizziness due to a mismatch in vision.


    It would be suppressed by [Spiritual Immunity]...


    With his gaze focused on [Bullet Time], Tao Yu slowly exhaled a breath.


    Then a massive amount of Yuan Force poured into it in an instant!


    His originally plentiful Yuan Force instantly plummeted to less than twenty thousand. Your journey continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    And the metamorphosis of this talent was also slightly different from the second deification of a skill.


    A strange feeling rose directly from the depths of his soul, and as Tao Yu saw the world be clearer in his eyes, he also seemed to perceive another odd material.


    It was like water flowing everywhere, with lines crossing through all things in the world!


    And for me, a circr closed-loop line appeared on its own, which was connected to those lines in daily life, maintaining synchronicity. But whenever I wanted, I could manipte arge amount of mental energy toplete the self-loop!


    Original Time!


    Also known as Inherent Time, the unique time in the space-time region I upy! It''s also the only time within this closed-loop.


    [Bullet Time??] (MAX): The original innate ability has been further enhanced in all aspects. Once the ability is actively initiated, I can clearly see where in the Original Time I am, and consume mental energy to intervene and make certain adjustments.


    "Damn, this consumption is too intense."


    Tao Yu felt it slightly and was also somewhat astonished.


    It was fortunate that the second deification of Bullet Time waspleted now. With skills like [Meditation Technique], [Basic Breathing Method ¡¤ Revised Second Edition], [Myriad Streams Breathing Method], and [Myriad Streams Stance Skill ¡¤ Revised Second Edition] to fill the gaps in fundamental skills, I could barely manage to have some control over it.


    If one were missing, I would likely only be able to temporarily make this talent a disy piece, at most employing the enhanced abilities of [Bullet Time].


    But now, although the consumption was equally high, I could at least mobilize it at critical moments!


    On top of using my [Bullet Time], it was further enhanced. And when necessary, I could directly intervene in the Original Time zone I was in, based on Bullet Time.


    It allowed me to elerate further, ignoring physical constraints like bodily load and inertia!


    Theoretically, if the intervention of Original Time is strong enough, achieving an effect simr to teleportation in the eyes of others is possible!


    "In terms of consumption, using it twice should be no problem, four times would be strenuous, and I don''t know if I could reach ten times with a one-timeplete burnout, but even if I did, it would probably only be for a fraction of a second."


    Based on the information from the skill, Tao Yu perceived and made some simple judgments in his mind.


    Without a doubt, this was a divine technique!


    This was a multiplier added out of thin air after reaching the limit with all my abilities!


    Even the most extreme tenfold for a fraction of a second meantpressing several seconds'' worth of actions into an instant burst.


    In matters of life and death, who needs to count by seconds?


    Thus, using it at critical moments was absolutely enough.


    Never had Tao Yu imagined that a visual talent could transform into a time talent. Even just scratching the surface was incredibly against the heavens.


    However, this ability did have another ''shoring'', which was that because of theplete closed-loop of Original Time, it stripped itself out.


    So even if my speed externally looked faster, in theory, the inertia, impact force, and lethality were still based on the conditions within my closed-loop.


    When the closed-loop finally broke and the attack arrived, there was no way to benefit from the added lethality that the speed provided.


    Just as, theoretically, a curvature engine could surpass the speed of light, yet it would not break the physical rules, nor give the spaceship the infinite inertia of light speed.


    And through Tao Yu''s perception and understanding of the time loop,


    he broadly grasped that the steps involved stripping away the Original Time to form a closed-loop, and after elerating, reintegrating with the original space-time toplete the attack.


    If the original space-time was too strong or, to put it another way, the target''s mass oppressed the original space-time, it would increase the difficulty of reintegration. In such cases, it would more likely be utilized for evasion.


    At the same time, as my own strength enhanced, the consumption under Original Time intervention would also increase. It should still allow the use time and multiplier to increase slowly, though not at the same rate as the increase in strength.


    The increase in speed just could not proportionately match the rate at which my strength improved.


    "However, I don''t think there''s the kind of big shot who can pressurize space-time that I would encounter right now. As for consumption, it doesn''t matter; I intended it as a trump card for critical moments anyway, which is more than sufficient."


    "Even with more shorings, this is already a top-tier talent, and it represents a significant step forward on the ''assassin'' path. I don''t need [Bullet Time] anymore."


    Tao Yu pondered for a moment, and then the name of the talent instantly changed.


    [Inherent Time Control]!

 Chapter 140: Chapter 126: Vitality of the New World

    "After flying into the rainforest, the ne''s instruments started malfunctioning in all sorts of ways; it waspletely uncontroble. I don''t know what the situation is in other parts, I received the order and flew over immediately..."


    An Zhijie followed the team with difficulty, asionally ncing back at Tao Yu and the two others riding on the Alien Queen.


    It was too fantastical.


    Moreover, as a pilot, he realized that his own physical fitness was at the bottom tier in this group.


    He was about on par with a pretty girl next to him, perhaps even less capable.


    For An Zhijie, who had always taken pride in being a fighter pilot, this was a bit heartbreaking.


    "The intricate differences in interworld rules make more sophisticated things more prone to problems; it''s quite normal,"


    Huang Jian replied calmly, which is why most of the vehicles in Starshine City chose the rough punk style.


    With his innate mechanical talents and enhancements, even though Starshine City had long since abandoned airnes, making judgments was still straightforward for him.


    "You should feel lucky that you''re a pilot and have your own value, so we''re also willing to save you. From your description, it sounds like your world was torn apart by the Abyss with hardly any resistance, and its fragments fell here."


    Huang Jian''s words made An Zhijie fall silent as well.


    Even though the ocean was suddenly reced by a rainforest, even though there were sudden radical changes, hearing Huang Jian''s simple description of the Abyss still filled An Zhijie with a sense of despair.


    But fortunately, he was still alive!


    As long as one is alive, there''s always a chance!


    Hadn''t this group also managed to survive here?


    They could even recruit monsters as pets and mounts, and their physical fitness was strong; perhaps they would encounter some extraordinary fortune...


    "Have there been any other incidents in your world recently? Apart from this one."


    Tao Yu also asked from behind, though the hottest topic in Nan Bang might be various romance dramas, even horror films would incorporate such elements, but Tao Yu wanted to rule out some possibilities.


    "Other incidents... It seems there''s been a contagious disease causing some problems recently,"


    An Zhijie said uncertainly.


    His words gave Tao Yu a start ¨C had he encountered the Train to Busan?


    He had watched it and could even recall the name.


    But what followed from An Zhijie still made Tao Yu feel a bit surprised and confused.


    "The disease causes people to have nosebleeds, delusions, and even to faint, but the specific details haven''t been disclosed. Just that the military has been notified, so it might not be so simple."


    Did the zombies in Train to Busan have nosebleeds and hallucinations before the infection?


    Tao Yu tried to remember; in his memory, those zombies seemed to spread and move quickly, erupting across Nan Bang in a very short time.


    "Have there been any urrences of zombies or such?"


    "Zombies? How could that be¡ªuh, I don''t know, probably not..."


    At first, An Zhijie instinctively started to speak but then felt a bit anxious considering the Abyss and the other party''s words.


    "Bro Tao, the fragments here have just fallen. It''s impossible for zombie contagion to have happened beforehand; there must have been some problem in their own world already."


    Nuosen, covered in full armor, also added cheerfully.


    He thought Tao Yu was concerned that the virus from the Zombie World had spread over.


    "Hope that''s the case..."


    Tao Yu, riding on the Alien, remained nomittal.


    If it were really Train to Busan, there wouldn''t be much substance, if it turned out to be that, he''d treat it as exploration info to sell and then see if he could get something like helicopters to take back for sale.


    In the rainforest, transporting goods by truck isn''t very practical.


    A helicopter, though, shouldn''t crash outright like that fixed-wing jet, right?


    Uh, although helicopters have a higher ident rate than fixed-wing aircraft, after all, they have a different flight mode.


    An Zhijie had just entered the Rainforest when his gauges went haywire. He struggled for a moment before he began to plummet, so the distance shouldn''t be far.


    However, while the distance the airne flew out might be ''not far'', for them to traverse the Rainforest on foot, it took nearly half a day.


    When they could finally see the city ahead, the day had almost turned to night, and the setting sun cast its glow onto the streets.


    "The color of the sky and the Rainforest are in sync. I wonder if there''s a world barrier. If not, it could be another new nesting spot for Aliens..."


    Huang Jian looked at the group of buildings in the distance. The city''s foundation was only less than half a meter higher than the forest side, a small difference, but the border seemed irregr, extending on both sides with visible arcs.


    "It might just be embedded right into the Rainforest."


    Nuosen also voiced his guess.


    "You guys are lucky, there is a world barrier. I even underestimated your world a bit at first."


    Pushing past Bai Ya and the others, Huang Jian reached the boundary line and touched the air wall with his hand.


    This action left An Zhijie a bit baffled.


    "How did I fly out then?"


    "Most world barriers don''t block non-Yuan Force items and organisms. The barrier in the south, Rainforest 02, should be stronger, even blocking the atmosphere."


    As Huang Jian spoke, he also passed through the barrier with the help of the world''s will, standing on the highway ahead.


    Perhaps out of fear caused by the sudden appearance of the Rainforest, the area within sight seemed deste, devoid of any people, with only a few vehicles left abandoned in panic.


    The Alien Queen and Little ck, with the help of Tao Yu, also crossed the barrier and stepped onto the highway.


    But just as they crossed the barrier, Tao Yu frowned slightly, sensing a kind of difference between the two worlds.


    It''s normal to feel a sense of difference in fragments of worlds; many fragments might even limit one''s strength with the repression of the world''s will.


    There might even be different rules.


    But so far, from the Rainforest to the grasnd, then to Zombie World, Tao Yu felt the differences were quite small, much smaller than a reaction to high altitude¡ªeasy to adapt to.


    This time, however, the difort was somewhat stronger.


    "With my current strength, encountering world limitations is still far off, so it shouldn''t be that. Then..."


    Tao Yu had just had this thought when Nuosen, who also passed through the barrier, grunted and then said in a deep voice,


    "There''s something wrong with this world; the rejection reaction in my body has gotten worse. Damn it."


    While speaking, Nuosen threw the Alien tail he had been carrying onto the ground and lifted his helmet, revealing his face covered in fish scales. He then pulled out a bottle of liquid and poured it haphazardly into his mouth.


    After drinking the liquid, he slowly exhaled.


    This caused Huang Jian at his side to frown.


    "What''s going on? You have to take Anti-Rejection Drugs?"


    "It must be the difference in the world''s rules. I feel my body is so active; I''ve gotten stronger in this world..."


    Nuosen''s tone was heavy as he clenched his fist, and from his expression and voice, he clearly didn''t consider ''getting stronger'' to be good news at all!


    He was an Alien imnt recipient who needed to maintain a bnce between the Alien organs and his own body. He normally relied on medicine and Yuan Force for maintenance, until he could adjust and adapt.


    Once he could bear it, he would imnt new Alien parts.


    But now, before he had fully assimted, those imnted parts had be stronger and more active, which made him feel somewhat uneasy.


    Tao Yu, who was nearby and heard Nuosen''s words, understood what that sense of contrast was.


    Yes, his heart had be stronger here, which was why he felt a slight difort earlier.


    The difference was that Wino had Alien imnts, whereas Tao Yu''s heart had undergone Heart Strengthening of his own body. The former had to worry about rejection reactions, while Tao Yu just needed to make a minor adjustment, having only felt that sense of disharmony.


    "Bing more active? This world is off..."


    Tao Yu had a premonition that this world might be even more troublesome than Train to Busan...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 141: Chapter 127 Monster

    Through Nuosen''s reaction, Tao Yu formed a new judgement in his heart.


    Both Huang Jian and Nuosen, as Inner City Pioneers, were frowning at this moment.


    "This world is not as simple as it seems on the surface, everyone needs to be careful, it''s probably not any traditional mundane world."


    The Pioneers of Bai Ya''s team, as well as the remaining other Outer City Pioneer, were all nodding like pecking chickens at this time.


    The sudden appearance of an Inner City big shot definitely wasn''t a simple matter!


    "Strange, we still can''t get in contact after entering, what''s going on?"


    An Zhijie held his helmet somewhat dumbfounded, continuously tapping on the earpiece.


    "Could it be broken? Although most ordinary signals can''t cross worlds, they shouldn''t be affected in this world."


    Huang Jian also turned his attention back to the pilot.


    Aplete world, with its own army and authority, should be able to negotiate cooperation if things go well.


    If they could sessfully build a bridge, they would surely receive a rich reward.


    The new gathering ce is in need of people right now.


    Both sides reached a tacit agreement, mutually assisting and sharing resources within the Abyss fragments, which was absolutely beneficial and not harmful in any way.


    The old gathering ce had such indigenous allies helping each other in offense and defense;pared to the massive expense of support from other cities via teleportation, they were much more reliable.


    The Abyss was too vast and boundless, except for the chance of good luck, it was really difficult for two gathering ces to be very close to each other.


    "I don''t know, let''s borrow a cell phone first."


    An Zhijie wanted to contact the base as soon as possible, as he might currently be the person with the mostprehensive information, it was essential to pass it back.


    "Alright."


    Tao Yu agreed to his suggestion, it was easier to determine the current situation by contacting someone of status locally first.


    However, An Zhijie couldn''t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth when he looked at the Alien Queen beneath Tao Yu.


    "I think it might be difficult to borrow a phone while riding that thing¡­"


    "Then you go, be careful, I feel that something is off."


    Tao Yu surveyed the empty streets around him, and inside some of the houses, he could see people surreptitiously watching them, seemingly very frightened.


    Being frightened by the Alien Queen was normal.


    But they had only just arrived, what were they hiding from before¡­


    Roar~


    Just then, the Alien Queen let out a low growl, and Tao Yu also looked in a certain direction.


    He saw a pitch-ck figure, moving with an extremely twisted posture, running on all fours on the street like a spider, and rapidly rushing towards them.


    Following were the second and third monsters!


    And they were all different kinds!


    One was a huge man with bulging muscles that were distorted and out of shape, and another was dressed normally but ran like an Alien.


    What the heck?


    "Be careful!"


    "Watch out!"


    Huang Jian, upon detecting the appearance of prey, did not shoot immediately but turned to Nuosen and said,


    "How is it? Any impact?"


    "After taking the medicine, it''s okay, I''ll go and test their mettle first."


    The speed at which these three monsters wereing at them seemed to be within Nuosen''s ability to cope; with a shield in one hand and a hammer in the other, he moved towards the front.


    "Judging by their speed and size, they are not as tough as Aliens."


    Nuosen smiled confidently.


    The closest pitch-ck figure arrived first, with its limbs distorted in deformation, it made a leap and with high speed lunged at Nuosen from afar.


    Nuosen''s face revealed a vicious smile as he retaliated with his shield, mming into the oing figure.


    ng~


    A muffled collision sounded from the shield.


    The great force sent the ck figure flying back, tumbling and bouncing on the ground.


    But Tao Yu frowned at this moment.


    Although Nuosen had an absolute advantage, the shadow that had been struck got back on its feet as if nothing had happened.


    It seemed unaffected, continuing to move at its original frequency and speed towards Nuosen.


    This caused Nuosen, who had been sneering, to pause in confusion. He first used one hand to hold the shield and repel the target once more, then silently put his helmet back on and said in a muffled voice,


    Your journey continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    "Everyone, be careful. This thing''s resistance to impact is far beyond our expectations. Even I wouldn''t be fine if I took a hit like that."


    "The rest areing fast; you fall back first, and we''ll try with guns."


    Because of Nuosen''s initial setback, everyone who had been rtively rxed became alert all at once.


    At the start, most people thought these three monsters were not as tough as the Aliens; they just did not know what had happened here.


    But the shadow had been knocked away by Nuosen''s shield attacks twice and was still perfectly fine!


    Its defensive power and vitality appeared to be even stronger than that of the Aliens!


    Ratatat~


    Following Huang Jian''smand, Bai Ya and the other Outer City Pioneers did not hesitate to open fire continuously.


    Everyone demonstrated superb shooting skills, with a very high hit rate.


    Whether it was the shadow that had been knocked away twice or the crawling figure and the muscle monster that were quickly closing in, bursts of blood sprayed from their bodies.


    All sorts of disgusting fluids sttered everywhere.


    But apart from making them retreat somewhat, they still maintained strong vitality!


    "Stop firing, conserve bullets!"


    Huang Jian immediately spoke out, and then the two mechanical arms that extended from his back swiftly switched to another type of ammunition.


    Boom~


    With the shot fired, the muscle monster with thergest size burst into mes, and like a solidified incendiary round, the fire clung to its body and began to burn.


    Compared to the initial bullet firing, this full-body burn immediately caused the muscle monster to scream miserably and then run around wildly, mming into vehicles by the roadside.


    After howling for a while, it copsed on the ground.


    While the muscle monster was still struggling, and Huang Jian realized the attack was effective, he had already made sure to finish off the remaining two monsters.


    The effects were quite significant.


    "This is a solidified incendiary round, its effect against fire is decent, but I don''t have much in reserve," said Huang Jian, frowning, then he nced at the nearby vehicles.


    "They look very simr to the vehicles from Zombie World. It could be a sub-world of the samerge world, so we should be able to find gasoline and create more incendiary bottles."


    Tao Yu had been riding on the back of the Alien Queen the whole time, watching. Hearing Huang Jian''s ns, he also felt a bit sentimental.


    They had quickly found the monsters'' weaknesses; the Inner City Pioneers indeed have great innate advantages in every aspect.


    Although Tao Yu knew his own strength was not weak, at least it was absolutely superiorpared to other Inner City Pioneer neers,


    But he still saw a gap in the umtion of experience and knowledge. If it were him, he likely wouldn''t have been able to find out so quickly.


    "Tao brother, what are your thoughts now? Shall we go back first or continue to explore deeper?" asked Nuosen, who had also retreated by now.


    He was actually prepared to go back. If this were a normal world, he might have thought about making connections.


    The rewards for sessfulworking would definitely be substantial.


    However, it was clear that this was an abnormal and dangerous world, so it was safer to go back and report the mission first.


    Besides, they had to deal with the tails of these Aliens!


    These were bought at full price; even Inner City Pioneers wouldn''t want to bear such a loss.


    "Let''s first see what they dropped, then we need to look for other ways to kill them."


    Without waiting for Tao Yu to speak, Little ck had already swiftly moved through the mes, picking out the more unique items imbued with Yuan Force and eagerly ran back to hand them to Tao Yu.


    "Shall I try absorbing them?" asked Tao Yu, holding up the three different types of Yuan Force items, addressing Huang Jian who had killed the monsters.


    "Tao brother is generous. Be wary of contamination," said Huang Jian, not minding in the slightest. The Absorption Skill could have mental contamination, and in the not-safe-environment they were in now, Tao Yu was willing to take that risk to understand the situation, there indeed was no reason to refuse...

 Chapter 142: Chapter 128: The Monster is Fine

    "Strange, all three things point to the same skill..."


    Tao Yu first pretended to absorb it and then slowly gather his strength before he spoke with a grave expression about the information he had mastered.


    Although the three monsters each had their own characteristics, even to the point where their styles greatly differed,


    yet all three monsters pointed to the same ability?


    "The least Yuan Force is in the thirties, and the most is fifty, but the skill is undoubtedly the same. The level of information contamination is at least four times higher than that of Aliens and the number needed for the skill to form is even greater.


    "Even with Meditation Technique I''m not confident I can safely absorb the whole skill in one go. For ordinary people, it would probably take at least a month to absorb it slowly..."


    Although Tao Yu did not have the perspective of ordinary people, he could still estimate roughly through the clutter level of the information.


    Even for himself, he would need at least forty or fifty to piece together theplete skill!


    For ordinary people, it would probably be at least a hundred, with three a day followed by a slow process, it would take at least a month to fully understand.


    "Such severe contamination!"


    "Meditation Technique?"


    Upon hearing Tao Yu''s news, both Huang Jian and Nuosen were shaken to the core.


    Because of the restrictions on its dissemination and the possible involvement with cults, Meditation Technique was also a rare item even to the people of Inner City.


    "No wonder Brother Tao is so confident, it turns out you have the Meditation Technique."


    Huang Jian said with some envy, his tone also showing more respect.


    Indeed, this had caught the eye of two important figures in the Floating City! No wonder your strength has increased so quickly.


    On the other hand, Nuosen was more concerned with the skill.


    "I wonder if it''s possible to determine what type it is now? And whether it''s worth it or not."


    With such heavy contamination, if the skill is mediocre, then the entire set of skills probably won''t fetch a good price, greatly diminishing its value.


    But these monsters have inmon a strong vitality!


    Heavy contamination, high consumption, the skill must be good!


    "It should be a kind of body mutation skill, I''m not even sure if there will be any negative effects, it feels a bit shady."


    Tao Yu frowned and voiced his feelings, but since he only absorbed three, he was just roughly saying so.


    "What the hell is going on?!"


    Captain An Zhijie, who had always been on the edge observing, also felt a surge of pressure at this time.


    "Is this what you call an Abyss invasion? Didn''t you say there was some sort of world barrier? How did the monsters get in?"


    An Zhijie seemed very nervous; he had loved ones he took seriously too.


    Having a Rainforest nearby was actually okay, but if real monsters came in, that would be a huge problem!


    Although Nan Bang''s military power is not weak, it doesn''t have much capacity for self-sufficiency!


    Both war potential and strategic depth are limited.


    "Unfortunately, this might not be an invasion from the Abyss, but rather something born from your world itself, maybe, as you mentioned earlier, a contagious disease."


    At this moment, Tao Yu also put forth his own conjecture.


    Although he hadn''t seen theplete picture, he seemed to vaguely remember something simr, possibly from a Korean drama synopsis he had seen while browsing short videos.


    Relying on the mental enhancement from the Meditation Technique, he slowly began to recall.


    Humans turning into monsters!


    But it seemed it was just bing monsters, nothing esoteric and hard to specte.


    Tao Yu pondered for a moment and then turned to Huang Jian and Nuosen to say,


    "I''ve decided to explore a bit. What about you?"


    Tao Yu nced at them and also at the Alien tails that had been thrown on the ground.


    Although they had more people, carrying all these things around would definitely be inconvenient for a deep exploration!


    "This..., it seems quite troublesome; we should probably go back first, and deal with this merchandise."


    Although Huang Jian hesitated as he spoke, in his heart, he had no hesitation.


    Since it''s not a stable world and it lookspletely chaotic, there''s no reason to risk staying.


    Given the state of these monsters, he didn''t believe they could stabilize the situation with just a few of them. Since they couldn''tplete the connection task, it was time to give up!


    Better to return quickly and hand in the task, getting the benefits first is the right solution.


    How much can a normal initial deep exploration yield? It wasn''t possible to venture out while towing so many tails.


    After all, these monsters looked even more troublesome than the Aliens.


    "Then you go back and submit the exploration task, I want half of the reward."


    Tao Yu said bluntly.


    To this point, Huang Jian and Nuosen were prompt in their response,


    "No problem."


    Meanwhile, they also turned their gaze towards the two zombies who had remained silent throughout, looking as emotionless as ornaments.


    There''s something off about these two.


    But they did not have the time to ponder over this, nor did they need to; after all, splitting the task reward in half was perfectly eptable to them.


    "This is my partner ID number."


    Tao Yu lifted his wrist and swiped it against the other''s, sharing the information that had been embedded in hispany chip by Panda while handlingpany chip affairs¡ªan identity proof of sorts.


    When the task waspleted, he could go back and im his reward directly, essentially having them submit the task remotely on his behalf.


    Considering they handled the alien hive goods for him, probed the intelligence on the ''active'' situation, and then turned away to safeguard the cargo rather thanpeting with him for it...


    They were quite decent folks...


    Given the current circumstances, earning over five thousand from the task submission shouldn''t be a problem for him.


    "Then we''ll head back first, to avoid others beating us to it."


    "Once the task isplete and the cargo is dealt with, we mighte over to take a look. Hopefully, there''ll be another opportunity to cooperate."


    "We''ll talk about that when the timees."


    After a brief exchange, Huang Jian and Nuosen took the Outer City Pioneers, picked up the alien tails, and left without dy, showing no signs of dragging their feet.


    And An Zhijie, after listening to them rattling off in an iprehensiblenguage, was surprised to see that most of them had left, leaving him with the guy who tamed monsters, and those two silent, zombie-faced, and odd-looking ones.


    "Wait, wait a minute? What''s the situation now?"


    "They''ve gone back to submit the task. You''ll follow me now. Do you speak English?"


    Tao Yu casually asked.


    "Uh, of course, it''s a must for us."


    An Zhijie didn''t know why Tao Yu wanted to speak English, but heplied anyway.


    "It seems that the military had detected this ''infectious disease'' in advance, but for some reason, they chose not to disclose it. The result is obviously heading towards a catastrophe..."


    Tao Yu looked up towards the window of a residence, and with a ''putt'', a stter of blood stained the curtain, while the sky was also growing dim...


    ...


    Bang~


    Blood sttered as a head was blown off, and the body of the monster with only crimson tendonsnguidly fell to the ground.


    Yet, even with its headpletely obliterated, the monster''s body still convulsed violently, as if it weren''t cleanly dead.


    Tao Yu shook his fist and frowned at the creature on the ground


    Seeing that the Yuan Force had not yet begun to gather, Tao Yu sighed and slowly drew his Tachi.


    Several shes of cold light streaked by.


    The remaining body was instantly sted into chunks, and blood sma spilled all over the ground.


    But even so, Tao Yu could see that these pieces were still twitching!


    It took about a quarter of an hour before the Yuan Force began to converge, focusing on a piece of the flesh.


    "Is burning them the only way? If each one requires this much effort from me, then I won''t be able to kill many, somewhat restraining me..."


    Tao Yu frowned, as he was extremely capable of delivering killing blows to enemies with discernible weaknesses.


    But dealing with these kinds of creatures, which had almost no fatal weak spots, was a bit awkward for him.


    Now, even though his physical strength and stamina had improved significantly with the enhancement of the Breathing Technique and the Stance Skill, he still couldn''t keep this up indefinitely.


    This was a scene of a brutal killing that Tao Yu had noticed in a house, and he had climbed up to handle it himself.


    Given the vitality of these monsters, Tao Yu had initially considered using a knife to chop off the head, though he suspected that might not be effective. So, he had used his full power to deliver a punch.


    Who would have thought the aftermath would be soplicated?


    He absorbed the Yuan Force from the chunk of flesh and signaled Little ck to bring An Zhijie up to the room from the window. Night had fallen, and it was time to find a ce to rest for the night.


    This ce would do for now.


    But turning around to see the Alien Queen looking up at him with eager eyes, and considering its massive body size, Tao Yu pondered where to settle the creature.


    Although the Alien Queen was not weak and regr monsters could not trouble it too much one-on-one, it would probably be overwhelmed in a mob attack.


    "Climb up to the rooftop and rest there."


    In the end, Tao Yu decided to let Da Hei free-range on the roof, considering how chaotic things were already, free-ranging an Alien Queen didn''t seem like a big deal...


    As Da Hei extended its ws, embedding them into the exterior wall of the house and then climbed step by step towards the rooftop with its massive form, Tao Yu could hear continuous screams of panic from the floors below.


    "There sure are plenty of survivors, huh? Why were they all silent before..."


    Tao Yu scratched his head, looking at An Zhjeie, who was being led up by Little ck, hisplexion pale.


    It prompted An Zhijie to let out a wry chuckle.


    If it were me, I wouldn''t make a sound either; it''s too frightening...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 143: Chapter 129 Target

    "The phone has no signal, and the inte is already down, but there''s still electricity, and water hasn''t been cut off yet. I don''t know how long we can hold out."


    An Zhijie rummaged through the room and found the previous owner''s cell phone. Although he couldn''t unlock it, he saw the no-signal icon.


    Theputer had been left on; the inte connection had been severed, but the browser still disyed the pages the homeowner had opened with warnings and tips about the emergent situation.


    "Indeed, the source is that infectious disease. Why has this happened..."


    An Zhijie seemed somewhat helpless.


    Falling into the Abyss was already bad enough!


    But at least the majority of Nan Bang managed to plummet down. If they could maintain the original systems and order, they would be better able to resist and coordinate.


    But when it rains, it pours!


    This sudden outbreak of infection is truly adding insult to injury!


    Gazing at the messages, An Zhijie also felt somewhat at a loss.


    "Do you know how to fly a helicopter?"


    Tao Yu locked the door to the room with the monster corpses, instructed Little ck to find food, and emerged with the bodies of Cao Shaolin and Wino, the two zombies.


    "I know how to, but I''m not proficient. Helicopter controls are actually more cumbersome, and it''s difficult for beginners to learn."


    An Zhijie nodded and exined briefly.


    Jet pilot physical requirements are definitely higher, but in terms of operation, helicopters are quiteplex and not universally applicable. However, An Zhijie could fly one.


    "That''s good. It means you have value."


    Tao Yu thought of Judy, whom he had once saved on a whim because she knew how to drive a truck¡ªin a sense, a good deed had returned a favor by earning him a considerable amount of money.


    If they could get a helicopter here, it would be really convenient.


    Currently, he estimated that the Rainforest was within helicopter range from their location.


    Although the safety factor of helicopters is lower than that of fighter jets and the failure rate is higher.


    But it probably wouldn''t just crash from crossing the barrier like a jet would.


    Flying lower, close to the trees, at least ensured a basic level of safety. It was worth a try.


    As long as they could transport goods to the roadside outside of the Rainforest, they could use trucks to haul the cargo back.


    An intact nation at present¡ªentire sets of military equipment could likely be obtained!


    And although Nangao Li''s industrialization was not well-developed with many weak areas, their heavy industry seemed to have some strong points.


    In the new settlement where everything needed to be built from scratch, machinery likethes would certainly be valuable.


    The potential gains were even greater than the profits from emptying Las Vegas.


    Tao Yu set preliminary goals for himself upon entering this world and had outlined a few contingency ns based on different situations.


    First, he wanted to acquire that strange skill and see what it was about, then find a way to contact the military.


    If the military system was still intact, he would bridge connections; if not, he would be grateful for nature''s gift.


    "This world is still too small. I wonder if it can give rise to a ''Heart of the World'' or ''Chosen One''."


    Tao Yu had benefited before and was somewhat hopeful this time but sighed deep down soon after


    "What a pity, I''m not familiar with this world''s storyline. I only know that a protagonist can turn into a monster and seems to be able to turn back into a human?"


    While thinking this, Tao Yu also sat cross-legged on the sofa in the living room, letting Cao Shaolin and Wino stand beside him like guards as he began to practice the Meditation Technique.


    In this world, food should still be sufficient so the reserves he''d brought along could be swiftly consumed, speeding things up...


    ...


    Aoaoao~


    Little ck, covered in wounds, kept crying in front of Tao Yu.


    You could see a hole punctured through its exoskeleton on the abdomen, still stained with some acid blood that had lost its corrosiveness.


    Seeing the wound, Tao Yu knew it must''ve been the work of some monster, not a gunshot wound.


    "Little ck can easily overwhelm zombies, but it struggles a bit with the monsters here, thankfully it''s agile..."


    Tao Yu stroked Little ck''s head tofort it, then inspected the bag it had carried back, filled with plenty of canned lunch meat and beef.


    "It can find food too?"


    An Zhijie watched enviously from the side.


    How nice, having such an obedient pet in these times would save so much trouble.


    "Yeah, rest up for now. We''ll start moving tomorrow, first to check out your camp."


    "Okay, I was actually wanting to take a look too."


    An Zhijie spoke up but then hesitated before adding,


    "Could I make a detour home on the way? I''m a bit worried about my family, and it''s on the way to the military camp."


    "If you''re going to work for me in the future, then that''s possible."


    Tao Yu didn''t mind lending a hand to a well-trained, ready pilot. After all, they needed to collect monster materials.


    And upon hearing Tao Yu''s words, An Zhijie only hesitated for a moment before nodding gravely.


    "I''m willing to work for you."


    As a pilot, he had his own pride.


    But the world had turned into such a ghastly ce, from ne crashes to understanding the Abyss, and witnessing those monsters, multiple shocks had already made it clear to him that the times had changed.


    He thought that seeking refuge with a strong entity that had established itself in the Abyss early on was not a bad choice!


    At the very least, this individual could tame those monsters, whether it was the big one or the one that would forage for food, all of which sufficed to inform his judgment.


    The attitudes of the people he had encountered towards this individual were quite respectful, and that zombie-faced one and the ugly monster had been silent and obedient throughout, so this was not something uneptable.


    At this time, it was still a priority to ensure one''s own safety¡­


    ...


    Caw caw caw~


    Early the next morning, opening the curtains revealed a sky full of crows, flying through the city and darkening the skies.


    Looking out, there was the deep Rainforest, and the streets below stillcked any ''human'' activity, the ones moving were those strange monsters.


    "To avoid trouble, let''s take the rooftops. You lead the way, let''s check your home first."


    "Okay, my home isn''t far, I''ll guide us."


    An Zhijie''s heart lifted, and he followed Tao Yu to the rooftop.


    The iron door on the rooftop was locked, but Little ck scratched it with its w, easily opening it, and therey the Alien Queen on the rooftop.


    Upon seeing Tao Yu arrive, Da Hei also got up and came over with a solicitous nuzzle of itsrge head.


    Tao Yu also patted it in response.


    "Which direction?"


    The building density here was not low, and although they were mostly ten to twenty-floor buildings, they were generally quite old, a product of Nan Bang''s rapid development phase.


    Many rooftops were adorned with clotheslines and the distance between buildings was very small, with rows connected to each other.


    "That way."


    An Zhijie made a quick assessment then pointed out the direction.


    "Get on, hold tight."


    Tao Yu hoisted An Zhijie onto Da Hei''s back, instructing him to grip the spines.


    Cao Shaolin and Wino, the two zombies, this time were left to make their own jumps, following along with Little ck.


    Their eerie mode of lotion, hopping and leaping, sent chills down An Zhijie''s spine every time he nced back.


    How do they not look like any decent being!


    With Da Hei''s size, even a gap of over ten meters could be cleared with a sprinting leap.


    The considerable impact often caused vibrations on the rooftops, sometimes even depressions.


    asionally, ws tore through concrete, revealing the rebar underneath.


    Many clotheslines were flung about, not knowing where they mightnd.


    And for Little ck and the two zombies, such distances posed little challenge.


    Little ck''s Dexterity as an Alien was obvious, capable of climbing walls and reaching the rooftops without needing tond directly on them.


    Despite their stiffness, the two zombies, which had been cultivated for so long, had sufficient explosive power and strength, though their movements were rigid with each leap.


    Initially, An Zhijie was nervous on Da Hei''s back, but as a pilot, his training allowed him to quickly settle down and even afforded him the opportunity to observe his surroundings.


    Now the entire city seemed lifeless; no living people on the streets!


    Only various types of monsters roamed.


    Moreover, they were a diverse mixture, with no two of the same kind, and all with very abstract appearances.


    "There are too many types, but they are probably an effect of that high-pollution Skill, shouldn''t be a big problem¡­"


    Tao Yu felt somewhat hopeful; these monsters had strong vitality.


    Even if it might be rted to the heightened vitality of this world, it wouldn''t bepletely ineffective once away from this world.


    After all, he could Deify his Skills!


    If Deification could maintain close to the same effect of the Skill after leaving this world, it would be quite good, and future security could be greatly increased.


    Unfortunately, these creatures were indeed tricky to deal with, killing them was also energy-draining, and even Tao Yu, as he was now, did not take the risk to venture into the streets to hunt these monsters for materials, wary of being besieged.


    After all, they were everywhere, bound to overflow sooner orter.


    "Wonder what will happen if I use an Alien to incubate them."


    Tao Yu pondered, knowing that although the Alien couldn''t enter, he could let Da Hei try.


    But he quickly dismissed the thought.


    Too hard to control!


    If his strength couldn''t suppress it, it would be the end of everything; there was no need to take such a risk¡­


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 144: Chapter 130: Plot Location

    ```


    Pffft~ Continue your adventure with m|v-l''e -NovelBin


    Atop a roof, the Alien Queen firmly grasped a blood-soaked monster with her tworge hands, pulling it to her mouth, while her two smaller, auxiliary hands secured the catch.


    The extruding mouthparts gave the monster an icy chill through its heart.


    Although the monster kept struggling, it did not hinder the Alien Queen''s feeding.


    "Eatter, tear it up first, wait until I''ve taken the stuff," Tao Yu patted Da Hei''s head, signaling it to use its ws to shred the monster into pieces, its blood spraying all over the ce.


    Da Hei''s size, strength, and defense were far superior to Little ck''s.


    Little ck could still be breached by the attacks of ordinary monsters, but Da Hei, unless faced with particrly troublesome creatures, currently exerts a considerable suppressive force against normal monsters.


    "Da Hei has saved me quite a bit of trouble, indeed, bringing it was the right choice,pensating for myck of endurance," Tao Yu thought as he turned to look at Cao Shaolin and Wino.


    When actively using shadow maniption, they were quite strong.


    But without it, their main strengthsy in tough skin and sheer force; dexterity was their shoring, after all.


    These traits could hold their own, fifty-fifty, against stronger adversaries, and simrly, against weaker ones, it was often a fifty-fifty oue.


    "They mainly serve as bodyguards," Tao Yu decided.


    As Tao Yu pondered, the monsters that came across the rooftop began converging their Yuan Force. Little ck diligently retrieved the items and handed them to Tao Yu, who rode on Da Hei''s back, causing Da Hei to let out a dissatisfied roar.


    "Let''s go, how much further is it?" Tao Yu asked, looking at An Zhijie, whoseplexion was somewhat pale.


    "Not much further, you can see it now, look, that apartment building with the ''Green Home'' sign," An Zhijie, a pilot ustomed to the environment more than the average person, despite feeling nauseous from the gore, pointed toward a building ahead.


    Tao Yu followed his gaze, noting the sign was a bit weathered, and the apartment had an old-fashioned style,plete with clothes poles on the roof ¨C definitely a relic of another era.


    "Right, let''s head over... Hey, it looks like someone''s in trouble."


    With his keen eyesight, Tao Yu noticed someone on the side of the apartment using a rope to climb out the window, seemingly attempting to scale down in that manner, likely because a monster had appeared inside.


    What the person didn''t see, in their blind spot, was arge eye quietly observing them, with a tentacle-like neck beneath it reaching into the unseen area below.


    The scene was somewhat familiar to Tao Yu.


    "Have I seen this in a short video...?" he wondered, unsure since this area harbored many kinds of creatures. Tao Yu remembered distinctly a Goblin with excellent hearing and a scar-faced brute who could pummel reddish monsters.


    Since it was An Zhijie''s home apartment, without further hesitation, Tao Yu pulled out his AT200.


    With an effective range of eight hundred meters, the rifle was more than sufficient.


    Raising the gun to aim, with "Basic Shooting" and "Intuitive Shooting" skills, and his own rted talents, even from this distance, with a three-shot burst from Tao Yu, the giant eye monster''s eye instantly burst.


    Its neck fell towards the ground below.


    The man about to climb down only then realized in horror that there was a monster beside him, and the outside seemed even more dangerous than inside the apartment, so he scrambled back into the room. Tao Yu also saw two children in the room reaching out the window to assist him.


    "Let''s head over, there are monsters in your apartment, who''s in your family?" Tao Yu then asked.


    "Just my foster father and the caregiver," An Zhijie replied, his voiceden with worry, not expecting the situation to develop so quickly that even the inside of the apartment was unsafe...


    Hearing An Zhijie''s words, Tao Yu had the Alien Queen speed up. His gunfire seemed to have also drawn the attention of two nearby monsters that started running over from the adjacent rooftop.


    But they appeared to be two smaller Karamis. With a roar, the Alien Queen dispatched both monsters, ripping them apart with both hands and mouth.


    "Bag the meat first," Tao Yu said, not bothering to wait for the Yuan Force to gather, directing Little ck to pick up the pieces and follow.


    And so, the group¡ªa mix of two humans, two aliens, and two zombies¡ªarrived at the side of the Green Home apartment building. Da Hei leaped onto the roof with a heavy thump, shaking it slightly.


    At that moment, a handsome young man with a mop just came out onto the roof, staring at the horrifically featured Alien Queen dripping with blood in her hands.


    He then saw Little ck, with a bloody backpack, and stood there dumbfounded, dropping his mop with a tter to the ground.


    Even though he had seen monsters before, the sight before him remained shockingly impactful.


    Then, spotting two lively figures besides, and two people riding atop the beasts, Che Xianxiu simply rolled his eyes back and fainted.


    "The young folks these days sure are healthy; just hit the ground and they''re out like a light," Tao Yumented with a raised eyebrow, looking over at the handsome face, feeling it somewhat familiar¡ªhe might not remember the name, but it was probably one of those celebrity faces.


    Perhaps this was where the short video he had seen took ce.


    "With this fragment of the world being so small, the chances of a Heart of the World are slim, but if there''s still a ''Chosen One'' around, it might still be worth some money," Tao Yu pondered inwardly.


    ```


    "He''s in aa, is this a sign of infection?"


    An Zhijie grew somewhat rmed at this moment.


    "Maybe, doesn''t matter¡ªseeing how he turns into a monster could be interesting."


    Tao Yu''s words left An Zhijie a bit dumbfounded. This person had been so cold all along; why the sudden change of heart?


    Shouldn''t we eradicate the danger before it can grow?


    Back then, when you forced me to work for you, you didn''t have this attitude.


    For a moment, the ordinary-looking An Zhijie felt a little hurt. Is this a world that judges by appearances?


    But the boy who passed out is a guy...


    However, without a word from Tao Yu, An Zhijie wouldn''t dare overstep and do anything.


    "You''re right..."


    By the time they reached the roof of the house, An Zhijie had grown impatient to check on his foster father''s condition.


    "Da Hei, you stay here. Feel free to fight back if you''re attacked, but no cking off."


    Tao Yu gave Da Hei aforting pat before heading downstairs to pick up Che Xianxiu, handing her over to Cao Shaolin in a princess carry.


    "Let''s go, we should check on your father first."


    Initially, Tao Yu just wanted to ease An Zhijie''s mind; a pilot indeed counted as a talent.


    But upon discovering that this might involve the ''Child of Destiny,'' Tao Yu naturally became more interested.


    So far, the biggest score she had made was still ''selling'' Jack!


    What followed was tough manualbor and investment, slowly earned over time¡ªnothingpared to the quick money from selling a ''Chosen One''!


    The protagonist seemed to be infected too; I wonder if it''s this kid.


    As Tao Yu mused, she headed downstairs with An Zhijie. But whilst in the stairwell, Tao Yu slightly frowned and nced toward the corridor.


    "Don''t move! Put him down!"


    A man sitting in a wheelchair, holding a homemade firearm, aimed it fiercely at them.


    Tao Yu hadn''t even spoken when An Zhijie already positioned himself in front of the muzzle, spreading his arms.


    "Don''t be foolish, hurry up and put him down¡ªyou''ve got it all wrong; we didn''t hurt him, he fainted on his own, we are the good guys."


    An Zhijie also felt nervous for the disabled uncle.


    And before the uncle could say anything,


    Little ck, lying on the ceiling, swept its tail and knocked the homemade firearm aside.


    It was then that the wheelchair-bound uncle finally turned pale as he saw Little ck hiding in the shadows.


    This thing is a good guy?


    But at that moment, Tao Yu suddenly turned her head to the entrance of the stairs and said in a low voice to An Zhijie,


    "Be careful."


    The next moment, Tao Yu exploded on the spot, stirring up a st of air, and in an instant, she reached the bottom of the stairs.


    Meanwhile, several fleshy tentacles shot out violently, thudding into the concrete and piercing the walls!


    Yet, Tao Yu, in a disy of incredible Dexterity, twisted her body in mid-air, letting the several attacks graze right past her.


    She spun at high speed in mid air, dodging the blows, and leveraged the railing to kick out.


    Tao Yu''s frame did not appear exaggerated, and the kick seemed toe naturally.


    But the moment the sole of her foot touched the monster''s body, a terrifying force surged into the beast!


    Bang~


    The creature exploded from the middle, purely fragmented by the infused force!


    Gore sttered all over the walls.


    The man in the wheelchair stared in disbelief.


    You''re the real monster, aren''t you...


    "Sorry, I didn''t recognize it just now; I misunderstood. My apologies."


    Though the disabled uncle lost both legs and was confined to a wheelchair, he still sincerely ced his hands on the armrest and bowed to Tao Yu.


    "No worries; consider it as if I''ve already broken your legs," Tao Yu replied dismissively, tongue in cheek.


    She then pulled a fleshy tentacle embedded in the wall out.


    Due to the tight space, eager to avoidplications, Tao Yu used a Qi and Blood Pill to instantly boost her strength for a decisive battle.


    Without gathering force for an extended period, she still achieved an instant kill effect, as Yuan Force began to converge within this tentacle...


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 145: Chapter 131: Which One Is It After All?

    "More than ny Yuan Force, it''s not an ordinary little monster anymore."


    Tao Yu sensed it for a moment, and it seemed to be the most expensive monster they had encountered in this fragment so far, equal to about three of the regr monsters.


    The skill was still that single one.


    "All monsters originate from this kind of change, I hope it gives a bit of power."


    Meanwhile, An Zhijie beside him swallowed and kept looking at Tao Yu with a strange gaze.


    Tao Yu''s ability to suppress the Alien Queen didn''t surprise him with its strength.


    He was just surprised why the other became so easy to talk to all of a sudden.


    Even when threatened by theme uncle with a gun, he just cursed once.


    Was he really a good person?


    An Zhijie couldn''t help but think of the bloody scenes where the other ughtered those monsters along the way.


    It was the stuff of nightmares.


    "Why are you looking at me like that? I''ve always been benevolent, maybe you have some misunderstanding about me."


    "Sorry, sorry."


    An Zhijie quickly apologized, sharp as ever. Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, having the other be this way actually felt safer; he truly hoped the other was ''benevolent''!


    "Are there many monsters like this in the apartment?"


    Tao Yu looked down at hispletely burst tactical boots, simply took off the damaged shoes, and stepped barefoot onto the ground.


    With the current physical condition, and the bear-like ability with its side effects,mon small stones and ss should not be a worry for injuring his feet.


    It just felt a bit strange to go barefoot.


    "So far, not too many, but not too few either, these creatures are very Sensitive to sound."


    The uncle in the wheelchair seemed to be making up for something, as he wheeled towards the room and said,


    "I have shoes for you, very sturdy ones."


    Tao Yu followed him while retorting with a sharp tongue,


    "Plenty of poor-quality ones, I bet."


    "They''re mine from the past; I''ve served too, they''re military boots."


    The uncle in the wheelchair rebutted.


    "Did you see his clothes? He''s a pilot."


    Tao Yu seemed unconcerned.


    "Were you sent by the authorities for a rescue? Was that big-eyed monster killed by you?"


    The uncle in the wheelchair asked opportunely.


    "That monster was killed by this gentleman. The situation is a bitplicated now, I''ll exin to all of youter."


    An Zhijie exined at this moment.


    Seeing this, the uncle in the wheelchair didn''t ask any further questions. He opened the door, searched through a cab covered in dust, and picked out a pair of military boots for Tao Yu.


    In the meantime, Che Xianxiu, who had been rigidly held in a princess carry by Cao Shaolin, also woke up confusedly.


    Looking at Cao Shaolin holding her, she was a bit lost for a moment but quickly came to her senses.


    Upon spotting Little ck in the shadows, she gasped in fright.


    "Quiet down, that''s this young man''s pet. It doesn''t bite, but your noise could attract..."


    The uncle in the wheelchair warned, but before he could finish, they saw a tremor at the staircase entrance.


    The father they had previously saved, with two children in tow, ran out like mad, heading their way.


    Boom~


    The wall behind them cracked, and a muscle-bound monster chased after them.


    "Protein..."


    The monster was even repeating a word over and over, drooling as it eyed the children ahead.


    Tao Yu cast a nce and felt the ugliness of the monster.


    He had encountered quite a few Inner City Pioneers with alien bodies imnted inside them; Panda himself stood over two meters three, not much shorter than this thing.


    But this fellow''s twisted muscles were too abstract, abstract to the point of being revolting.


    Then, the father leading the two children, upon nearly reaching them, also despaired upon seeing Little ck in the darkness.


    The Alien''s fierce appearance was not much inferior to the muscle monster chasing them.


    But in the next moment, with a leap from Wino, his whole body rocketed forward like a cannonball, colliding heavily with the muscle monster.


    Boom~


    The rampant strength of the Zombie forcefully knocked the tank-like muscle monster to the ground.


    His palm even plunged deep into the creature''s body.


    "Facing such big fellows, Zombies are more convenient to deal with than Aliens..."


    Tao Yu quickly assessed the situation.


    Letting Little ck tackle this big guy, if it identally caught its tail, it would probably have to swing its meteor hammer again.


    A few hard hits would likely spell the end.


    But now that Tao Yu let Wino charge, the two exchanged blows, one punch from you, one stab from me, back and forth.


    The muscle monster was very strong, a single punch could send Wino flying into the wall.


    But Wino, now a zombie, took such a hit as if nothing had happened, and in return, stabbed into the muscle monster, spattering blood sma.


    Comparatively, Wino, who was almost uninjured, seemed to have gotten the better of the exchange.


    On the other side, An Zhijie and Che Xianxiu had also gone over to escort that family, and likewise told them that Little ck doesn''t bite.


    "The one who shot to save you guys earlier was him, you should really thank him."


    The wheelchair uncle also reminded the father at this time.


    "Th-thank you! I''m extremely grateful, otherwise I wouldn''t have known what to do."


    The father seemed to be on the verge of an emotional breakdown at this moment.


    But seeing his child reignited his will to persevere.


    At that moment, Che Xianxiu turned a bit red-faced and bowed to Tao Yu. Discover stories with m,v l''e-NovelBin


    "Sorry, I had the wrong impression of you at first."


    "More polite than this cripple, not bad."


    "I apologized too, can''t you stop picking on me?"


    The wheelchair uncleined a bit as he seemed easy to talk to, but why did it feel like this person was a bit small-minded?


    "You were unconscious earlier, were there signs of infection? Can you tell me what happened?"


    Tao Yu ignored the exchange of punches between Wino and the muscle monster, testing the strength of the zombie while turning around to inquire Che Xianxiu.


    If he really showed signs of infection, then he must be the protagonist!


    The walking hundred thousand Yuan Force...


    Even if not the first worth, at least fifty thousand as a base!


    Hearing what Tao Yu said, the previouslyining wheelchair uncle, as well as the father and his two sons, were all stunned.


    But fortunately, after a moment of being stunned, apart from the father putting his children behind him, there weren''t any excessive reactions.


    Someone jumped out from nowhere and fought the monster like that, and they had a monster that didn''t bite beside them¡­ perhaps monsters weren''t so scary after all¡­


    "I don''t know, but shouldn''t we go help him first? It looks quite painful."


    Che Xianxiu shrank his neck, unsure how to describe the sensation he had felt earlier.


    "No need, it''s a good test, have killed many of these things, don''t worry."


    The ceiling was shaking off dust because of the vibrations from the fight, but Tao Yu''s words seemed very nonchnt.


    Hearing this, Che Xianxiu obediently described his situation.


    "I don''t know, but before I passed out, it felt like someone was constantly telling me to destroy the world. It felt like I was going to split personalities, besieged by negative emotions."


    "So you suppressed it?"


    A gleam appeared in Tao Yu''s eyes, it had to be him!


    The protagonist is the special individual capable of suppressing the transformation into a monster, no mistake!


    And just then, as Wino was sent flying once again, a white figure suddenly burst out from the stairwell, leaping onto the back of the muscle monster, fiercely gouging its eyes.


    "Ah, it''s the aunt from before."


    The daughter among the father and sons raised her voice at this moment.


    If it hadn''t been for that aunt''s desperate intervention, they would have never made it here.


    "Hm?"


    Tao Yu fell into thought as he observed the figure attacking the muscle monster.


    Although much weaker than the muscle monster in strength, well below the monster''s, she was beyond the scope of normal humans and was likely monsterized.


    "Quick, take the kids and go."


    The figure was clinging deathly onto the muscle monster, still blurting out indistinct words.


    This left Tao Yu somewhat baffled.


    Another person who retained their sanity after monsterization?


    The female lead?


    ncing back at Che Xianxiu, who dared not move, and then at the woman being violently torn off and tossed aside like a rag doll by the muscle monster, Tao Yu felt that she seemed more like the protagonist.


    Never mind, I want them both!


    Tao Yu began walking toward the muscle monster, his footsteps hastening.


    At the same time, his thumb flicked out the knife handle, and he grabbed it.


    "It looks very solid, might not be able to burst it..."


    Crane form!


    A sh of the de, perfectly integrating the Crane form power technique, and instantly cutting lines appeared all over the burly muscle monster''s body. Then, it disintegrated into chunks of flesh on the ground¡­


    Just as Tao Yu was sheathing his knife, another man with sses holding a long knife and a beautiful woman with a baseball bat came out from the stairwell, staring dumbfounded at the writhing chunks of flesh on the floor.


    Tao Yu, seeing the bespectacled priest with the long knife and the pretty girl beside him, fell into pondering again.


    "Korean dramas always have a romantic element, right? I get the feeling that this guy might also be the protagonist..."


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 146: Chapter 132 All Present

    Teacher Xiao Zheng, holding a katana, looked at the chunks of flesh on the ground still writhing and couldn''t help but make the sign of the cross in front of his chest.


    Although Teacher Xiao Zheng wore sses and still had the appearance of a refined Chinese literature teacher, he was also a devout believer. However, due to a game of chance in his childhood, he had quite impressive sword skills.


    Because of this, he could discern the information revealed by the earlier effortless moves of the handsome guy!


    "Can you do that?"


    The music girl, Zhi Xiu, who held a baseball bat and liked to y the bass, asked Teacher Xiao Zheng, who was also somewhat dazed, next to her.


    "How could that be possible! That''s not something humans can do, and besides, even using that knife at home to cut meat couldn''t be that fast¡­"


    Teacher Xiao Zheng, seeing Tao Yu turn his head with a thoughtful look, quickly sheathed his long sword and started talking,


    "We mean no harm, we just wanted toe help. The apartment is full of monsters, but the first floor is temporarily safe. We''re preparing to rally everyone to gather on the first floor, where there are already a few survivors."


    Tao Yu, seeing this bespectacled guy speaking so politely, also turned back to the man in the wheelchair and said,


    "You see, everyone knows to sheathe their weapons when meeting others, yet you''re holding a gun pointing at others. Learn a little."


    "Please stop talking, I truly realize my mistake, big brother, no, my lord!"


    The man in the wheelchair put his hands together and kept bowing to Tao Yu, his face filled with desperation.


    "Listen to you, making me sound petty and vindictive."


    "No, no, you are magnanimous and benevolent!"


    At this time, the muscles of the chopped-up monster corpse on the ground were wriggling less and less, as the Yuan Force began to converge and was picked up by Tao Yu, then absorbed.


    "Almost as good as four normal monsters. Was this guy really that strong?"


    Tao Yu nced down again and pondered. After all, he felt it still wasn''t as threatening as the one that could shoot tentacles.


    "Seeing that the first floor is safe, let''s head down then. Everyone, follow me, Captain An, to your foster father''s ce first."


    "Okay."


    An Zhijie nodded.


    "That one''s mine; it doesn''t bite. There''s a bigger one on the roof; don''t provoke it if you don''t have to."


    At this moment, Teacher Xiao Zheng and the music girl, Zhi Xiu, also saw the Little ck that had been hiding in the dark.


    Fortunately, they had already been baptized, and their capacity for eptance had significantly strengthened.


    If you really think about it, the guy who dismembered thatrge monster so handsomely is definitely not human either!


    Just like the aunt lying on the ground¡­


    At this time, including Tao Yu, everyone''s attention also fell on the woman lying on the ground who was thrown off by the muscle monster.


    Drenched in blood and severely beaten, she somehow moved her hands a couple of times and then got back up.


    "Are the kids okay?"


    The question asked by the aunt who just got up stirred emotions in everyone''s hearts.


    "It seems that not all monsters are bloodthirsty; some might regain their sanity given a chance."


    Teacher Xiao Zheng hesitantly said.


    After witnessing Tao Yu cutting down monsters, the astonishing defense of Zombie Wino, the ''well-behaved'' monsters being kept, and this aunt who first inquired about the children''s safety after waking up, the pair, who had only experienced such ordeals for one night, felt their internal bnce shift significantly.


    They began to feel that there may be different types of beings among these monsters.


    "Go this way; my foster father has also served in the military, so he should be well hidden in case of an emergency."


    An Zhijie was somewhat concerned¡ªthis was contingent on him and the caregiver not turning into monsters.


    Since the elevator had lost power, everyone was helping each other out, with Che Xianxiu pushing the wheelchair of the man in the wheelchair, while that father took his two children along.


    Teacher Xiao Zheng and the music girl, Zhi Xiu, seeing there were children, specially came over to them.


    While climbing the stairs, they even helped carry the man in the wheelchair.


    Although they had just formed a small team, they surprisingly worked together well.


    Tao Yu swept a nce at these people helping each other and nodded inwardly, their character settings seemed quite good, and the likelihood of being a white-eyed wolf was probably low.


    Apart from the Chosen One, the others could also be brought back to keep Jackpany. Whether it''s one or a group, it doesn''t matter anymore.


    As Tao Yu slowly descended the stairs and casually killed two more monsters on the way,


    An Zhijie''s worries didn''te to pass, and soon after he knocked on the door and called out, a sweet-looking nurse opened it.


    "So many beauties, even in such a world, they are still natural," Thought Tao Yu, somewhat exasperated that there were so many handsome men and beautiful women that he still couldn''t confirm who the "Chosen One" was specifically.


    At first, he thought it might be Che Xianxiu, but then the monstrous auntie recovered as well, suggesting this wasn''t an isted case. Besides, Che Xianxiu had only fainted once, so it wasn''t confirmed if he had turned into a monster.


    "Seems like I''ll have to find an opportunity to let them fight monsters to see. Although the ''Chosen One'' would be more efficient to use, it''s hard to feel anything from just one or two monsters."


    Tao Yu fell into thought.


    "But it seems like Jack mentioned that the Aliens he kills don''t drop Yuan Force items. Maybe I''ll have to test them one by one."


    "...You''re not ying the deserter, are you?"


    At this time, Old Man An began his friendly greeting to An Zhijie. It was evident that he was overjoyed to see his foster son return safely, but he stillined a few words.


    Even in such circumstances, maintaining such a demeanor was quite characterful.


    "Let''s go downstairs and gather first."


    An Zhijie nced back at Tao Yu. His original n was to settle his foster father before heading to the base, but for some reason, it seemed that the boss intended to stay for the time being.


    Why?


    For the beauties?


    An Zhijie swept a nce at the music-loving girl Zhi Xiu and their own nurse Ali, indeed both were beauties.


    Find your next adventure on m_v l|e-NovelBin


    It seemed there was something more...


    Hey? He first met Che Xianxiu, who was a pretty boy, but that shouldn''t be it...


    All of a sudden, a shiver ran through An Zhijie as something urred to him.


    "Are you thinking of something impolite?"


    Tao Yu looked at An Zhijie quizzically, his Spirit Perception had just told him this guy suddenly had a strong emotional fluctuation towards him.


    "How could that be, no way, let''s go downstairs..."


    An Zhijie waved his hands in denial repeatedly...


    ...


    Because Little ck did indeed look fetching, after checking Wino''s defense, Tao Yu also called Little ck to go upstairs with Da Hei.


    Just as everyone reached the second floor, the power supply to the previously shut-down neighborhood seemed to be restored, leaving the group carrying a wheelchair somewhat resigned.


    "It seems it wasn''t aplete ckout; maybe just our building was out."


    Teacher Zheng adjusted his sses and shared his judgment.


    And then, a clear female voice came through the broadcast,


    "Dear apartment residents, there are monsters everywhere outside and inside the apartment. For now, we can confirm that the first floor is temporarily safe. We hope that everyone will bring supplies to the first floor as much as possible, to ovee this disaster together, and wait for rescue..."


    The apartment''s monitoring and broadcasting systems were all on the first floor. As the broadcast began, the group sessfully descended the stairs.


    At this time, the various entrances on the first floor were clearly blocked off, and the main entrance even had an electric gate shut with several metal boxes propped up against it.


    About a dozen people were waiting there.


    Among them were the supermarket owner couple from the first floor and ady holding a dog, all with the faces of typical minor characters.


    But Tao Yu''s gaze still locked onto two other beauties and another bespectacled handsome guy.


    That settles it, they''re also main character candidates!


    Everyone must be here by now...

 Chapter 147: Chapter 133: Setting Rules

    Tao Yu and hisrge group''s arrival also caught the attention of the people on the first floor.


    There were too many people; it was difficult not to notice.


    The man with sses who had temporarily be the leader of this group of survivors on the first floor adjusted his sses. He was a medical student who had taken a leave of absence for the sake of his sister and was extremely calm.


    Seeing the bloodstains on a few people, he knew they had encountered monsters along the way, but he didn''t know how they had sessfully escaped.


    Standing next to him was a very agile woman exuding a heroic aura.


    Compared to the silent observations of the man with sses, this woman was much more direct.


    "Did you encounter monsters? Where? What''s the situation now?"


    "Assassin, I''m in charge here for now, and I''ll lead you all to safetyter. I assume nobody has any objections, right?"


    His gaze swept over the heroic woman and the man with sses, as well as the girl in the school uniform who had juste out of the surveince room.


    Tao Yu guessed there probably wouldn''t be more "Chosen Ones" arriving, and if so, he could temporarily take control of the situation.


    "You''re in charge? Why?"


    The girl in the school uniform who had juste out seemed to be in a rebellious phase as she rudely retorted.


    Even though she had the sweet and innocent look of a student, when she started to talk back, she gave off the vibe of a little delinquent.


    This caused Che Xianxiu, who had a good impression of her, to change his expression, and he quickly intervened to remedy the situation.


    "This brother can defeat monsters; he''s very strong."


    "Defeat monsters?"


    The first to react to this wasn''t the three people on the first floor who seemed like backup protagonists, but another woman.


    She came up to Tao Yu in a panic, holding her phone and pleading,


    "Please save my daughter. She was just outside the gate when I could still track her location; she must be hiding somewhere nearby!"


    As she spoke, she began to reach for the electric gate.


    But Tao Yu didn''t hesitate to fire a shot into the floor in front of her.


    "Did I allow you to open the gate?"


    Tao Yu nced sideways at the trembling woman.


    That gunshot was more direct and effective than the words Tao Yu had spoken before, or even the confirmation Che Xianxiu had earlier provided.


    Whether it was the concerned mother wanting to save her daughter or the others from the first floor, they were instantly startled and stopped raising any further objections or rebuttals.


    The girl in the school uniform who had talked back to Tao Yu also lowered her head like a quail, pretending to y with her phone.


    "Big brother is a good person; he saved us before."


    At that moment, the older of the two children broke the silence, causing Tao Yu to smile and crouch down to tickle her little nose.


    "You''re such a clever little thing."


    Children represent the future and even a ghostly ce like Starshine City would have measures to adopt orphans in order to reduce their cannon fodder score.


    However, unfortunate as it might be, even if one escaped a world filled with monsters, one would still be living in a world gued by the Abyss.


    Tao Yu then approached the gate and pressed the button himself.


    The metal gate began to rise slowly with a creaking noise.


    "Since it''s your daughter, you go out and save her," he said.


    "What?"


    The woman''s face had shown a trace of joy as the electric metal gate opened, but it turned deathly pale when she heard Tao Yu''s words.


    "How can you ask me to go out there? There are monsters everywhere outside!"


    "So what? Is it right to expect others to risk their lives for you?"


    Tao Yu grinned, not actually disliking the idea of a saviorplex. Originally, Jack had taken on the responsibility of leading the people of the shelter through a long journey. Although Tao Yu wouldn''t have done the same, he respected the decision.


    A man of his word, Jack had fulfilled his promise, and once they reached the settlement, he decisively stopped being a nanny. Under the rtively safe environment of the base, he made the other survivors fend for themselves.


    This kind of character and conduct actually made one feel quite reliable. Most hot-blooded protagonists tended to fall into this category.


    The situation was simr at the moment. If this woman had the courage to run out and save someone, Tao Yu wouldn''t mind giving a helping hand at the crucial moment. After all, he had to hunt some monsters anyway; it would just be a bit of extra effort.


    But to morally ckmail others into taking the risk?


    Then sorry...


    He really despised that kind of sanctimonious hypocrisy.


    Now the gate had fully opened, and the metal cabs propped against it had also fallen down.


    Perhaps because the apartment gate had been opened, a young woman did indeed dart out from around the corner and run towards the gate.


    Looking at the old woman''s expression, it must have been her daughter, but she didn''t dare to step out the door and was just frantically waving in ce.


    However, Tao Yu also saw it. In a cement pipeline at the construction site by the door, there squatted a monster with a long, disgusting tongue.


    "If you don''t go now, your daughter is going to die."


    "Are you even men? Won''t someone go and save her?"


    The auntie suddenly broke down and started cursing.


    It left Tao Yu speechless for a moment.


    Could only say, is it because this version is ahead...?


    The key point is that there really was a guy in camouge who couldn''t take the provocation and started running towards the outside, seemingly wanting to pull the young woman to safety.


    St~


    Before the guy could even make it out, a long tongue had already pierced through the young woman''s body, sucking up her insides like a straw.


    The sudden attack made everyone in the hall scream, and some people kept shouting to close the door.


    The witness to all of this, the auntie, went crazy on the spot, and while her nose bled profusely, she turned to look at Tao Yu and started tosh out like a shrew.


    "You demon!"


    "You''re going to die too."


    "If you have the guts, kill me then! You this..."


    However, before she could finish her sentence, a long tongue pierced through her, the one standing closest to the door, and lifted her high off the ground.


    The auntie, in disbelief, looked down at the disgusting tongue that had prated her abdomen, then let it consume her flesh and blood.


    "See, I told you so," Tao Yu said, spreading his hands at the auntie with an expressionless face, seemingly a bit helpless.


    "I warned you, but you just wouldn''t recognize goodwill."


    At that moment, the temporary manager with sses from the first floor also hurriedly reached the switch and pressed it, lowering the iron gate once again.


    But the descent of this kind of residential district''s electric gate was so slow for safety reasons, and the long-tongued monster, having drained the auntie, was ready to make its way inside.


    This made the guy with sses grimace, and he quickly charged towards the monster with a metal box, as if trying to push it outside.


    The JK girl behind him screamed, attempting to hold back her brother but reacted a moment toote.


    She watched helplessly as he charged at the monster.


    St~


    Another tongue shot forth, piercing right through the metal box!


    Just as the long tongue was about to chill the sses guy to the core, he suddenly felt a tug on his cor.


    He was rapidly pulled back and sent flying backwards.


    The projectile tongue almost grazed his face, revealing its ferocious maw.


    The blood that sshed on it also stained his sses.


    "ying the hero without the ability will get you killed quickly."


    After tossing the sses guy on the ground and dragging him back from death''s door, Tao Yu voluntarily walked towards the long-tongued monster.


    The survivors on the first floor, who had never seen Tao Yu take action, were now both frightened and awestruck, their eyes wide with disbelief.


    Another one going to his death?


    Hurry up and close the door!


    "In times like these, if you obeymands, I''ll help you when I can. But if you act recklessly, you''ll have to leave it to fate."


    Whoosh~


    The sh of the de whizzed by, and the lunging tongue was cut into several pieces in an instant. Then Tao Yu moved to the side of the long-tongued monster with ghostlike speed, and before the creature could react, he chopped it into chunks.


    All the action waspleted in two seconds, leaving a huge impact on the survivors who had never witnessed Tao Yu in action.


    The ones who had been scrambling around like headless flies, trying to dy until the gate closed, now all stood with their mouths agape.


    What kind of strength was this? What kind of speed?


    This guy wasn''t human!


    He was even more terrifying than the monster!


    "Did you understand?"


    Tao Yu turned to nce at the crowd, his tone casual...

 Chapter 148: Chapter 134 Coordinates

    Tao Yu''s disy of power was more eloquent than any exnation and more efficient than any excuse.


    When Tao Yu returned to the first floor of the apartmentplex,


    the survivors there looked at Tao Yu with many forcing a smile to appear on their faces.


    The owner of the supermarket on the first floor even came over with an ingratiating attitude and said,


    "Just now, it was their own fault they died. You had warned us, and we have to thank you for driving the monster away and saving us. We definitely couldn''t have relied on him."


    He made sure not to forget to put down the sses-wearing guy who had just struggled to his feet.


    "Tsk, tsk~ to speak coldly to someone who risked their life to save you all, please stay away from me."


    Tao Yu looked at the uncle with disdain, deciding he was definitely not an important character.


    His words caused the butt-kissing uncle to stiffen immediately, but he dared notsh out at Tao Yu and could only leave sullenly to return to his shop.


    "Go tally the food. Allocate it to everyone on a daily fixed amount. I will find a suitable vehicle and prepare to leave this ce,"


    Tao Yu casually instructed sses guy.


    Since it was pretty much decided they would all be going together, Tao Yu nned to directly lead people back to the base.


    Taking everyone back would ensure no one was missed!


    After all, bringing ordinary people back also came with Yuan Force rewards, so it wouldn''t be a loss.


    Pick out the good ones, and they could be integrated into the transportationpany.


    Without spending Yuan Force and just providing food, hiring the original inhabitants is actually more cost-effective.


    "Thank you."


    sses guy sincerely thanked Tao Yu first before heading to the supermarket to take inventory.


    The supermarket owner wanted to say something, but after seeing the knife and gun hanging at Tao Yu''s waist, he could only squeeze out a smile and invite sses guy in.


    Your adventure continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    The JK girl who had previously confronted Tao Yu now came over with a blushing face and bowed to him,


    "I''m sorry, my voice was a bit loud at the beginning, thank you for saving my brother."


    "Youck sincerity in your apology, you need to show some... never mind."


    Tao Yu was about to tease her but changed his mind after ncing at her youthful face and decided against saying anything inappropriate.


    He then turned to An Zhijie and said,


    "I''m going to take a look around. You handle things here, shoot if there''s trouble, I''lle back."


    "Yes, Boss,"


    An Zhijie nodded repeatedly.


    However, just at that moment, the television on the first floor, which had always shown no signal, suddenly shed with a new image.


    It might have been a recently restoredmunication signal, and the broadcast began with an exnation about the appearance of these monsters,


    "...This is not a disease spread by any means, but a curse lurking deep within people''s hearts. It likely came with the rainforest that fell from the sky. If anyone notices symptoms like nosebleeds, fainting, or hallucinations in suspected patients, please iste them immediately..."


    Even Tao Yu was somewhat surprised to hear this.


    He initially thought it was a contagious disease, but now you''re telling me it''s something idealistic?


    "Is this a unique product of the active world..."


    Tao Yu pondered inwardly.


    Then, the broadcast was followed by a live speech from Nan Bang''s great leader, mainly motivational words, assuring everyone that they could ovee the crisis,


    "...Whether it''s the sudden rainforest or these monsters, nothing can defeat us..."


    But before the great leader could finish, he suddenly started gushing blood from his nose and then the live broadcast was abruptly cut.


    The great leader''s sudden mishap undoubtedly frightened the survivors once again.


    Just when things began to look up with the restoration of the TV signal and even a live broadcast, everyone had hoped for military rescue toeter.


    But now, even the great leader couldn''t protect himself, so what were they to do?!


    Subsequently, almost everyone turned their gaze toward Tao Yu, as if they had found their pir of support.


    Although Tao Yu had shown dominance here,


    his strength was fully capable of backing up that dominance.


    Now, to survive peacefully or even break out of this predicament, it seemed they could only depend on him!


    Admiring strength is human instinct!


    "Who would have thought I''d get to watch such a drama."


    Tao Yu found the great leader''s broadcast somewhat amusing, as what was meant to boost morale had instantly turned into a morale copse.


    "I''m leaving first, stay safe."


    Tao Yu patted An Zhijie''s shoulder.


    "Are you nning to clear out the monsters? There''s a spider creature in the power distribution room. I nearly got attacked when I went there to flip the switch. Lucky I dodged quickly."


    At this moment, the strikingly fit and dashing beautiful elder sister spoke up.


    She was a retired special forces soldier, now a firefighter, with action capabilities that were top-notch among these survivors.


    "You lead the way, I''ll clear the nearby area first."


    Tao Yu gestured for her to take the lead, and then proceeded with Cao Shaolin and Wino following close behind.


    First, they had to secure this area as a safe zone, collect all the skills, temporarily settle them down, and then find two suitable vehicles¡ªafter that, everything should be in ce.


    The main focus was to stabilize the situation with the Chosen One; moving supplies wasn''t urgent¡­


    ...


    The difficult monsters in the apartment were few, and most were of an ordinary level.


    The key was that the apartment had plenty of rooms, with most of the monsters scattered, not putting much strain on Tao Yu''s endurance.


    Handling them turned out to be rather uneventful, with Cao Shaolin and Wino providing support.


    The only slight nuisance was a very fast-moving monster, which forced Tao Yu to use his innate ability to split it in half as it brushed past him.


    Innate Time Control, though involving time abilities, didn''t lose the original characteristics of Bullet Time; instead, it was even enhanced.


    As of now, Tao Yu hadn''t encountered any situation that necessitated the intervention of the original time loop, and the extent of Bullet Time was more than sufficient.


    "Out with it, why keep following me? Seeing as you''re trying so hard, I might even agree to your advances if you''re lusting after my good looks," he joked.


    Tao Yu teased the firefighter elder sister who kept adventuring with him in the apartment building.


    She hadn''t made any requests, just silently helped and had been by his side since they dealt with that spider monster.


    If it were just for protection, following him and seeking out monsters would actually pose a greater danger; the first floor was clearly safer.


    Tao Yu was naturally easy-going, and the woman was easy on the eyes with a pleasant personality, so asking her didn''t seem like a problem.


    "It''s about my fianc¨¦. He was also in this apartment, but then he mysteriously disappeared. I suspect it might be rted to the recent events¡­"


    The firefighter sister confessed truthfully.


    This left Tao Yu speechless; she had a fianc¨¦ and was still flirting with him¡ªwhat a ygirl!


    "Did you find any clues?"


    "No, but I received a message from him with an address. I know the ce; it''s a military base nearby¡­"


    "Huh?"


    Tao Yu had asked casually as he waited for the chunks of monster meat to coalesce into Yuan Force.


    But he didn''t expect to stumble upon some unexpected information.


    "A military base?"


    Taking a look at the firefighter sister''s phone, Tao Yu''s face showed a hint of interest.


    It wasn''t any positional data that was sent but a detailed map of the interior of a military base.


    It looked like it had been snapped with a phone camera, with a red pen circling a particr area on the map.


    Beyond that, there was no further information.


    Given An Zhijie''s foreknowledge of the events, the military was likely aware even earlier and might have already begun covert research.


    The firefighter''s fianc¨¦ also seemed shrouded in mystery.


    "What does he do?"


    "All I know is that he works at a medical institution."


    "Is it far?"


    The firefighter sister had been cautiously watching Tao Yu''s expressions, and at his question, a spark of hope shone in her eyes.


    "Not far, it''s nearby. I can take you there if you''re willing to go."


    "Interesting."


    Tao Yu''s first fragment of the Heart of the World was obtained in a military base, and now there was another military base with research involved¡ªit was enough to pique his interest.


    He could do some initial scouting at the medical institution, and if there were no findings, he could consider checking out the military camp.


    In this world, there had to be some unique Yuan Force items, right?


    Even if it was just pure research data, that itself could be quite valuable!


    Starshine City wasn''tcking in abilities rted to foreign body imntationplete research data on these monsters would surely be of value.


    And this map pinpointed an exact location; if he could head straight for the target within the military camp, it would save a lot of time¡­


    "But first, I need to see the strength of this skill."


    Tao Yu turned his attention back to the chunk of meat that hadpleted gathering Yuan Force.


    This was almost thest piece.


    If he obtained an ability simr to the ones he already had, his survival capabilities in the current world would significantly increase¡­


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 149: Chapter 135 Demonization

    "You''ve got a nosebleed!"


    The firefighter sister looked at Tao Yu with a surprised expression as the blood dripped from his nose.


    "Maybe it''s the heat, who asked you to mess with me."


    Tao Yu said nonchntly as he fanned himself, immersed in the changes of his skill.


    The remark left the firefighter sister with an awkward look on her face, her hand reaching up to y with her hair.


    "I actually didn''t mean anything else, I just wanted to ask for your help. If there''s been any misunderstanding, I apologize..."


    Then sneaking a nce at Tao Yu''s somewhat impatient expression, she tentatively and cautiously said,


    "Well, I tested earlier and I''m pregnant, so I probably can''t help you much."


    "Ah?"


    Tao Yu looked at her nkly. What are you trying to say? Are you unting your rtionship?


    Throwing dog food at a time like this, tsk.


    "But if you don''t mind, I could help you with my hands..."


    The firefighter sister extended her slender palm, looking absolutely charming.


    Snort~


    Tao Yu, already nosebleeding from the changes induced by absorbing "Demonization," almost lost it again at her words.


    Thank you very much!


    Are all the big sisters in society this open?


    "Get lost, let me be alone."


    Tao Yu waved his hand dismissively.


    "Oh~ I was being presumptuous, my name is Xu Yijing."


    The firefighter sister''s face turned a bit red, but she seemed to rx a little upon hearing Tao Yu''s words.


    She crouched down to the side, sitting obediently and modestly.


    Years of special forces training, coupled with constant exercise, meant that her movements showed almost no sign of pregnancy.


    After getting rid of the bothersome woman, Tao Yu was now able to immerse all his attention into this skill.


    Even before starting "Deification," merely imnting the ordinary "Demonization" skill had caused Tao Yu''s physical condition to spur a nosebleed.


    "Demonization" lv1: Manifests desires from the heart into reality, causing physical feedback. If one can suppress these desires for fifteen days, they''ll gain control over the power of Demonization. Failure to suppress results in the need to expend additional Yuan Force to remove the power; otherwise, one risks losing their sanity. (World strengthening ++)


    "Indeed, it''s a purely mental power!"


    This is a skill that varies from person to person, just like a beggar''s version of the Kaleidoscope Sharingan in the physical domain.


    The main reason Tao Yu''s physique caused such a nosebleed is primarily due to thetter part, (World strengthening ++).


    ording to the instinctual feeling thates with it, in the current world shard, this skill received a massive boost, with at least a several dozen to a hundredfold increase in healing capabilities.


    "And after being Demonized in this world, the absorption of Free Energy drastically increases; it''s practically a perpetual motion machine¡ªthis is the biggest boost!"


    The second deification of Tao Yu''s "Basic Breathing Technique," apart from strengthening his lungs, Qi-Blood, and physique, the most significant qualitative change was the absorption of Free Energy.


    In the past, the amount of energy absorbed was at most equivalent to what the "Pile Skill" gleaned from the earth''s force¡ªonly enough to maintain ordinary consumption and far from supporting his intense training, let alone rapid recovery and healing.


    Therefore, he had to keep eating, and even ordinary food hardly kept up with his high-intensity practice!


    But now, at least in this current world, Tao Yu felt he could sustain his cultivation without eating or drinking!


    "The perfect world for cultivation; with enough Yuan Force, one coulde here to train and save a lot of trouble."


    Tao Yu was quite delighted in his heart.


    However, thinking about having ''enough Yuan Force,'' he fell silent again; it seemed like no matter how much Yuan Force he had, it would never be enough. If he really had enough, being here wouldn''t make much of a difference.


    Afterwards, Tao Yu felt the personal feedback from his "Demonization" ability.


    Relying on the honed concentration of "Meditation Technique - Modified," he easily controlled all the changes in this power.


    First removing the "Owlskin Gloves" and mission wristwatch, Tao Yu ced his palm in front of his eyes.


    As if by instinct, with a single thought, his entire palm was covered with a ck keratinousyer, resembling a dragon''s w.


    Whenever he wished, this coating could envelop his entire body!


    "Am I really that afraid of dying..."


    This power, transformed from the deepest desires of the heart, like the muscle monster he killed earlier¡ªa fitness enthusiast¡ªwas always chanting about protein.


    And the feedback Tao Yu got from this power was likely reflecting his own ''fear of dying''!


    Pulling out the "Colossal Lizard''s Fang," Tao Yu made a cut on the ck keratin-covered palm.


    Despite the "Armor-Piercing" property of the "Colossal Lizard''s Fang" and having used it to slice through steel and muscle zombies and even kill the first Alien Queen, he still needed a bit of effort to prate the keratinyer.


    Feeling the slight pain and seeing the blood flow, Tao Yu knew that this keratinized shell was indeed a part of his body.


    "It should be able to withstand normal bullets now, rifle bullets can still prate, but if there aren''t many, they can be embedded. As for armor-piercing bullets, it''s still not feasible, and it seems like it also absorbs shock damage pretty well..."


    Tao Yu had a rough outline in his mind.


    He then immediately reabsorbed the keratinyer, silently witnessing the deification cost reaching as high as three thousand.


    The first deification was more than three times the cost of the Dynamic Vision talent!


    Because of the world''s enhancement and the adaptation from the previous Demonization, which already made him nosebleed, he estimated that this next deification would probably be even more intense.


    However, Tao Yu had no intention of leaving this world and returning. With Mental Immunity, he didn''t care about the side effects that the skill might bring, it might just be more painful.


    After taking a few deep breaths, Tao Yu let out a long sigh.


    "Um, are you sure you don''t want my help? You look like you''re in a lot of pain, if it''s really too much, my mouth can also..."


    "That''s enough!"


    Tao Yu, who was just about to get ready, couldn''t help but get a little frantic from hearing this, and given his vigorous vitality, such words indeed tantalized him.


    ncing sideways at the other person crouching there, hugging their knees with an eager look, Tao Yu sighed.


    "It''s none of your business, and don''t be surprised by anything you seeter."


    He then directly chose to deify!


    Three thousand Yuan Force flowed into the Demonization like water.


    Creak, creak~


    Tao Yu felt a tingling numbness throughout his body.


    Fortunately, the Myriad Streams Breathing Technique strengthened his marrow and blood, and the twice-deified Basic Breathing Method enhanced his internal organs, while the twice-deified Stance Skill brought about a significant internal enhancement ability to Tao Yu. Your next chapter is on m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    The tingling numbness didn''t exceed his body''s limits, it was just very ufortable.


    Wisps of ck mist emerged from Tao Yu''s pores and began to gradually cover his entire body, making Xu Yijing widen her eyes beside him.


    Although Tao Yu''s burst of strength in killing monsters along the way indicated he had transcended humanity, his behavior had always appeared normal. Even with suspicions in her mind, Xu Yijing hadn''t considered other possibilities.


    But now it was undeniable that Tao Yu had also be a monster!


    It was just a monster who could still control its sanity...


    As the dense ck mist dissipated, there appeared a silhouette at Tao Yu''s location, draped in ck dragon hide.


    His clothing had already burst into pieces all around.


    Even the Inner Scale Armor had burst open at the connections and fell off, the only thing hanging on by a thread from its sticity was the Strength Belt.


    The fierce ws, the single horn on the top of his head that seemed to shimmer with a dark light, and the bone spurs on his knees, elbows, and shoulders...


    The area around his eyes was pitch-ck like ink, as if it had crystallized.


    The nostrils had mask-like breathing holes, exhaling white mist with each breath as if the air carried high temperatures.


    Besides, the ck scales covering his entire body seemed to be entwined with a thick ck mist, simr to faint mes, with two subtle, misty ribbons of ck fog circling and entwining around his body.


    Now dim, now prominent.


    Tao Yu looked down at his hands and clenched them tightly, feeling the Qi-Blood throughout his body being pumped into action.


    His strength had increased by at least fifty percent!


    Besides that, his reflexes, defense, and the speed of Qi-Blood cirction had all increased substantially.


    "Demonization??": Maintains body shape changes through continuous consumption and significantly improves all-round physical quality. When damaged, it''s possible to transfer fifty percent of physical attacks through shadowing. Requires additional consumption of Shadow Force. (World Enhancement++)


    Additional improvement in physical quality!


    Tao Yu was delighted; the previous normal Demonization only had average effects in this regard. The degree of increase was decent enough for normal people, but it was not enough for Tao Yu.


    But now, after deification, it was as if he had an independent multiplier.


    "Even though it''s a skill, except for not being able to increase the efficiency of Yuan Force training, it''s almost on par with a talent."


    Tao Yu was quite satisfied with this ability.


    furthermore, in this world, due to the explosive increase in recovery ability, he could, to a certain degree, regard it as an increase in training efficiency.


    Not a talent, yetparable to one!


    "In fact, the regr Demonization is already quite good, but for others, it still requires controlling it for fifteen days, coupled with severe pollution, which might not sell for a high price."


    Tao Yu contemted; with this ability and the current world''s increased endurance, Tao Yu felt confident enough to directly assault a military base.


    "Although it''s only in this world, this time, I''m truly no assassin!"


    Tao Yu flicked his tail.


    Boom~


    The cement wall behind him burst, leaving a deep mark.


    "''Demonization'' is already quite appropriate, no need to change it."


    Demonization lv1...

 Chapter 150: Chapter 136: Non-Human

    As the ck fog emerged once again, the armor on Tao Yu''s body was gradually absorbed into it.


    Except for the Strength Belt around his waist, his perfectly proportioned body was exposed, but he didn''t pay much attention to it, still attuned to the changes in his skill.


    He had already sensitively noticed that even with the armor absorbed, it waspletely different from the normal version of "Demonization"!


    "Before it seemed to be a direct fleshly mutation, but this time it feels like I''m in a shadow ovey state?"


    Tao Yu pressed his skin, which felt normal, as if nothing had changed, yet he could vaguely sense that if he were to sustain a sufficient attack, he could trigger a part of the defense mechanism!


    Although not as effective as full "Demonization", it was about half as powerful.


    The main thing was that it didn''t require any additional expenditure! It was a divine skill to leave this world at no cost!


    "Perfect."


    Quite satisfied with his current state, Tao Yu grinned with pleasure.


    "It''s just unknown if I can control to cover the inner armor and the belt as well, as these don''t seem to be part of the body, more like they''re dragged out of the shadows, so it should be okay, right...?"


    Tao Yu looked down at his body, wondering if it would be considered abnormal to end up like this after every use.


    "Are you going to eat people now?"


    Standing beside him, Xu Yijing asked cautiously upon seeing Tao Yu recover.


    At that moment, she was covering her face with her hands, only peeking through the gaps between her fingers.


    "Eat you?"


    Tao Yu lowered the Strength Belt to cover the key area, responding somewhat irritably.


    What a loss, being seen for free...


    ...


    Having raided the entire apartment, he hunted enough Yuan Force shards without any risk,pleting his skills, and the practicality fully met and even exceeded expectations, leaving Tao Yu in a great mood.


    It wasn''t hard to find clothes in the apartment, and with no real difficulty, Tao Yu even found some spares to stash in his bag.


    Humming a tune, he took the two zombies and Xu Yijing into the elevator to go downstairs.


    "Are you going back outter?"


    Xu Yijing seemed nervous, with a tense expression on her lovely face.


    "Are you worried about that the whole time? I was nning on going anyway, bring me to the medical centerter. There''s no need for you to follow me to the military base," Tao Yu said casually.


    This slightly rxed Xu Yijing.


    As they chatted casually, ding-dong~


    The elevator reached the first floor and the doors opened.


    "Boss Tao is back."


    "Hey there, Boss Tao, did you kill all the monsters? Are you thirsty? Want some water?"


    "We have sports drinks here."


    "..."


    As soon as Tao Yu arrived, he was greeted with a very warm wee, with many people appearing very attentive.


    Since he was taking them to the gathering ce to sell, Tao Yu didn''t hide his intentions and casually parted the crowd to spot some new faces.


    They must have gathered here while he was cleaning up the area.


    But now, the atmosphere on the first floor was a bit subtle.


    At that moment, the wheelchair-bound old man was welding, continuously reinforcing some doors and windows. Despite being disabled, his craftsmanship was excellent, and with such a skill, he could probably live quitefortably in the gathering ce.


    Apart from him, there was another new face that Tao Yu vaguely remembered, a man with a scarred face.


    Though probably not the main character, Tao Yu remembered seeing him in the short video clips.


    But the man, who seemed to have outstanding strength among ordinary people, was now tied up with ropes and thrown to the ground. Tao Yu wondered what had happened during his absence.


    "What happened?"


    Tao Yu pointed to the man with the scarred face on the ground and asked.


    "Boss Tao, this man is a murderer. He even took one of our tenants hostage before¡ªlook, that''s the victim," the supermarket owner said, still eager to please despite being ridiculed by Tao Yu earlier, while pointing to another new face.


    That was a thin man, somewhat handsome, but with multiple scars marring his appearance.


    When he saw Tao Yu, a forced, pleasing smile appeared on his face.


    But at just a nce, Tao Yu felt an inexplicable and intense dislike.


    Although there was no sense of threat, Spirit Perception didn''t give such a warning without reason.


    So, Tao Yu kicked the tied-up scarred man and demanded, "What''s the deal, speak up, why were you tied up?"


    Seeing Tao Yu ignoring him and instead questioning the scarred man, the thin man''s smile stiffened on his face.


    Readtest chapters at m_v-l''e|-NovelBin


    He then wanted to start exining.


    "I didn''t ask you, shut up."


    Tao Yu swept a nce at him indifferently.


    It was precisely this attitude that made the scar-faced uncle, who had been silent and cool since being captured, look up at Tao Yu.


    From some of the discussions, he had already learned that this person was now in charge, and was even hunting monsters!


    Although Scarface had dealt with ordinary monsters, he knew this was no ordinary person.


    "He''s a perverted serial killer, I just investigated him, but haven''t found any evidence yet."


    When he heard this, Tao Yu raised an eyebrow, as his Spirit Perception told him the other party wasn''t lying.


    Although it wasn''t impossible that he was being deceived,bined with the revulsion that the pervert generated in him, it was almost certain.


    "Are you a detective?"


    Tao Yu asked curiously.


    "No, I''m an assassin. I was hired by the girl''s father, but I haven''t found any evidence yet..."


    Upon hearing this, Tao Yu couldn''t help but let out a wearyment, and raised his gun to blow the head off the pervert who had just opened his mouth to argue.


    The blood spattered on the ground, causing the pervert to fall dead in a pool of blood with his eyes wide open, eliciting a chorus of screams.


    "Are you stupid? If you''re not a detective, why look for evidence? And an assassin..."


    Tao Yu''s words left the scar-faced unclepletely baffled.


    Meanwhile, the survivors who had looks of horror, many managed to squeeze out forced smiles.


    "Ah, that''s right, what evidence do you need against a perverted murderer!"


    "Yeah, some guys do all sorts of evil and they can still get released."


    "This is for the best, now it''s all settled."


    "He got off easy, dying so quickly."


    "..."


    Not one person disapproved of Tao Yu''s gunfire; the little supermarket owner quickly produced a utility knife and cut the ropes binding the scar-faced uncle.


    His newly regained freedom left the scar-faced uncle dazed.


    He considered himself quite the tough assassin, yet here came someone even tougher! And this person believed him just based on his word and killed the pervert, which gave Scarface a strange feeling inside. Then, with a hoarse voice, he said,


    "You just believe me like that?"


    "My instinct tells me you''re not lying, and he had a very bad smell about him."


    Tao Yu pointed to his temple, then nced at the key hanging from the corpse''s waist,


    "If you can''t let it go, investigate some more. Most monsters in the apartment have been dealt with."


    "Thank you."


    The scar-faced uncle expressed his gratitude. Ever since a fire took his family and disfigured him, he never felt any warmth again.


    This kind of trust was a first for him!


    "I''ll be stepping out in a bit, just don''t cause any trouble here."


    Tao Yu nonchntly waved his hand.


    "I''ll help keep things stable here," the scar-faced uncle said earnestly and then picked up the keys beside the dead pervert.


    "Boss, are you heading out? There are cars in the basement garage. Uncle Han''s modification skills are strong; we can probably just reinforce a few vans. Rainforest isn''t far."


    An Zhijie had reached the Rainforest before and knew the rough distance. He thought that a few reinforced cars should be enough for the journey.


    Uncle Han was the limping man.


    "I have something I want to check out, won''t be long. Perfect time to modify the vehicles. Here, take these two assault rifles."


    Tao Yu mused for a moment, looking at Cao Shaolin,


    "Shaolin will also stay with you. I''ll have him follow your orders to protect you, but he''s a bit slow in the head, only good for fighting. If there''s trouble, find Da Hei and Little ck on the roof, they''re a bit smarter."


    "Oh, okay."


    An Zhijie nodded repeatedly, and then Tao Yu momentarily focused his thoughts and issued orders to Cao Shaolin to obey An Zhijie''smands temporarily.


    Though Cao Shaolin wore an eye mask, looking almost blind, since he could join in monster hunting, he must be strong too, even if he doesn''t look quite human...


    "He doesn''t need to eat, just leave him aside when not needed, as if he doesn''t exist."


    Tao Yu''s offhand remarks sent a chill through An Zhijie.


    Indeed, both the stoic handsome guy and the ugly freak weren''t human!


    But then he rxed; the world was like this now, it seemed more normal to not be human...

 Chapter 151: Chapter 137: Bright Future

    "Where''s the big guy? Isn''t heing with us?"


    As Xu Yijing was tuning a motorcycle, which belonged to An Zhijie''s adoptive father, Mr. An, she was somewhat surprised to see Tao Yu arrive alone.


    "The motorcycle can''t fit both of us, so I arranged for him to do something else." Enjoy new stories from m-v l''e|-NovelBin


    Tao Yu had already hidden Wino in the shadows, anyway, he tried not to do such things in front of others.


    You never know when it might be an ace in the hole.


    Showcasing one''s edge to gain benefits is certainly necessary, but what needs to be hidden must be hidden.


    Tao Yu, who often overcame strength with weakness, certainly didn''t want to be such a target...


    "The research institute is not far, and I also discovered online that before things broke out, he had already posted relevant warnings. It''s feared that problems had arisen before the descent of the Rainforest."


    Xu Yijing finished tuning the motorcycle, then got on it directly, and Tao Yu also sat in the back seat, letting her drive and lead the way.


    "Let''s go."


    With the twist of the throttle, the motorcycle left the underground garage and headed toward their destination.


    Monsters asionally appeared on the road, but ordinary monsters really didn''t have much they could do against a high-speed moving motorcycle.


    Although Tao Yu left behind two ordinary assault rifles to lighten his load, he still carried the AT200 and the Warlord''s Sidearm with him.


    Though the Warlord''s Sidearm auto-replenished only one round per minute, it was just enough for this situation.


    Any fool who didn''t have eyes would get a bullet as a reward.


    They then smoothly arrived at a research institute.


    However, it was quite apparent that something significant had happened at this institute. Not only was it devoid of people, but bloodstains and corpses were everywhere, and there were even bodies of fully armed personnel.


    "There definitely is a problem; otherwise, it wouldn''t have turned out like this. Why does it seem like some people were shot to death¡­"


    Tao Yu was not too surprised by the scene before him.


    Sometimes, humans can indeed be scarier than monsters.


    "His office is this way; let''s go in and look around."


    Xu Yijing led Tao Yu upstairs to her fianc¨¦''s office.


    But the scene was a mess, with various items scattered on the floor. There was not a single piece of research material; the file cabs appeared to have been emptied.


    There were also many bloody handprints on the ss, which seemed rather eerie.


    Xu Yijing went straight to her fianc¨¦''s desk and began to rummage around. ording to her fianc¨¦''s habits, she indeed found a tablet hidden in apartment between two drawers.


    "We''ve got something."


    Xu Yijing''s face showed a hint of joy, but just then, Tao Yu frowned, looked outside, and said in a deep voice,


    "Be careful, someone ising in. Don''t move from this spot."


    Upon hearing this, Xu Yijing was also startled; she nodded and then hid behind the desk.


    Although she was once a special forces soldier with strong operational capabilities,


    She had seen what he was capable of; there was really no need for her to drag him down!


    The approaching people tried to lower their voices as much as possible, but Tao Yu could still hear their footsteps.


    And there were quite a few of them!


    From the sounds of friction, they were likely armed personnel.


    He hadn''t expected to be targeted just yet, having not made it to the military base, but simplying to an abandoned research facility.


    "It looks like someone has been keeping an eye on this ce, otherwise they couldn''t have arrived so coincidentally."


    Since there was nobody here anymore, they wouldn''te over for no reason; the only possibility was that they''d detected the presence of both him and Xu Yijing.


    Clearly, the neers did not have good intentions!


    If this had happened in the past, Tao Yu, in broad daylight against a group of fully armed personnel, would have had to think twice, and his best course of action would have been to slip into the shadows stealthily, find a good angle for a surprise attack, and strafe them.


    Just like when he dealt with the Wild Wolf Gang.


    But now, at least in this world, his options had increased!


    "If youe up here, I will shoot you dead, so tell me, what do you want?"


    Tao Yu stood at the corner of the stairwell, without exposing himself to the line of fire, directly issuing an inquiry and a warning, wanting to understand their motives.


    ces like research institutes are always about gaining benefits, right?


    He had initially thought of pocketing some research materials, but the files had already been emptied, most likely by the very people before him.


    But obviously, Tao Yu''s words carried almost no deterrent effect.


    The next moment, a concussion grenade was tossed from the top of the stairs.


    It bounded off the walls, heading straight for Tao Yu''s direction.


    It was just a simple, precise throw, but it was clear that the thrower was well-trained.


    However, Tao Yu, who had been on alert the whole time, was unfazed.


    The moment the concussion grenade appeared, he had already shed towards the window, his body shrouded with a surge of ck mist that cloaked him entirely!


    This time, under Tao Yu''s deliberate control, the ck mist also enveloped his clothes without tearing them to shreds!


    "The Meditation Technique is truly divine, with so many interactive abilities."


    Tao Yu thought contentedly that it was his continuously refined and purified mental power and thoughts that allowed him to control it so effortlessly.


    Otherwise, the Demonization Skill at just LV1 certainly wouldn''t be so easy to handle!


    Bang~


    When the concussion grenade exploded, Tao Yu''s ws, now covered with a ck keratin, had already pierced into the wall outside the window.


    The surging Free Energy continued to pour into his body,pensating for the consumption of the Demonization.


    Tao Yu felt that it wouldn''t be a problem to maintain the Demonization state at all times in the current world!


    He then quickly scurried around to the stairwell like a gecko climbing walls and plunged straight in through the window!


    An armed personnel who had just heard some noise and turned his head was immediately struck by a palm, which caved in his skull and mmed him against the nearby wall, killing him instantly.


    Roar~


    A tiger-like roar seemed to appear in the ears of everyone present; amid the sudden assault and this intimidation, there was simply no time to react.


    With one swipe per person, Tao Yu killed the majority with his paws.


    In the end, only a team leader was left alive.


    "I didn''t expect the team leader to be a great beauty, quite the charmer," he mused.


    The remaining team leader, seeing Tao Yu''s ferocious Dragon Armor and hearing his mocking words, her eyes were full of shock.


    "A special infected who can control themselves..."


    But before she could finish her sentence, Tao Yu''s fingertip had flicked across her face, leaving a deep bloody gash.


    "I really don''t like your tone, you need to understand your situation."


    "You''re a rational special infected, you need to cooperate with our research, we can create a vine, we can save all mankind!"


    The woman, ignoring the wound on her face, said somewhat hysterically.


    "Save all mankind?"


    Tao Yu sneered and flicked his finger.


    With a spur of power, her arm drooped, and she let out a scream of pain.


    "You can''t even save yourself."


    "Really, we had a special infected who escaped earlier, and we managed to develop a vine from him..."


    Even as cold sweat beaded on her forehead from the pain, the woman still tried to continue persuading.


    Tao Yu''s eyes brightened upon hearing this.


    "A vine from this? Where''s the research data? I want to see to confirm."


    He hadn''t expected that a purely conceptual thing like this would have a vine.


    The power of Demonization was strong, even the ordinary version of Demonization. The power, deriving from one''s desires, could likely beplementary and cohesive abilities.


    A beggar''s version of the Kaleidoscope Sharingan for the physical body.


    But it''s too contaminated, and besides, you need to withstand it for fifteen days to acquire it; the side effects are too massive.


    This also led to a great decrease in the inherent value of the skill itself.


    If they really could develop a vine, then bringing it to Floating City for research could substantially reduce the side effects, enhancing the original value of this world.


    "If the vine is hard to get, its very price is high enough to be exchanged for money; if the vine is easy to get, the price of Yuan Force skills in this world would increase, either way, I profit."


    Tao Yu''s heart gradually lifted with excitement.


    If it was the original version of Demonization, the efficiency of hunting for Yuan Force might not be better than that of hunting Aliens, but if the vine was easy to acquire, with the massive boost from this world, he could recklessly hunt.


    Even if not for thecking talent Yuan Force, just with some time, before the prices of skills crashed, he could Deify several key skills!


    At the very least, he could sell the rare and expensive vines at a high price, never a loss...


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 152 - 138: Tragic

    "The information isn¡¯t with me; it¡¯s at the base. I can take you there,"


    the female special forces captain said, her eyes flickering briefly.


    Tao Yu¡¯s Spirit Perception could clearly sense her malice, yet he was fairly certain she was telling the truth.


    It seemed the data had been moved specifically to the base, and it was even possible that aboratory had been set up there.


    Xu Yijing¡¯s fianc¨¦ had also been taken there as a researcher.


    "Are there really vines?"


    Tao Yu focused his thoughts intently on her.


    "Absolutely! It¡¯s just that one of our test subjects has escaped, and there seems to be a problem with the vine, but the data is still there. If you¡¯re willing to cooperate with us, we can still produce the vine!"


    The female captain, clutching her broken arm, looked somewhat urgent.


    As for loyalty, well, she actually wasn¡¯t too bad...


    After all, she clearly wasn¡¯t afraid of dying at this point, which was somewhat unexpected.


    "No, this isn¡¯t the real Nan Bang; the beauties are all natural. The capabilities of this squad before were elite, so perhaps fierce loyalty and fearlessness in the face of death are just part of their persona."


    A glint shone in Tao Yu¡¯s eyes before he looked down at her and said


    "I know you want me to take you to the base, and that could be arranged, as long as you¡¯re willing to agree to some conditions..."


    Due to the Monster Armor he was wearing, Tao Yu¡¯s voice took on ayered, deep resonance akin to that of a boss character.


    His image, with eyes dark and eerie as ink and the hot breath he exhaled, made for a visually striking impression.


    However, as if ustomed to seeing infected bodies, the female captain didn¡¯t take any notice and instead hurriedly said,


    "I¡¯ll agree to any condition! Even if you want me to serve you, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem..."


    The breathless woman held her broken arm, looking up at Tao Yu.


    Even with a scar on her face, her natural beauty was evident.


    But this kind of response also struck Tao Yu as odd; Xu Yijing¡¯s words had been impactful, and now this woman¡¯s were as well.


    Both from Nan Bang¡¯s female special forces, what kind of bizarre persona was this?


    Especially since one of them was willing to risk her life for her fianc¨¦, and the other was willing to die for her mission... Ah, this...


    "Take a look in the mirror and see yourself now, what a sight you are."


    Tao Yu spared no mercy in his mockery, prompting the woman to purse her lips and ask in a deep voice,


    "Then what do you want?"


    "Just relinquish your resistanceter, and don¡¯t fight back."


    "Okay..."


    The woman¡¯s eyes filled with confusion. Was this the same thing she had proposed?


    But she soon understood what Tao Yu meant, as if something was about to enter her mind. Eventually, she indeed ceased to resist and emptied her thoughts.


    The next moment, an unparalleled sense of wonder burst forth from the depths of her soul, erasing all her pain, depriving all her perception, as if the world had been reduced to this single sensation!


    Then she couldn¡¯t help but make a rather unfortunate noise...


    ...


    Hiding in the room, Xu Yijing started to feel the shock from the st bombs outside, and she was a little worried.


    As a former member of the special forces, she knew all too well the formidablebat power of these special units!


    Though Tao Yu was powerful, she feared something might go wrong since the enemy was armed.


    But quickly, what followed was a one-sided scream, a very brief end to the battle, and it seemed that Mr. Tao, the boss, had won.


    As she was mulling over when to go out, a rather unfortunate sound suddenly came from outside, making her face turn red and she spat in disgust.


    "In broad daylight, this is too indecent."


    That irksome sound kept drilling into her ears, involuntarily bringing to her mind the image of Tao Yu¡¯s perfect physique when he had transformed and burst out of his clothes.


    She then shook her head repeatedly to clear these thoughts and picked up her fianc¨¦¡¯s tablet.


    Upon turning it on, she saw the background picture of happier times and started to calm down while trying to block out the atrocious sounds from outside, her fingers trembling as she began to enter the password.


    Soon, I essed the desktop and saw a folder that contained a diary.


    "This is not a disease, it¡¯s a curse, it¡¯s the desire in everyone¡¯s heart, and I too have been hunted by ¡¯them¡¯..."


    The diary clearly recorded the struggle of her fianc¨¦ against the "curse," noting that "they" would tempt him in his dreams every day, but if he could withstand it for fifteen days, he would be able to control this power.


    The only way to save humanity was to find a method from someone who could control the monster transformation!


    "...Even if I be an experimental subject, I must find a way to break the curse..."


    As Xu Yijing was looking at this information and feeling somewhat distracted, the bad noise outside suddenly changed, turning into a hysterical scream.


    It startled her.


    Could it be? Are they ying it up so much? Could there be a mistake?


    "You didn¡¯te after transforming, did you? Screaming so miserably..."


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    Xu Yijing imagined some terrible scenes, shuddered, and after hesitating for a moment, she still took the tablet and quietly moved toward the door.


    There¡¯s no need to go overboard when taking someone¡¯s life.


    Uh...


    With an expression of a dead fish, Xu Yijing watched Tao Yu merely cing his hand on a woman¡¯s forehead outside.


    But the woman, who seemed to have a broken arm and a streak of blood on her face, was lying on the ground, screaming hysterically in pain.


    Her face, pale from the pain, was dripping with a mix of sweat and blood, and it seemed even her throat had gone hoarse, leaving her with nothing but muffled groans.


    "Oh, you¡¯vee out. Did you find anything?"


    Tao Yu¡¯s fingers did not leave the other person, and he looked curiously at Xu Yijing¡¯s peculiar expression.


    This person must have misunderstood something, right?


    The big sister of the society with a head full of paint...


    "Oh, yes, I found his diary. He seems to have controlled the monster transformation, but now I don¡¯t know where he is..."


    "Oh, she might know, and it¡¯s almost over."


    Tao Yu raised his finger and looked at Park Ji-hyun, who was soaked in sweat and breathing weakly. There seemed to be drool flowing from the corner of her mouth.


    "Can you tell me? There¡¯s a reward for answering, and punishment for not answering."


    Tao Yu still did not exit the Demonization, and the low echo of his voice sounded like a demon from the Abyss.


    Especiallybined with his current appearance, he seemed like a devil in the eyes of the weak Park Ji-hyun.


    Thinking about the previous torture and the rewards before that.


    An unnaturally bright red color even emerged on her originally pallid face.


    When Tao Yu and Sun Shiyu were doing tests initially, that guy had really withstood itpletely, controlling everything with his strong spirit.


    But clearly, the person in front of him was an ordinary human who really couldn¡¯t resist at all.


    Even with persistence, obsession, and loyalty in her heart, she finally spoke falteringly,


    "Nam Sang-won was the first individual to control the Demonization and has been subjected to experiments ever since."


    "Didn¡¯t you say the experimental subject had run away?"


    Tao Yu continued to inquire.


    This caused Park Ji-hyun to fall silent for a moment before continuing,


    "Not exactly, the experimental pressure was too great. Nam Sang-won, despite his astonishing regenerative abilities, still nearly died and lost consciousness during a division experiment."


    "Bastards!"


    Having read her fianc¨¦¡¯s diary, Xu Yijing was instantly enraged.


    ording to the diary, Nam Sang-won had been desperately enduring, even willing to be a monster for research.


    But who would have thought that with such regenerative abilities after mutation, he was still tortured to the brink of unconsciousness?


    And they were still conducting ¡¯division¡¯ experiments?


    What did they consider him to be?!

 Chapter 153 - 139: Home Delivery

    "Well gee, they really yed with fire."


    Even Tao Yu was gobsmacked listening to Park Ji-hyun¡¯s story.


    Able to willingly sacrifice themselves, forcefully withstand the darkness¡¯s erosion¡ªcan be aptly described as a paragon of virtue¡ªended up being ¡¯destructively exploited¡¯ during a voluntary experiment. Killed the goose thatid the golden eggs and then messed up?


    So now the subject is brain-dead, and the suppressed monstrous part has escaped?


    What kind of otherworldly operation is this?!


    Even the message sent to Xu Yijing was sent by them, just as the subject was on the brink of copse.


    It seems they wanted to capture Xu Yijing to see if they could rekindle the subject¡¯s will to live, but before she could arrive, the subject hadpletely broken down.


    After that, Tao Yu started thinking about some of the abnormal aspects of this world.


    "Right, this ce is a fragment of the world; I can¡¯t base my judgements on my past experiences..."


    The mere fact of this elite special forces team¡¯s quality, along with the willpower of a woman like Park Ji-hyun, already said a lot.


    It¡¯s not that real people like this don¡¯t exist, but the likelihood of encountering them shouldn¡¯t be this high!


    At least that¡¯s the case on Nam Sang-won¡¯s side.


    "The quality of the people in the fragment of the world is actually far superior to that of the real world; it¡¯s just a shame that only a few can utilize Yuan Force..."


    Tao Yu had a good rtionship with Jack and had some ideas already, and now those ideas became even deeper.


    It appeared that the most elite soldiers in this world could directly confront those infected beings. Their strength was certainly no less than the regr pioneers outside the walls; in fact, due to their well-coordinated training and teamwork, their collectivebat capabilities were even stronger.


    "Thepany¡¯s security department and the peacekeeping team also have dedicatedbat personnel, but in the newly developed zone, they are yet to be trained. Also, it seems like everyone in this world is a potential infectee..."


    Tao Yu pondered for a moment, a smile forming on his face under the Monster Armor.


    "Wait for me; I¡¯ll take her to the base and bring back the bodies for you. If it¡¯s convenient, I wouldn¡¯t mind causing some destruction."


    Tao Yu turned back and said to Xu Yijing.


    "Thank you."


    Xu Yijing did not suggest going together, she knew that in terms of mobility she would just hold them back; her emotions were somewhat heavy at the moment.


    "Can you stand up on your own?"


    Tao Yu looked coldly at Park Ji-hyun.


    Thetter, under Tao Yu¡¯s ck crystalline gaze, trembled but managed to stand.


    Once she was up, her pale face gained a hint of color, and she said to Tao Yu,


    "What about the promised reward?"


    Well gee, even Little ck wouldn¡¯t dare make such demands of itself; humans are indeed a bit different after all. Individuals are not as strong as Little ck, but their thinking is much moreplex.


    Tao Yu casually brushed his hand over the wound on her face; she trembled and had to hold on to a nearby staircase railing for support, emitting a slightly sour smell that Tao Yu found a bit head-spinning.


    "Alright, if you can walk, keep up."


    Tao Yu looked at her situation, one hand on the rail while the other, amputated arm hung limply¡ªfeeling no sympathy whatsoever. Discover exclusive tales on mvl


    Now he was the victor; if he had lost, the oue would likely be even worse.


    Thinking about Nam Sang-won¡¯s fate, Tao Yu still couldn¡¯t understand it. The other side was willing to cooperate, yet they insisted on killing the goose for the eggs...


    ...


    "Wow, swapping a musket for a cannon."


    Park Ji-hyun and her squad had been using a military six-wheeled armored personnel carrier.


    With Riding, Tao Yu could drive it instantly; he first took Xu Yijing back to her apartment.


    After quickly inquiring if there was anything special and then hanging the conspicuous Treasonous de on Da Hei for safekeeping, he headed toward the direction of the military camp.


    "You, it¡¯s actually best if you don¡¯t go."


    Park Ji-hyun, who had been persuading Tao Yu to go to the military camp this whole time, suddenly spoke up quietly from the passenger seat.


    Her arm was fixed between two nks and wrapped in bandages, with Eyesses Guy, the medical student, and Ali, the nursing aide, helping her.


    No one knew how she got injured, and she had changed into a set of clean undergarments back at the apartment.


    The wound on her face was covered with a white gauze bandage in a crisscross pattern, which made her look a lot more refreshed.


    "Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?"


    Tao Yu nced sideways at the other person, and with just one look, Park Ji-hyun¡¯s face turned slightly red before she turned her head away.


    This made Tao Yu somewhat astonished internally; the bacsh of the Taming Technique really was a bit strong.


    At first, she clearly preferred death to deceit.


    But it was a good thing that the captain was a woman, if it were a man...


    Tao Yu briefly imagined the scenario, then immediately felt goosebumps all over his body.


    Truly horrifying!


    "How¡¯s thebat power over there? What level would you say your squad is at?"


    Although Tao Yu had easily wiped out the squad in a surprise attack, it was precisely because he had acted personally that he knew the strength of this squad was quite decent; it could entirely serve as a benchmark.


    "We could be considered elite, but the Crow Corps are even more elite. They are specialized in dealing with monster incidents, whereas we mainly handle human targets."


    "Specialized in handling?"


    Tao Yu snorted withughter upon hearing this; to have ¡¯professional¡¯ teams already meant that they must have known about this far earlier than he had initially estimated.


    No wonder vines had already been developed.


    However, it seemed that currently, the vine production was quite limited, as it appeared necessary to use humans who could control their Demonization as both material and raw ingredient.


    The manufacturing method was incredibly cruel.


    "Do you have monsters in service to you?"


    "Not for the time being."


    Park Ji-hyun¡¯s lips moved slightly; actually, Nam Sang-won had counted as one, strong and cooperative, but unfortunately, he was yed out.


    It was at this moment that Tao Yu noticed an armored vehicle heading straight for them on the highway ahead, causing his expression to shift slightly.


    By this time, he had already put on abat suit identical to those of Park Ji-hyun¡¯s team members, making them indistinguishable from each other.


    Seeing the approaching vehicle, he did not evade; instead, he gave Park Ji-hyun a look and drove towards it with confidence.


    Park Ji-hyun directly picked up the walkie-talkie, preemptively asking in a deep voice,


    "Which team are you from, and what is your mission?"


    The intention was to seem more confident to prevent revealing any ws.


    But unexpectedly, as soon as they asked the question, the armored vehicle crashed directly towards them.


    This sudden collision was somewhat unexpected even for Tao Yu. Using his top-notch driving skills from "Riding," he executed a stationary drift with the armored vehicle, allowing another to brush past and crash into a nearby shop.


    "Hah, jackpot!"


    Seeing this, excitement sparked in Tao Yu¡¯s eyes, reminding him of another clue mentioned by Park Ji-hyun earlier.


    The monster that had been suppressed inside Nam Sang-won had separated from him and seemed to have taken off with the limited vines produced!


    Bang~


    The door of the opposing armored vehicle was kicked open, and a figure staggered out, rushing straight towards them.


    Tao Yu let out a coldugh. In an instant, his body was enveloped in a ck mist, using "Stealth" to turn into shadow and slip out of the driver¡¯s seat.


    When he reappeared, he had already assumed his Demonized form!


    And he appeared directly in front of the target!


    The dragon ws covered in ck keratin, with ayer of flowing ink-like Shadow Force, instantly pressed against the figure¡¯s chest.


    Powered by the Qi and Blood Pill, the full force of his body burst forth and plunged into the figure¡¯s body in an instant.


    Without any hesitation or mercy.


    In a sh, the figure exploded into pieces, turning into a pile of ck mud!


    Between the separated parts of the ck mud, a fog-like Shadow Force was corroding it, preventing the pieces froming back together.


    Just one strike had eliminated all thebat power of this infected creature!


    Looking at the still wriggling, trying-to-fuse-back-together ck sludge, Tao Yu grinned,


    "With the augmentation of the world, these monsters have both strong vitality and power..."


    "But unfortunately, I¡¯m stronger with the augmentation..."


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 154: Chapter 140: Crushing

    When Tao Yu produced the incendiary bottle, the mass of ck mud immediately straightened up, not daring to move an inch.


    Instead, it twisted desperately, trying to appear cute and ingratiate itself.


    "Your original form was indeed pitiable, but unfortunately, you are not it..."


    Tao Yu knew from Park Ji-hyun that this lump of flesh had fallen from Nam Sang-won''s body and had taken possession of a researcher, then directly ''resurrected.''


    But from its actions and behavior, it was no longer the original Nam Sang-won, but the monstrous part that Nam Sang-won had suppressed with his own will.


    One that had lost control following the copse of Nam Sang-won''s will.


    "We, are, the, same, kind..."


    Without a body to support it, this mass of ck mud, eroded by the Shadow Force, struggled to form a mouth and spoke with difficulty.


    "Don''t im rtions recklessly, the malice in you is all too clear."


    Tao Yu''s heightened Spirit Perception could feel the intense emotional fluctuations of this mass of flesh.


    Indeed it had rxed its malice toward him, but inexplicably, there was a destructive, brutal emotion simr to wanting to annihte the world¡ªfar more intense than that of a deranged killer.


    Tao Yu''s Spirit Perception is no mind-reading ability!


    It is at most used to determine if someone is lying, and it only works on ordinary people.


    It would need to be at the level of that psychopath to be distinctly felt.


    But now, this ck mud before him ispletely different.


    Like a torch in the darkness.


    It''s an emotion that humans cannot possess ¡ª a poor man''s ''evil of this world.''


    If it were in this world, then it would be a yer of humankind, but if ced in the Abyss, it might likely gain the Abyss''s favor and be a ''Fortune Thief.''


    ''Fortune Thieves'' are also valuable, can be sold to thepany.


    Although they might not be as valuable as a ''Chosen One,'' they are still a source of ie.


    But how to ''safely'' store it is something Tao Yu is hesitant about.


    A regr oil drum?


    He does not know if it could be fully sealed, and he cannot afford to watch it all the time.


    However, seeing the traces of erosion by the Shadow Force on the other party, Tao Yu thought of a good ce for it.


    He then turned and waved to Park Ji-hyun,


    "Drive the car up to the front."


    Upon hearing this, Park Ji-hyun understood that Tao Yu had some matters he didn''t want her to know.


    Even with one hand fractured, she managed to drive the car away, not attempting to flee.


    Watching Park Ji-hyun park the car far away by the bridge, Tao Yu''s shadow twisted, and shortly after, Wino slowly emerged from it.


    "You previously seemed to want to get close to nearby corpses; is it simpler to possess a corpse?"


    "Yes..."


    A deep voice replied.


    Tao Yu told Wino to leap onto the mass of flesh.


    "Then try attaching to this."


    Following that, Tao Yu watched as the ck lump of flesh climbed up Wino''s body, then entered through the mouth and nose.


    The next moment, Tao Yu saw some scratches left on Wino''s body being rapidly repaired.


    Even the disfigured face from the acid was changing.


    "Don''t change his face."


    Using the connection with Wino, Tao Yu''s mind instantly suppressed the monster and surprisingly, it was incredibly smooth!


    "It''s Mental Immunity... an unexpected delight!"


    Tao Yu could feel the monster''s will to resist, seemingly trying to take over the zombie''s body.


    But the formation of the zombie relied on Tao Yu''s own Qi-Blood refinement.


    The endless malice and Demonization-like evil thoughts had no effect; they were shattered and suppressed the moment they emerged!


    Even after the impact of the destruction of the Evil God''s statue, the most they had was a brief loss of contact; after re-establishingmunication, there were no lingering issues.


    This little psychic shock from a small Karami, what merit did it have topare with the impact of an Evil God statue?


    "What exactly did you do?"


    The demonic entity attached to the zombie cried out in terror, realizing it could no longer control anything.


    On the other hand, with a mere thought from Tao Yu, Wino''s originally rigid body began to loosen up, regaining the kind of coordination typical of a normal human.


    "Without any extra mental effort needed, what a high-quality enchantment."


    Tao Yu looked at the unique zombie with eyes that found treasure.


    Normally, under the control of shadow transformation, the zombie could suddenly increase in dexterity, but at a real cost.


    And now, while the change wasn''t as significant as ''shadow transformation,'' the advantage was that there was no additional cost and he could use it freely after leaving this world!


    The mass of evil thoughts was like a poor man''s Tailed Beast sealed inside the zombie''s shell.


    Initially, Tao Yu thought this creature might be a ''Fortune Thief'' and pondered that it could be sold for a sum.


    But now, he no longer considered selling it and only nned to use it for himself.


    "There must still be ''Chosen Ones'' at the Green Family''s ce. After this batch is sent over, the price of ''Fortune Thieves'' will drastically decrease. It''s better to take this opportunity to do some additional strengthening."


    ''Fortune Thieves'' were never as expensive as ''Chosen Ones'' to begin with, since they were all troublemakers who could only be bound by self-interest.


    Since ''Chosen Ones'' were already avable, ''Fortune Thieves'' couldn''tmand a high price anyway; it was merely on the principle of not wasting resources before.


    Now that he had a better use for them, Tao Yu didn''t even consider selling them anymore.


    Nevertheless, a hint of contemtion appeared in his eyes soon after.


    "Although I now have perfect control, since they''re hiding in my shadow, I''m afraid they might witness things that should not see the light of day, and I can''t afford to leave any loose ends..."


    Who could guarantee that one wouldn''t encounter the statues of an Evil God again?


    What if an impact temporarily caused the zombies to go out of control and they escaped before he could reestablish a connection?


    He hadn''t seen any secrets yet, but that didn''t mean there wouldn''t be any in the future.


    "In this world, I can go all out a bit recklessly and  test my limits."


    Tao Yu grinned and then his previously dormant thoughts and spiritual energy began to spin and circte slowly.


    Fist Intention!


    Refined mental energy and thoughts, transforming into Fist Intention, Tao Yu went all out without any reservations, pounding heavily against Wino''s body.


    A seemingly light p actually caused Wino to produce a ''heavy shadow''.


    It appeared as though a lump of ck flesh wanted to break away, emitting continuous screams.


    "As expected, it''s possible. So, let''s see what your limits are!"


    If he were in the outside world, Tao Yu wouldn''t be able to sustain such intense, continuous consumption.


    He would have to extravagantly consume Qi Replenishing Pills or even Nutrient Paste.


    But here, with the continuous replenishment of free energy and the transformation through [One Proof Forever Proof], Tao Yu could keep going ''ora ora'' without restraint.


    Continuous high-frequency strikesnded on Wino again and again.


    That piercing cry from the soul side didn''t stop for a moment.


    But all resistance was futile; zombies are inherently bodiless souls¡ªmere shells. Plus, with the essence-blood cage that Tao Yu had inscribed and infused into the zombie''s core, no matter how much they struggled, they were trapped within it.


    Tao Yu bombarded the spot for a full fifteen minutes, crushing the smallest will of the opponent into dust, much like how Meditation Technique refines, grinding it over and over.


    In the end, only a purified, cleansed spiritual force remained.


    "This is..."


    Tao Yu felt this spiritual forceplement the zombie, and using some techniques from the [Art of Corpse Refinement], directly aplished the replenishment for Wino!


    "Zombies are soulless creatures; following the idea of [Corpse Refining Art] to continue strengthening, one could capture soulful but bodiless Vengeful Spirits and integrate them for another round of enhancement. But I only possess the Corpse Refining Art and not the art ofmanding ghosts, so it could only serve as a decoration. Now, however, it has paid off..."


    The progress of Tao Yu''s [Corpse Refining Art] surged, and with a heavy investment of his willpower at a high multiple, it quickly advanced to lv4.


    His control over the zombies became even more intuitive.


    "Truly a blessing in disguise. Yet even in this world, if I were to drive it with full power, it would be nearly too much, as before. Luckily, as long as I have time to catch my breath, I can recover quickly..."


    Tao Yu felt his body ingest and exhale free energy, his spirit rapidly rejuvenating with the nourishment of Qi-Blood, feeling quite satisfied.


    The monsters in this world also had their limits of recovery, and Nam Sang-won had outright copsed.


    But with the effect of a second Deification along with the Basic Breathing Technique, it was a different story altogether!


    Tao Yu took out a code-locked box from the armored car while reveling in Wino''s changes, his face wearing a slight smile.


    Wino''s strength now far outstripped Cao Shaolin.


    Allowing it to confront the muscr monster from before, it now had a method to kill the adversary!


    Afterwards, Wino once again transformed into a shadow, slowly merging into Tao Yu''s own shadow.


    A spark flickered in Tao Yu''s eyes, and he thought to himself,


    "If zombies can merge into shadows and the equipment they wear can too, as well as support some small essories, then..."


    While thinking this, Tao Yu drew out the Colossal Lizard''s Fang and ced it above his own shadow, then let go.


    The next moment, the dagger sank as if into a quagmire, sticking into the shadow. As the shadow moved slowly, the dagger steadily sank deeper until it disappeared entirely!


    Wino, now having part of the Demonization deformation ability, used his body as a container to forcibly absorb the Colossal Lizard''s Fang!


    "It''s a pity, though, that deformation has its limits. Otherwise, if it could be done in the manner of a pie crust, imagine how much could be wrapped up..."


    Tao Yu sighed with some regret. He sensed that if he were to take the de of Profit from Da Heiter, that would be close to the limit¡ªit felt as though it was stuck in from the top of the head.


    Now, the Colossal Lizard''s Fang seemed to be wrapped by deformation inside the belly.


    This was also because the Corpse Refining Art had risen to lv4, and maniption became more intuitive¡ªchanges could be made even within the shadow. Otherwise, he might have to summon it out each time before stuffing it back in.


    "I can''t have the deformation be too severe; the avable space is still quite limited."


    Tao Yu closed his eyes to feel carefully, and made some rted judgments.


    "At least it''s better than before; it''s somewhat practical now..."


    Then Tao Yu carried the box and walked towards the distant armored vehicle.


    "Let''s leave this one here, finish what needs to be done, and then drive it back to transport people..."


    ----

 Chapter 155: Chapter 141 The Hunt Begins

    "How do we open this thing? A fingerprint lock, seriously? Can we force it open?"


    Tao Yu carried a silver briefcase back to the armored vehicle and switched ces with Park Ji-hyun, who had a broken hand.


    "Don''t, forcing it open will destroy what''s inside. Dr. Ren from the research institute should be able to open it, he''s also at the base."


    Park Ji-hyun hastily stopped Tao Yu who was attempting to break into the case by force.


    "Fine."


    This was pure Yuan Force, and Tao Yu did not want to waste it just like that.


    "We''re going there anyway, might as well take care of everything in one go."


    Tao Yu''s words made Park Ji-hyun fall silent once more before she spoke,


    "They don''t treat the infected as humans there, all those captured outside are merely research subjects. You are very strong, but you can''t confront them head-on.


    "Even if you can withstand rifle bullets, can you withstand a cannon? What about helicopter rockets? Or a tank''s main gun?"


    "Ho, you are quite concerned about me, aren''t you? That''s what you''re worried about, right?"


    Hearing Park Ji-hyun''s conflicting words, Tao Yu raised an eyebrow, ran a finger under her chin, and made her slump in the seat, breathing heavily.


    "Whatever it is, I''m telling you the truth."


    Park Ji-hyun''s voice trembled as she spoke, her breathing intense as her chest heaved against the tightened seat belt, giving Tao Yu an eerie feeling.


    The Taming Skill was too powerful. There was no direct feedback when using it on Little ck before. It''spletely different on humans.


    Last time, that youngdy was too strong and wasn''t affected. This is the real effect when used on an ordinary person.


    "What gave you the illusion that my forte is direct confrontation..."


    Tao Yu chuckled, his eyes deep.


    At these words, Park Ji-hyun''s expression froze. Even though you sneaked in through a window for a surprise attack, your monster transformation abilities seem more suited to directbat, right?


    She knew she had no right to speak, so she just sat silently on the side, then suddenly said,


    "With this vine that we''ve retrieved, I can get you an audience with the basemander, but you have to listen to me."


    Tao Yu raised an eyebrow at her and, after thinking for a moment, nodded his head,


    "Fine."


    With his immense physical recovery abilities, just circling the military camp with Shadow Evasion, without stacking the double "Stealth" extreme state, wouldn''t be a problem.


    And given some recovery time, he could do another round right away, so taking risks wasn''t out of the question.


    If he could control themander first, perhaps the munication'' task could be taken care of along the way...


    Thinking about it, her act of rebellion by bringing him into the heart of danger posed a greater risk.


    He could withstand bullets and shadow evade, but Park Ji-hyun couldn''t.


    But this was her choice, her life if she died.


    If she survived, he would put aside the previous offensive attack against him and use her as a tool...


    ...


    "You will definitely suffer the vengeance of Da Han, and you, you traitor, we will certainly..."


    Click~


    Tao Yu twisted the neck of the babbling General Han with resignation, pinching the bridge of his nose as he did.


    Park Ji-hyun wasn''t bluffing; using the vine case as leverage, she directly seeded in taking him to meet the basemander.


    Tao Yu was actually quite sincere, and he didn''t start a fight right away. After taking control of the situation with an emotional appeal and logical exnation, he outlined the general situation of the Abyss.


    Mutual benefit in cooperation, mutual harm in division¡ªthe sidesplemented each other well.


    But what baffled him was that the high-ranking officers at the base didn''t even want to pretend to cooperate and were aggressively demanding the entire time.


    Their proposition was to consider liaising with thepany only if Tao Yu agreed to be the new test subject...


    This dumbfounded Tao Yu. Were these people sick in the head? Did they think all special infected were the same after seeing Nam Sang-won and assumed he would sacrifice his life for thepany''s grand ns?


    Please, he was just earning mission money.


    They wouldn''t believe him even when he spelled it out, and they kept pushing him to the limit, so there was no choice; Tao Yu had to make them believe he really didn''t mind killing people...


    "Sorry, I didn''t expect things to turn out like this."


    Park Ji-hyun also seemed somewhat embarrassed at this time, as if she had not only failed to help but had also caused a lot of trouble.


    "No problem, wiping out themandyer is actually good, it makes things easier forter actions."


    Tao Yu looked at Park Ji-hyun with satisfaction.


    It must be that she found their treatment of Nam Sang-won too cruel and was moved by it.


    Afterward, Tao Yu briefly fell into contemtion before asking,


    "What''s your military rank?"


    "Captain."


    "So, how many people here have a higher rank than you?"


    After hearing this, Park Ji-hyun paused and then looked around the scene before saying,


    "All the field officers are here, all dead. Then there''s Doctor Ren, who still holds some measure of control, and there are a few other captains as well."


    "Oh, I understand. Once Doctor Ren and the other captains are dealt with, you''ll be able to take control, right?"


    Tao Yu nodded.


    "In theory, yes. But because of my gender and current injuries, it''s not certain I can, and besides, the military camp and other ces still have dedicated lines ofmunication."


    "That means, in addition to cutting off the dedicated lines, all the troublemakers need to be killed," Tao Yu surmised.


    Tao Yu understood something else now.


    "You could say that, but it would only be a temporary measure. After all, we can''t shoot down every messenger that flies in directly."


    A strange expression appeared on Park Ji-hyun''s face. Was this an attempt to directly promote a puppet to power after persuasion failed?


    However, unfortunately, this could only be temporary.


    The specifics still depend on individual people; everyone has their own thoughts. It isn''t as simple as controlling the leader to make everything go smoothly...


    ...


    The room where Tao Yu was located was a conference room with excellent soundproofing. They hadn''t fired a gun, so for the moment there was no rm raised outside.


    The two guards were still standing at the entrance of the conference room, vigntly watching the corridor ahead, their eyes sharp, constantly scanning back and forth.


    It seemed that not even a fly could escape their notice.


    The next moment, with a ''creak,'' the door of the conference room slowly opened a crack.


    This caused the two guards to turn their heads and nce over. What''s going on?


    Howe the door is open, but no one''sing out?


    But just as they were taken aback, apanied by a stream of ck mist, both their necks were almost simultaneously struck hard, emitting a chilling sound of bone cracking.


    The traces of Tao Yu just appearing hadn''t fully materialized when in the next moment, they blurred once again.


    The super-strong world enhancement of this world is awesome!


    The deficits in endurance that had to be conserved before needn''t be considered, allowing for unrestrained use.


    I really don''t know when I''ll truly acquire such skills.


    "It''s unclear how many people here saw Park Ji-hyun enter, better to y it safe..."


    The mottled shadows receded from view. Tao Yu seemed to roam about themand center like an evil spirit, wandering everywhere, no gunfire was heard, nor any screams.


    There were only asional muffled grunts and the sound of bodies hitting the ground, apanied by faint sounds of bones breaking.


    Without sound or trace, there was only Park Ji-hyun left in the entiremand center.


    Tao Yu immediately burst out of the building, wearing dark Monster Armor that made her seem like an Alien as she jumped into the shadows of various structures, climbing on various blind spots.


    Using Stealth in tandem with her high recovery ability, she went unnoticed the entire way!


    "Huh? This one''s a captain, send him along, send him along."


    Tao Yu made her way toward theboratory. On the way, she saw a figure with the same rank as Park Ji-hyun leading a squad hurriedly toward a certain direction, unclear what for.


    But by now, the time was about right.


    This time, Tao Yu no longer used Shadow Evasion, but simply relied on Alien-like stealth techniques to climb beneath the eaves, following the squad.


    When they were right below him, he suddenly fell from above,nding in the middle of the squad.


    "Who goes there?"


    "Monster!"


    Tao Yu had justnded and caused an outcry, but as they had just started to shout, Tao Yu moved into action.


    This time, instead of opting for a one-hit kill, he kept knocking each person away.


    Despite the sounds of bones breaking and many people vomiting blood, the sight of being thrown about was extremely visually striking.


    However, uponnding, apart from the captain, not too many people died, rather it caused a wave of wailing.


    A sergeant quickly picked up the radio and started making a distress call,


    "A monster has appeared in Zone B! It''s strong, we need backup!"

 Chapter 156: Chapter 142: Turmoil

    ```


    Dudu dudu~


    The military camp rm kept ringing.


    Squads of soldiers began to converge, and there were even armored vehicles rushing towards Area B.


    But as the camp was shaking internally, Tao Yu once again pounced on another squad, consistently imitating the attack of an alien in his demonized form.


    Overall, he behaved like an irrational monster, traveling quickly by crawling, so as not to make anyone associate him with a special infected body.


    What Park Ji-hyun said was right, Tao Yu''s monster armor could resist ordinary gunfire, but if facing the cannons on armored vehicles or even heavier firepower, it still couldn''t withstand direct hits.


    asionally, a few hits could be evaded with the use of Shadow Force to shift physical attacks, but not many times, after all in this world stamina might recover, but Shadow Force was limited.


    However,bining High Spiritual Perception with Inherent Time Control, Tao Yu''s few exposures were all effortless.


    He even had time to hunt down captains by using his Dynamic Vision.


    It was almost as if he had circled around the entire military camp.


    Even without resorting to Shadow Evasion, just relying on his dexterity, mimicking the movements of the aliens everywhere, he still kept the Nan Bang soldiers tired from running around.


    The various buildings and vehicles within the camp became natural covers.


    "Over there!"


    "Area C, Area C is under attack."


    Dada dada~


    "Captain Kim is dead!"


    "Damn it, where are the orders? Why are there no orders?"


    "Themand center was attacked! All themanders are dead!"


    Bang~ Bang~


    "Now Captain Park is in charge of the coordination."


    "It''s back to Area B again."


    "On the roof, on the roof! Send the helicopter!"


    "Rocketunchers, use rocketunchers! Bullets are no use against this thing!"


    Boom~ Boom~ Boom~


    Tao Yu deftly moved from rooftop to rooftop, then suddenly elerated into a leap andnded on a helicopter that had just taken off, grabbing onto the helicopter''s struts.


    With a flip, the force attached to his tailshed fiercely against the ss.


    The bulletproof ss of the armed helicopter instantly dented inwards, riddled with cracks, and with a few more kicks downward, the ss was lifted off, and then Tao Yu plunged into it.


    Just as the helicopter started to fall, he jumped out again, rolled on the ground, and rushed under an armored vehicle to avoid the concentrated barrage of gunfire.


    Then with just a few climbs over the wall from the rear, he arrived at another side¡­


    "This feels nice~"


    Dancing in the bullet storm, Tao Yu moved like walking on a tightrope, his mind exhrated.


    An abundance of stamina allowed him to rampage freely, suffering from overexertion before was really ufortable!


    And the sensation of bullets grazing past in a crisis also gave him an unconventional thrill.


    "If I were surrounded in an open area by them fully armed, I would probably only be able to run away with my tail between my legs, but as long as I have covers to maneuver around and ample stamina, it doesn''t matter at all."


    The cooperation of Spirit Perception and Inherent Time Control, plus his now agility and the tolerance for error brought by demonization, made Tao Yu feel like he was invincible!


    In terms of firepower and strength, these soldiersbined could be said to have a crushing advantage, even if a group of tyrannosaurs charged at them, they could still subdue them.


    But on the other hand, they were having a hard time dealing with a nimble unit like Tao Yu.


    "Interesting, once the strength and endurance surpass a certain threshold, mass tactics against entities below a certain strength level be meaningless."


    Tao Yu brushed past a rain of bullets and again ducked behind a wall; with his strong stamina recovery, he was able to test some realbat practices that he wouldn''t even dare think about normally, to test his own limits and umte some experience in being besieged.


    "Indeed, only by practicing can you clearly understand your weaknesses and strengths¡­"


    Tao Yu pondered; he reckoned he was not anybat genius, and if he suddenly encountered troublesome situations, he might not be able toe up with the best solution.


    Especially since he always aimed for fatal blows, he waspletely inexperienced in dealing with group attacks.


    The chaos in the military camp allowed Tao Yu to feel more clearly the difference between an individual and a group.


    "If everyone in the camp reached the human limit in fitness, and their shooting reached level 4, I wouldn''t be able to act so freely, but obviously, they didn''t reach that quality¡­"


    A collective attack is often high cost-effective, but the premise is that the individuals involved in the siege cannot be too inferior to the one being besieged!


    "Therefore, the security teams have a minimumbat talent requirement, and they always have coordinated training; theoretically, the city''s security team could surround and kill any strong person in the city¡­"


    Tao Yu emerged and attacked a group of captains in amand vehicle, and using the vehicle as cover, he actively entered the shadows from a visual blind spot.


    Under the cover of a group of tense soldiers throwing grenades and firing grenadeunchers, he moved even faster in the patchy view of the shadows.


    He arrived at the entrance to theboratory and directly crawled into the venttion ducts¡­


    ```


    They can take their time searching outside, now is the time to reap the rewards!


    ...


    "Catch him, you must catch him, this is an intelligent special infected, different from the others, you''ve all been yed!"


    Dr. Ren kept watching the surveince footage and incessantly ordered the Raven Squad stationed in theboratory to hurry.


    "Doctor, our mission is to protect theb,"


    a sergeant said with an ugly look on his face.


    "What protection is needed here? This ce is very safe! I need this experimental subject, for the sake of all humankind, you must go."


    Dr. Renpletely ignored the sergeant''s displeased expression, fixated on the yback on the monitors, his eyes filled with intoxication.


    "We..."


    The sergeant tried to say something more when suddenly, he flew backward as if hit by a cannonball and mmed into the metal wall beside him.


    The next moment, the other soldiers nearby suffered the same fate.


    Some were thrown against the ceiling, others stered against the walls.


    Thest one was pressed to the floor by a w.


    In a second, all sound was lost.


    Only then did Tao Yu look up at the doctor before him.


    Although he wasn''t familiar with the storyline, through some of Park Ji-hyun''s words, and what they did to Nam Sang-won, Tao Yu knew this guy was no good.


    "Constantly talking about saving humanity, why don''t you sacrifice yourself for a change."


    Tao Yu was still in his demonized state, the oveid voices sounding particrly sinister.


    Hearing Tao Yu''s words, Dr. Ren''s face showed even more fervor


    "How marvelous, to be a special infected..."


    However, as soon as his words fell, shlick¡ªhis arm was severed in response. He hadn''t even felt the pain when he saw Tao Yu, thumb at the ready, unlocking a silver briefcase.


    "A vine?"


    Dr. Ren was a ruthless man. Even when his arm was torn off, he bore it stoically.


    His face just turned a bit pale as he watched Tao Yu open the vine.


    "You want this, there''s plenty. Just cooperate and..."


    Bang¡ª


    Before he could finish, his body was sent flying and then mmed against a wall, sttering it with blood.


    His body slowly slid down the wall.


    "Your thinking is too extreme,"


    Tao Yu nced at Dr. Ren, confirming from their brief interaction that he was indeed a fanatic, perhaps even a pervert.


    However, due to his research on the vine and the data left from previous experiments, Tao Yu had no intention of killing him.


    The reason he struck so harshly was not only because he disliked the pervert''s attitude but also because, by tearing the man''s arm, he realized that this guy was beginning to mutate, driven by emerging desires in his heart.


    Surviving two hits was proof enough!


    "Now, you''re a special infected yourself. If you want to research, use yourself..."


    Such a fanatic should be able to control his desires with rtive ease. With his knowledge on monster research, Tao Yu decided to sell him to the base for money.


    Evil grinds on evil. This already mutating doctor, with extensive research data, sold to thepany, would naturally meet their methods of disposal.


    And the price would probably not be any cheaper than the Chosen One!


    ...


    "Captain Park, B Sector is clear."


    "A Sector sweepplete."


    "C Sector also has nothing..."


    Park Ji-hyun slowly became the highest-rankingmander, sat in themand center, and obtained temporarymand authority. He began to issue various orders.


    While reordering the chaos, he also began the search in earnest.


    But the next moment, a riot erupted in the direction of theboratory.


    Bang¡ª


    Apanied by the appearance of a giant muscled infected breaking through the wall, a swarm of imprisoned infected flocked there!


    Fortunately, by that time the chaos within the base wasrgely under control, and there was a state of high alert, so the situation was quickly stabilized.


    Armored vehicles advanced, in cooperation with methrowers and various weapons. These out-of-control experimental subjects were either extinguished or herded out of the barracks, leaving nothing but ruin...

 Chapter 157: Chapter 143 Pack and Take Away

    ```


    After several fires were extinguished, wreckage still emitted ck smoke, and the scent of gunpowder hung everywhere in the shattered barracks.


    Injured soldiersy in rows on white cloths on the ground, apanied by wails as they awaited basic medical treatment.


    The chain ofmand had been abruptly decapitated, the barracks attacked and thrown into chaos,pounded by the escape of thest detained experimental subjects, and the constant pressure from monsters outside.


    This had caused immense damage to the base.


    With a broken arm simply splinted with a nk, Park Ji-hyun''s face also bore traces of soot from the gunpowder.


    Your next journey awaits at mvl


    Yet these injuries and marks, as she stood there, gave her a heroic bearing, adding an air of authority which made it easier to resonate with the soldiers.


    Compared to the previous high-and-mightymanders who were never seen, the likewise injured Park Ji-hyun had temporarily gained recognition.


    "Captain Park, the base''smunication systems have been destroyed; we can''t contact the outside world."


    "The situation in theb is also unclear, but for now, no more experimental subjects areing out."


    "The perimeter defense has been reinforced, and we''ve temporarily regained control of the situation."


    "There are many casualties, and we''re running short on medical supplies."


    "..."


    Diverse voices followed one after the other, but Park Ji-hyun remained steadfast under the pressure, organizing the situation with methodicalposure.


    It was then that the doors of the research facility opened, and Dr. Ren, escorted by a soldier, walked out with several researchers.


    Seeing Dr. Ren, an irate soldier immediately charged forward and bellowed,


    "What the hell is going on, why have all the experimental subjects escaped? Look at the mess you''ve caused!"


    However, it wasn''t long before he noticed Dr. Ren''s severed arm and the fresh blood on his body.


    Dr. Ren was showing signs of mutation, but his arm was not regenerating that quickly.


    When he heard the soldier''s usation, he could only twitch the corner of his mouth and say,


    "There was an ident in theb; we almost perished in there too. It''s truly regrettable."


    Fear still lingered in the eyes of the other researchers, who nodded continuously in agreement.


    Tao Yu, the only soldier protecting them, also exchanged a subtle nod with Park Ji-hyun from a distance, their acknowledgment passing unnoticed.


    Since the team defending the research facility operated independently,


    being the only one left, it naturally fell to Tao Yu to represent them in negotiations, undeservedly famed for "Willpower Trantion," assuming a false persona unawares.


    After a staged conversation between Tao Yu and Park Ji-hyun, she swiftly made some decisions regarding the reorganization and arrangements for the barracks.


    For instance, going to the hospital to collect supplies, and because the research facilities werepromised, she personally led three elite "Crow Squads" along with the researchers to the previously abandoned research facility.


    The remains of experimental materials and Nam Sang-won''s body were also carried along.


    In fact, Park Ji-hyun''s decisions were somewhat irrational; the top priority should have been re-establishing contact with superiors.


    But after suffering so many blows, with most of the decision-makers killed, the soldiers who survived this baptism of blood had noplex thoughts left.


    Just follow the orders...


    ...


    Three armored personnel carriers were transporting Dr. Ren and the researchers on the road.


    And the distance to the previous research facility was actually very close to Green''s home.


    "The Crow Squadprises elites; I still have considerablemand authority when they''re deployed on field operations," Park Ji-hyun whispered to Tao Yu, who was driving.


    Their vehicle, chiefly carrying Dr. Ren and the researchers, was positioned in the middle.


    Twenty-four members of the Crow Squad were spread across the armored vehicles in the front and rear, each highly trained inbat.


    Overall, they were on par with ordinary Pioneers from the Outer City; if everyone at the base had their level ofbat proficiency, Tao Yu would have found it troublesome.


    Their tactical coordination and willingness to follow orders were far easier to manage than the Pioneers from the Outer City.


    "Staying in the barracks could have led to orders from other directions; the current situation is actually just right."


    Tao Yu was quite satisfied with the current gains; not only had he acquired research data and essed the vine, but he had also diverted some elite forces his way.


    After all, Park Ji-hyun was only a captain; she could temporarily hold the scene but wouldn''t have the clout to maintain it for long once orders from elsewhere starteding in.


    She didn''t have the authority for suchmands.


    So right from the start, there was no greed to take over the entire base.


    Tao Yu nced back at Park Ji-hyun. Though her face was bandaged and smudged with soot, and her hand now in a cast, she still was quite attractive¡ªa standard South Korean celebrity face.


    When Park Ji-hyun, sitting in the passenger seat, caught the look in Tao Yu''s eyes, her cheeks reddened, and her gaze wandered as if her thoughts had drifted elsewhere.


    "It''d be good to have her as a mount; ''mind-link'' would makemunication so much easier," Tao Yu thought, scratching his head, pondering how to make her a mount. Hair pulling?


    ...


    "Commander, this doesn''t seem proper. The researchers are of immense value; we shouldn''t take risks."


    A Crow Squad team leader spoke up hesitantly.


    Without disembarking, Tao Yu, posing in Dr. Ren''s name, had announced that they had re-established contact with the ''outside world'' and were now preparing to meet up.


    This abrupt change of mission naturally aroused suspicion among the Crow Squad members.


    ```


    "Sergeant Zhuo, Doctor Ren has a high level of autonomy, and it is precisely because of their value that we need to protect them. Just follow orders, I am the captain."


    Park Ji-hyun calmly suppressed Sergeant Zhuo''s questions with his tone.


    With rankes authority, and as the current highestmander, Park Ji-hyun directly took over the management of the twenty-four soldiers using Doctor Ren as an excuse.


    This caused Doctor Ren''s mouth to twitch involuntarily at the side.


    Autonomy my ass!


    But he was a smart man; just a couple dozen soldiers could never protect his safety, so now he just needed to cooperate.


    After Tao Yu proactively revealed some information about the origin of the Abyss, piquing his curiosity, Doctor Ren didn''t really have much aversion to the destination they were preparing to head toward.


    He belonged to the rather paranoid type among research members, so where to research and who to serve didn''t really make a difference to him!


    It would be difficult for Park Ji-hyun to take over the control of the entire base, but managing the current group of people was well within his capabilities.


    Subsequently, the armored vehicle smoothly arrived at the Green Home, ready to pick up newly discovered ''experimental subjects''...


    ...


    "The military, it''s the military''s armored vehicle."


    The twenty or so survivors on the first floor of Green Home were invigorated upon seeing three armored vehicles appear in front of the building.


    Xu Yijing had a fleeting look of worry and silence in her eyes, but still stood out, holding the remaining assault rifle aside.


    The other one holding a weapon was the pilot, An Zhijie.


    "What are you doing? This is the military, the military! They must be here to rescue us, put it down quickly."


    A curly-haired individual was decidedly unsatisfied when he saw Xu Yijing and An Zhijie on guard.


    Looking at the peopleing down from the vehicle, their eyes were full of excitement.


    But the curly-haired man couldn''t help but feel surprised when he saw a few researchers in whiteb coats getting off the vehicle as well.


    Why are there researchers?


    Soon he came to a realization and cast a subtle nce at the still clueless Xiao Xian, the grocery store owners who were already showing symptoms, and the aunty who had saved two children earlier.


    The researchers must be here for them, he thought. If he acted quickly and reported them first, he would surely merit recognition!


    Green Home''s survivors were barely able to stick together under external pressure and the threat of monsters.


    But with the emergence of a new power, particrly one that might offer protection from the military, many more than just the curly-haired man harbored their own little schemes.


    Tao Yu, dressed in a base uniform and wearing a helmet, matched the attire of Crow Squad and went unrecognized at first nce.


    Only Xu Yijing, upon seeing the team leader Park Ji-hyun with his arm in a cast, raised an eyebrow and took the initiative to open the lift gate.


    The moment the lift gate began to open, the curly-haired man crawled out from under it, then quickly ran toward the convoy, all the while shouting


    "I want to report, I want to report, we have people infected here..."


    Doctor Ren, seeing the curly-haired man running towards them, also wore a look of embarrassment.


    If it had been yesterday, he could have been excited about this news, but now he was about to be an experimental subject...


    Kid, you''re on your own...


    "Are you talking about special infected?"


    Tao Yu asked in a hushed tone, his head lowered as he approached.


    "Yes, yes, special infected, he can still control himself, but his injuries recover very quickly, and there''s another one who''s even more powerful, who killed all the monsters in the building..."


    Because Tao Yu kept his head down, the curly-haired man didn''t recognize him right away and happily approached him.


    It wasn''t until he got close that Tao Yu slowly looked up, revealing a face that made the curly-haired man freeze in shock.


    Ah, this...


    He looks so familiar!


    "Why are you trying to take my gun?"


    "Hm?"


    The curly-haired man blinked in confusion, only to see that his hand was now, somehow, being held by the other man on the handle of his gun holstered at his waist.


    He knew that it was the other man''s doing, but to others, it looked as if he was about to draw his gun but was restrained!


    "Wait, this is..."


    Bang~


    Park Ji-hyun didn''t hesitate and shot the curly-haired man squarely between the eyes, then coldly reholstered his gun and said to Tao Yu


    "Soldier, be more vignt next time."


    "Yes, sir."


    Tao Yu watched the impressive figure of Park Ji-hyun, saluting her casually in response.


    Turning back to look at the people of Green Home, they were all now trembling with fear.


    The curly-haired man sacrificed himself, and it sessfully spared them a lot of talking, making the journey that followed much smoother.


    Thanks to the repair capabilities of Limpy Uncle, the underground parking lot had suitable business vehicles, and during Tao Yu''s time outside, two business vehicles had already been temporarily fortified.


    With the addition of three armored cars and the vehicle-mounted machine guns on the armored vehicles, the journey to Rainforest was fairly smooth.


    And Da Hei and Little ck on the rooftop were instructed by Tao Yu to follow at a distance for now, waiting to drop the act once they entered the Rainforest...

 Chapter 158: Chapter 144 Pioneer

    "A rainforest really did appear out of nowhere."


    "This is so magical, how can this be?"


    "Is it really the end of the world?"


    "..."


    Seeing the rainforest that had suddenly appeared ahead, the survivors'' faces were filled with disbelief.


    Although they had heard the news, seeing it with their own eyes was apletely different experience.


    Watching the world barrier, Tao Yu also stopped the vehicle in front of the barrier, and the researchers, the Rainforest survivors, and the soldiers from the Raven Squad all got out of the car in session.


    It was obvious that the rainforest in front of them was impassable by vehicle.


    Having reached this point, Tao Yu had no more concerns and pped his hands.


    "Actually, I am the one assigned to maintain contact with Doctor Ren from outside, and I''m about to lead everyone to a safer location, where you can exchangebor for the necessities of life."


    Tao Yu''s words caused somemotion, primarily among the Raven Squad members.


    The Rainforest lot had been thoroughly convinced by Tao Yu after he cleared the apartment of monsters.


    Whether it was the pervert who had been killed at first or Curly who diedter, they all served as a warning to the others and stood aside without daring to say anything.


    But within the Raven Squad, the officer with the highest rank next to Park Ji-hyun spoke up again.


    "You''re from outside? When did youe in? We weren''t aware of it."


    "Officer, remember your rank. You are a soldier who follows orders. Why should Doctor Ren inform you of his secret missions? I am the captain."


    Park Ji-hyun spoke up at this point, suppressing the officer, who after opening his mouth, ultimately could only salute helplessly and step down.


    Tao Yu grew increasingly satisfied with this useful individual. He thought that he had been a bit too heavy-handed at the beginning, breaking her hand which would take a long time to heal. Maybe he could reward her with a vine.


    As he thought this, Tao Yu also remembered the attributes of those vines, genuine Yuan Force items.


    Pseudo-Demonization Vine: Apound extracted from a special infected, difficult to manufacture, can help suppress the side effects of demonization. Those with dormant demonization potential can directly activate their demonization abilities, absorbing fifty Yuan Force.


    The Yuan Force that could be absorbed wasn''t high, but the undeniable value was substantial. Paired with aplete set of Demonization Skills, such a set would fetch at least ten thousand Yuan Force as a baseline price, after all, others required hundreds of materials to trigger demonization.


    However, each original inhabitant of this world surely had the potential for demonization. Using it on an original resident could directly unlock their potential!


    But Tao Yu only had eight doses in hand, which made him ponder, knowing that one was definitely to be saved for his third brother.


    Relying on the Skill of Demonizationbined with a vine, even if recovery slowed outside the world, he should still be able to slowly regrow his leg over time.


    This kind of restorable injury, also benefiting from the ability to elerate using Yuan Force, could be dealt with patience, even if it took several months or even a year without eleration!


    He felt this was more reliable than a mechanical leg.


    Moreover, not only was mechanical modification more expensive, but it also required connections, which Tao Yu had alwayscked.


    Now, he had enough materials and medication from his journey to suffice.


    Uncle Hu, however, didn''t need it. He''d probably not be happy to have his own arm back.


    "Actually, the fewer the vines, the higher the price. Using one or two more isn''t a big problem, but I must choose the right people to receive them."


    Tao Yu decided to use two more doses. One could go to Park Ji-hyun; restoring her arm could be considered extrapensation for the cooperation this time. With greater strength, she could be more helpful at the base.


    The second dose...


    Tao Yu nced at Xu Yijing, but since the social queen was pregnant, he didn''t consider experimenting on her.


    Then he looked at Uncle Han in the wheelchair. Giving it to him should also restore his legs.


    "You try to cross first. Once everyone has tried, I''ll help you. Little Xian and Auntie, as special infected, you may be stopped."


    Tao Yu''s words made Che Xianxiu nod nervously and then she stepped forward first.


    "I''ll give it a try."


    As she spoke, she reached for the barrier, and indeed, an invisible film appeared. Discover exclusive content at mvl


    But in the next moment, the film disappeared on its own, allowing Che Xianxiu to pass through.


    That sparked a sh of enlightenment in Tao Yu''s eyes.


    This was a bit like how the Pioneers rely on the world''s will to prate the barrier!


    When Auntie, also a special infected, was stopped by the world barrier, Tao Yu confirmed that Che Xianxiu was "The Chosen One."


    "Why, why can''t I get out?"


    Auntie was somewhat flustered.


    "It''s okay, we''ll get you acrosster. Normal people should have no problem. Everyone else, give it a try."


    "Why can''t I get out either?"


    The little supermarket owner was also relentlessly tapping the world barrier.


    The barrier, seemingly fragile yet incredibly tough, didn''t budge at all and coldly blocked him on this side.


    Tao Yu didn''t find it surprising.


    "Leaving this world, your infections will be suppressed. Let''s see how many can pass."


    If an infected can suppress the Demonization to be a special infected, they could leap from being an ordinary person to a special power wielder.


    Even if the boost from Demonizationcked the magnitude outside of their original world, it was probably an ability that most of the outcity Pioneers could never acquire.

 Chapter 159: Chapter 144 Pioneer_2

    ```


    With just a bit more training, they could be decent helpers¡ªthey''re much better than the average local residents.


    Unfortunately, in the end, only the couple who were the superstore owners and the wheelchair man were selected.


    "You damn cripple, why didn''t you say you had a nosebleed?"


    "I didn''t know, please stop mentioning it."


    The man in the wheelchair had a look of utter despair; he truly didn''t realize he had developed symptoms too.


    "This is a good sign, you might even regain the ability to walk. In the Abyss, the stronger you are, the easier it is to survive."


    Seeing the man so pitiful, nearly bursting into tears, Tao Yu even offered a rare word offort, thenughed and said,


    "But you''re going to have to tough it out on your own, give me a break."


    Since the man in the wheelchair was showing symptoms, Tao Yu thought it best to let him try, as without the world''s bonus the progression wasn''t so rapid. If there was a problem, they''d deal with it then.


    "It''s truly a miracle! Is this the Abyss?"


    Doctor Ren''s arm had grown back significantly. Actually, others could tell he was infected too, but with so many other infected around, one more didn''t make much difference.


    At that moment, Doctor Ren''s face was bright with excitement as he examined the membrane.


    Tao Yu also kept an eye on him, hoping that with some luck he might even be a ''Fortune Thief''.


    However, it was a bit regrettable. Not all good things happen all the time. Doctor Ren was still blocked by the membrane.


    "Useless."


    Tao Yu spat out in disdain, feeling like he''d lost at least twenty thousand Yuan Force.


    He himself stepped away from the barrier to feel the difference between the two ces.


    Compared to when he entered this world, because the [Heart Enhancement] was slightly off, this time leaving it, Tao Yu felt an extremely noticeable awkwardness and difort.


    "It feels like I would get ''motion sickness'' if I jumped back and forth too frequently."


    Tao Yu moved his hands and feet, adjusting to the changes in the world''s rules.


    Overall, it wasn''t as bad as he initially imagined. Most of the benefits from [Demonization] were retained, and there were no reductions in strength or any suppression.


    Whenever he wanted, he could still transform into his demon form.


    But the Free Energy of the world that could be rapidly replenished had declined sharply, and his endurance had reverted to normal.


    "No, the endurance has actually increased a bit. The transformation still enhances my healing ability, but if I were to enter the full [Demonization] mode and exert myselfpletely, the endurance would drop."


    As Tao Yu sensed these changes, heyered his fingers with Monster Armor.


    "However, just using it partially, I can still extend the endurance a bit. The value of this ability remains quite high..."


    After opening the world barrier and letting the blocked people through, Tao Yu turned and said,


    "Two of my pets will being over soon. Don''t be nervous. There are many creatures like them roaming the jungle, and with my pets, we can avoid a lot of trouble."


    Having been prepared with gradual management, the arrival of Da Hei and Little ck, although startling at first, did not cause too much of a disruption.


    After all,pared to the other creatures they had grown ustomed to seeing, Aliens didn''t seem entirely uneptable...


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    "Get the food organized. With this many people, we''ll need to trek for approximately five to six days. The journey will be strenuous, and those who fall behind could die¡ªwatch out for poisonous insects."


    If Tao Yu rode Da Hei directly and took a straight path, he could cross the distance in under two days. However, leading such a group naturally slowed things down.


    But it''s all money!


    And they all had the potential for [Demonization], bound to him as ''Chosen Ones''. He wasn''t worried about taking a bit more time...


    ...


    The fully-armed twenty-four members of the Raven Squad, along with several of the Green Home''s fighters, managed to maintain order quite smoothly.


    With machetes, they cleared away branches and undergrowth to forge a path,


    Da Hei walked around the periphery, causing the ground to tremble with each step.


    The rustling leaves stirred up a dense feeling in the air filled with humidity and dust.


    Having Da Hei around, with the innate pheromonal suppression of an Alien Queen, meant that even Aliens from nests other than its own dared not offend it.


    Even so, the presence of other Aliens lurking and observing nearby was sometimes spotted by some sharp-eyed survivors.


    The massive form of Da Hei constantly patrolled around the group, roaring and bellowing, driving away these Aliens.


    Initially, the people were quite afraid of Da Hei''s ferocious appearance and would try to keep their distance when it passed by.


    But after they realized that Da Hei was protecting them and driving off other monsters, they began to see Da Hei in a different light.


    "Being able to tame these creatures so sessfully, these monsters are innate weapons of war!"


    Doctor Ren was the first toe up with an idea simr to that of a Pioneer.


    His first thought was to use them inbat.


    "First, keep yourself under control. I won''t be giving you a vine."


    Tao Yu nced at Doctor Ren, whose eyes had turnedpletely ck, and reminded him to control his emotions.


    "Sorry, sorry. I got a bit too excited."


    It had to be said that Doctor Ren was indeed tough, quickly reverting to his original demeanor.


    At that moment, Che Xianxiu walked over from the crowd carrying the man in the wheelchair on his back.


    As a special infected individual, Che Xianxiu''s physical strength was more than sufficient, even without the world''s enhancement he was stronger than the average person, so he carried the disabled man in the wheelchair the whole way.


    On the other side, Little ck had a mat on its back and was carrying An Zhijie''s adoptive father, Old Man An, with a child asionally joining them for a break, taking turns.

 Chapter 160: Chapter 144 Pioneer_3

    "Tao Bro, two aunties can''t walk anymore, can we stop and rest a while?"


    When Che Xianxiu came over to plead, her expression was somewhat anxious.


    Tao Yu merely nced at him and calmly said,


    "If you keep mingling in the Abyss like this, you will die. If they want to rest, let theme and speak to me themselves."


    It was clear someone had noticed he was giving special care to the few who were suspected to be ''The Chosen One''ster additions, and among them, Che Xianxiu was the easiest to talk to.


    "This... alright, I''ll go and speak to them."


    Obviously, neither of the two women had reached their limit, but one of them, who had been holding her dog all along, gritted her teeth, put down her dog, and forcibly followed, enduring the pain in her legs.


    With Cao Shaolin and the Crow Squad clearing the path, the journey for those in the back had be much easier, Tao Yu had already loosened his estimated timing.


    He had also given some extra attention to a few people with mobility issues.


    But these two aunties were in much better condition than those who weren''t doing so well.


    If they couldn''t keep up, then it could not be med on him¡ªthe Alien would appreciate the gift of nature...


    Not until the sky gradually darkened, and the visibility in the Rainforest worsened did Tao Yu finally p his hands and say,


    "Prepare for camping and rest, eat something to regain strength."


    Upon hearing Tao Yu''s words, a few who were already exhausted found a spot by a tree root to sit down, not caring about dirt or cleanliness.


    Some even cried upon seeing leeches stuck to their legs below the trousers.


    This was even more ufortable than being inside an apartment building!


    Back then, although they would worry about monsters and live in fear, they didn''t have to endure such a grind.


    After all, for the vast majority of ordinary people, facing a monster attack would mean certain death; those who survived hadn''t really suffered much hardship.


    And ordinary people found it significantly difficult to adapt to the Rainforest environment.


    It was only because the journey was rtively short, and there was sufficient food as well as some emergency medical supplies.


    Otherwise, who knows how many would have been lost.


    "Don''t pull out the leeches directly, be careful of infecting the wound."


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    "Watch out for poisonous insects."


    The medical student with sses and the caregiver, Ali, although equally exhausted, were still ceaselessly helping everyone check for bumps and bruises, walking back and forth through the group to remind them.


    The Crow Squad, having had specialized jungle training, was well-trained and highly adaptable, even if the environment wasn''t exactly the same.


    Some were igniting fires, others were setting up tents.


    "When sleeping, don''t lie directly on the ground, make a framework with branches to elevate yourself, don''t expect others to help you, do it yourself, as we still have at least five more days of this journey ahead."


    "The slower you are, theter you get out, and that is the problem right in front of us that needs to be solved, unchangeable."


    Once in the woods, naturally, it was Tao Yu''s call.


    Now, even if the members of the Crow Squad left the group, they would likely meet their demise without Da Hei''s protection!


    Although there were cries of misery, still no one dared to retort to Tao Yu; everyone just started breaking off branches obediently to prepare.


    Tents and sleeping bags were obviously not enough for everyone.


    And under this high pressure, there was indeed an unexpected benefit.


    Several people began to bleed from their noses due to the stress, showing symptoms of Demonization.


    However, it seemed that because they were outside of their original world, they mostly exhibited enhanced regenerative abilities, and had not significantly mutated into monster-like forms.


    This bumping and grinding journey went on for three days through the forest...


    ...


    "Hmm?"


    Riding on Da Hei''s back, Tao Yu was making his rounds around the group when he suddenly sensed some movement in the distance.


    He patted Da Hei, who understood and let out a warning roar towards that direction, quieting the movements in the jungle immediately.


    If it had been another Alien, it might''ve shown itself, so it was likely a Pioneer who had heard Da Hei''s roar...

 Chapter 161: Chapter 145: Unsettled

    "Boss Vincent, there are dozens of life forms up ahead, that roar just now must have been an alien, but it sounded a bit too loud."


    A figure, half of whose body was mechanically modified, had some data flickering in their eyes.


    The life perception module, through abination of factors such as infrared, temperature, sound, smell, airflow, and others, was ultimately processed by a chip through a special algorithm to yield a rough perception module.


    Because it provided a modest increase tobat effectiveness and upied too muchputational power, the Inner City Pioneers generally didn''t favor installing this module in the early stages.


    But in this instance, it was clear that a team was formed, and someone had specifically switched to it for the mission.


    "Not bad, a few dozen aliens could also count as earnings, but earlier the base sent news that a New World appeared nearby. It''s just right to go and take a look; too many materials would be hard to carry anyway."


    Another figure, who also sported metallic modifications and half a face infiltrated with silvery metal, showed some mechanical red glints in their eyes.


    It seemed to them that a few dozen aliens posed not much of a threat.


    "Brother Vincent, I''ve said before we should have brought along a few mud-legged folks from the outer city; even as porters, they would have been useful. With just the three of us, it''s easy, but there''s no one to do the menial tasks."


    Another figure, about 1.9 meters tall and wearing lightweight chainmail, appeared a bit helpless in hisints.


    "Aren''t you the one doing menial tasks?"


    The previously mentioned half-cyborg with the life perception module smirked as they spoke.


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    "Roll away~ Can''t beat Boss Vincent, so you think you can beat me?"


    "Enough, something is off¡ªthere are voices over there."


    Vincent frowned as he adjusted his auditory receiving device, filtering out some of the noise to faintly discern what seemed to be voices of people talking.


    "Dozens of people in a team in the rainforest? That''s hardly likely, isn''t it? That would be a bloody loss."


    "This¡­"


    The two bickering guys were also startled.


    Heading out on an operation didn''t mean the more people, the better. Like the three of them, although only a trio, their strong abilities meant high speed and efficiency.


    At best, they could bring along a few qualified outer city mud-legged folks to carry the freight and do menial auxiliary soldier tasks.


    If the number increased, daily necessities like eating, drinking, and relieving oneself became an issue. An alien sneak attack could easily reduce their numbers, and the spoils of war obtained wouldn''t be enough to go around, making it aplete loss.


    But soon enough, a voice came through, confirming this.


    "My friends, this is our campsite, and the aliens are mine. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, let''s mind our own business, how about it?"


    Tao Yu casually activated his stance skill, and his voice rolled forward, louder than the previous roar of the Queen.


    With the proficiency of Five Forms as One, Myriad Streams Breathing Technique, and the second-level Deification Stance Skill growing higher and higher.


    Tao Yu''s control over his inner strength was bing more and more skillful.


    Just the roar of an Alien Queen and his own voice speaking was enough to signal that they were not to be trifled with.


    He didn''t want extraneousplications or trouble; he just nned to take this group back safely and securely.


    "Inner strength?"


    Vincent''s eyes shed with an electronic red glint upon hearing Tao Yu''s voice.


    In the younger generation of the Inner City, there should be no reason for him not to recognize someone whose inner strength had reached such a level.


    Not going for alien imntation, nor for mechanical modification, but relying purely on personal capability, the pace of early progress was far fromparable.


    Some still chose to have a few non-intrusive organs imnted forteral support.


    Thinking of something, Vincent pondered for a moment before taking the initiative to say,


    "Friend, there was a cult incident at the temporary gathering site outside the rainforest. Your voice sounds a bit unfamiliar. I need to understand a bit more."


    As Vincent spoke, he signaled with his eyes, and the three of them cautiously moved forward.


    Dozens of people together in this direction, which was also the location of the New World, and they''re so resistant, not wanting contact?


    There''s definitely something fishy here!


    He intended to find an excuse for further confirmation.


    This response caused Tao Yu to raise his eyebrows too.


    "So it turns out you three are cult followers. Well, that simplifies matters..."


    Vincent hadn''t expected the other side to be even more aggressive. Here he had just wanted to find an excuse to approach, but the other party was directly looking for an excuse to kill?


    Damn!


    That''s far too extreme!


    Before he could voice another word, a figure shot toward their direction like a cannonball.


    The speed was astounding, the force terrifying.


    But this blunt approach left the trio momentarily stunned.


    Are there really such fearless simpletons?


    The former half-cyborg figure immediately fired a shoulder cannon in response.


    Boom~


    The figure in the air was sted backwards in flight.


    "Is that all?"


    Qian Hai, the half-cyborg with the life perception module, was also somewhat baffled by his own achievement.


    However, there were no other approaching figures on his life detection module, supposedly...


    Before he could finish the thought in his mind, a sudden air pressure rm crazily red in his head.


    Fuck!


    The semi-automatic mechanical feedback, following the source of the pressure, automatically raised his hand through the control of the chip, and at the same time, a round metal shield popped up on his wrist.


    ng!


    The round metal shield barely blocked a pitch-ck whip kick that had just appeared.


    A ck keratinyer covered the leg, making it seem like a long ck whip!


    Though the round shield didn''t shatter, it still forcefully pressed his Mechanical Arm against his chest due to an overwhelming force!


    A brutal strength bore straight through the round shield and metal arm, striking his chest.


    The metallic surface over his chest wasn''t damaged, just slightly dented, but inside the precisely engineered artificial heart instantly burst!


    His whole body clearly took a heavy hit, strong enough to force his Mechanical Arm to m back into his chest.


    But under thesh of the whip kick, he stood still on the spot as if he were a dummy, without even moving an inch!


    Blood and mechanical fluid continuously spurted from his mouth, and his electronic eyes flickered incessantly before quickly dimming.


    However, Tao Yu, after delivering this strike, directly rode the momentum of the kick''s rotation to vanish into the shadows like a dispersing ink painting, eluding the dense barrage of gunfire that followed.


    Vincent''s two arms transformed into a dense firing array, unleashing chains of bullets without a care for Qian Hai, who originally could have served as a meat shield, thereby enshrouding him as well.


    The chains of bullets whipped through in a sweeping fire.


    Qian Hai, who also had a body enhanced with mechanical modifications, was instantly torn apart under the dense barrage, reduced to several sections with sparks flying.


    Boom~


    A violent explosion urred, severing an ancient, towering tree in half.


    mes and high temperatures ignited the moist nearby vegetation.


    The shockwave rampaged outwards, stirring up a host of dead twigs and leaves and breaking off many branches.


    "What the hell kind of ability is this? He''s got to be dead now, right?"


    Vincent felt both shock and fear in his heart.


    The opponent had previously prated Qian Hai''s defenses with a single blow, instantly fatal!


    Even if his own modifications were stronger than Qian Hai''s, if the target were himself...


    Vincent, who had just deployed a ring of Guile Thunder to protect himself, suddenly felt a terrifying chill.


    Ratatata~


    Continuous gunfire unexpectedly broke out from behind!


    "How can he move so fast!"


    As he was about to turn his firepower around, the attacking bullets had already hit the back of his head.


    ng!


    Dualyered gunfire, augmented by the refined spiritual power of his Meditation Technique, instantly sent him into a system crash, leaving him utterly unable to perform further operations.


    Even though his skull had been reinforced with special alloy strong enough to resist ordinary armor-piercing bullets.


    But as the bullets exploded, they were apanied by dissipating shadows.


    A crack on the metal skull caused by the AP bullet seemed to gather, infiltrate, pry with a ck mist.


    Crack~


    The metal skull shattered, allowing the bullets to wreak havoc.


    Boom~


    Another round of explosion followed, and Bao Wei, who had narrowly escaped the initial st, again awkwardly dove behind a nearby tree.


    Feeling the sweeping heat and the trembling earth.


    He knelt on the ground in terror, continuously pleading for mercy.


    "I didn''t see anything, I don''t know anything, please let me go, I didn''t see you, I don''t know who you are!"


    However, right at that moment, he suddenly felt a lethal threat and instinctively jumped.


    A fleeting glint of cold light, which was meant to sever his head, instead split his torso due to his jump.


    In an instant, even with his body d in Chainmail, he was cut into two in midair, leaving only his upper body to fall to the ground, screaming pitifully.


    It had to be said that people imnted with alien bodies indeed had tenacious vitality; they could still scream so loudly even after being bisected.


    And a figure that seemed to be assembled from ink slowly appeared before his eyes.


    "Now you see."


    "Huh?"


    The screaming Bao Wei, with only half a body, had a momentary nk expression, but before he could react further, the next sh of cold light split his upper body in two, vertically.


    Tao Yu re-sheathed the Treasonous de and kicked the few segments of the cyborg Pioneers'' corpses together.


    After a cursory search, he tossed a Molotov cocktail onto them, igniting a fiery st with a boom~.


    Turning to look back at the lingering mes from the two explosion sites, and considering the humid rainforest environment, Tao Yu scratched his head.


    "It shouldn''t cause any wildfires, I guess. You guys really are a curse, not even resting in peace after death..."

 Chapter 162 - 146 Camp Changes

    Back at the temporary camp, although the others had heard two violent explosions, they still had no idea what had happened.


    Based on the loud shouts heard, it seemed as though they were encountering heretics.


    When Tao Yu returned, no one asked too many questions.


    On the contrary, it was Tao Yu who spoke up seriously,


    "You must remember, in the Abyss, the heretics are ubiquitous and extremely dangerous. They all have antisocial personalities, are lunatics with radical ideologies who want to destroy our hard-won habitat..."


    After Tao Yu delivered an impromptu speech against the heretics, everyone nodded in agreement.


    Isn¡¯t Nan Bang¡¯s homnd rife with heretical cults?


    Thus, many of them had a deep understanding.


    Who would have thought that even the Abyss was infested with heretics, which sounded even more dangerous!


    Thinking back to the two explosions from earlier, they couldn¡¯t help but think of terrorist operations.


    Indeed, it was very dangerous!


    Havingpleted the pacifying exnation, Tao Yu continued riding on Da Hei as if nothing had happened, hanging the Treasonous de on the sword rack beside him.


    This weapon was too long, so carrying it around was indeed a bit ufortable. Once this matter was settled, it would be hidden in Wino¡¯s shadow.


    "The two self-detonating guys werepletely obliterated, and that guy with the alien imnt was a pauper, having absorbed less than two hundred Yuan Force."


    The fellow with the alien imnt might have been considered mid-to-low tier in the Inner City, possibly even bottom tier.


    All his possessions were rubbish; the only valuable thing had been damaged by Tao Yu, and he had absorbed some Yuan Force from the broken equipment.


    If one chose to use Yuan Force to recover physical strength, it would still be a losing deal.


    While thinking this, Tao Yu ripped open a can of luncheon meat,


    "I miss the blessings of the Monster World, but my recovery ability has indeed improved, which is not bad."


    While eating the luncheon meat, Tao Yu¡¯s thoughts drifted.


    Another three Inner City Pioneers had died. s, one could not know how many casualties among the Inner City Pioneers were a result of their own actions.


    Generally, if there was no ambush by an alien swarm nearby, Inner City residents really did not face many threats...


    "It¡¯s all their fault; it can¡¯t be med on me..."


    ...


    Although there was arge group of ordinary people, their biggest trouble crossing the rainforest was merely the environment and themselves due to the presence of Da Hei.


    Beyond this encounter, the journey became rtively stable.


    However, due to the pressure of the rainforest in the past few days, almost all the people brought over had symptoms of nosebleeds, including the soldiers from the Crow Squad.


    And even after leaving the blessings of the Monster World, there were quite a few casualties.


    Those of weak willpletely turned into monsters due to demonization, lost their minds, and were burned on the spot.


    Those who survived had not yet endured the standard period of fifteen days, but the demonization reaction had diminished outside the world, so there should not be much problem anymore.


    Out of the twenty-four soldiers from the Crow Squad, four could not control themselves.


    But those who survived became more elite.


    Together with some carried antibiotics and othermon medicines, and with the medical student with sses and the nursing assistant present,


    there were no abnormal casualties apart from demonization.


    "What a waste of a dose of medicine, truly disappointing," Tao Yu muttered as he dismounted from Da Hei, looking at Park Ji-hyun, who was exercising his arms, with a speechless expression.


    This guy had been fearless in the face of death, but couldn¡¯t suppress his deepest desires.


    "Hehehe," Park Ji-hyun blushed, knowing he was somewhat in the wrong and didn¡¯t dare to argue.


    He then changed the subject,


    "What about Sister Xu? She doesn¡¯t look right."


    "I genuinely have no idea..." Tao Yu replied, turning his head to look at the elder sister figure of the society, Xu Yijing.


    She had said that she was pregnant, likely within the first three months, showing no visible signs on the outside, nor did it much affect her mobility, with herbat abilities remaining strong.


    But ever since she burned her fianc¨¦¡¯s corpse, her belly had been visibly growing day by day, and one could even see the fetus¡¯s shape inside.


    This sight was somewhat eerie.


    Yet at this moment, she remained quite rational.


    It was clear there was a problem with the fetus.


    If they hadn¡¯t been so close to their destination, Tao Yu would have doubted whether she would have given birth along the way.


    But fortunately, she was extremely strong-willed and didn¡¯t lose herposure like Park Ji-hyun, who almost lost control; she managed to keep her emotions stable the entire time.


    The old man in the wheelchair had managed toe through on his own, but since his regenerative abilities had diminished outside in the monster world, his legs still hadn¡¯t healed and he had to be carried by Xiao Xian as usual.


    The luckiest one might be Grandpa An, who had been suffering from a terminal illness and didn¡¯t have much longer to live. After the transformation, it was as if he had been given a forceful extension of life.


    He no longerined of a sore back or legs and didn¡¯t need Little ck to carry him anymore; he was able to keep up with the team with a spring in his step, even showing off in front of the cripples now and then.


    The same was true for those researchers; aside from Dr. Ren, three other researchers had persisted.


    The journey¡¯s trials and tribtions had unexpectedly turned a previously cumbersome ragtag army into a group of elite troops with exceptional foundations.


    Despite having witnessed the deaths of almost half of the others along the way and personally having burnt their bodies,


    when they arrived at the edge of the rainforest and saw the sunlight outside, the desert, and the faint silhouette of the distant city, everyone felt as though they had been reborn.


    Or rather, they had indeed been reborn...


    "Although I¡¯ve witnessed the sudden emergence of the rainforest before,ing back to this edge still amazes me at the marvels of nature," said Dr. Ren, whose arm¡¯s growth had slowed down since leaving the original world, and it was still dangling empty.


    He stretched out his remaining hand and poked towards the World Barrier in front of him.


    "Be careful, the World Barrier here is one-way outward; you can go out from the inside, but once out, you can¡¯te back on your own," Tao Yu warned, then also looked down.


    Below them, the base at the end of the highway had clearly expanded outward significantly, and many more colorful tents had appeared.


    It seemed that although a heretical incident had urred, the base hadn¡¯t been abandoned; on the contrary, it had been expanded.


    It was unclear whether it was an official move or a partnership between several Inner City Pioneers.


    However, Tao Yu quickly spotted some familiar faces.


    Panda, Qimen¡ªboth partners from his own transport team¡ªand Huang Jian and Nuosen, who hade back toplete a mission and helped transport goods for him twice, were all in this base.


    Besides them, Tao Yu also saw a familiar crocodile skin, which seemed to belong to Han Lin, who had apparently also joined the transportpany.


    Moreover, the five of them were gathered together, seemingly discussing something.


    Apart from them, Tao Yu saw other Inner City Pioneers with traces of mechanical transformations and alien imnts, and there were quite a few of them.


    At a rough nce, there were at least twenty to thirty Inner City Pioneers.


    "It has only been about four months, give or take, and the number of Inner City Pioneers who chose a new development zone is now no more than a thousand. To gather so many here, is it all for the New World..." Tao Yu pondered, then turned to look at the gear he had brought back.


    Well, the New World did indeed have many things to offer: military equipment, helicopters, firearms and ammunition, and even some production machinery or even ammunition production lines.


    The potential for extracting value was still quite vast.


    However, the convenience of being able to bring them back all at once was a benefit that probably no one could surpass this time...


    "Come on, let¡¯s try again to see if we can pass through the barrier," Tao Yu gestured for most of the survivors, who had begun their transformation into monsters, to approach the barrier in turns.


    Then he was pleasantly surprised to find that in addition to Xiao Xian, who could already pass through, the bespectacled little doctor, Xiao Li, could also do it! Stay updated via §Þ??


    Having two ¡¯Chosen Ones¡¯ in a team was truly a double blessing!


    "The money for the second deification of [Fist Intent] has a ce to go now..."


    In Tao Yu¡¯s mind, after the talent deification wasplete, the priority was to improve skills like the Meditation Technique, Myriad Streams Breathing Technique, Five Forms as One, and Lurking, which were foundational skills that could increase limits.


    Next came auxiliary skills such as the Swallowing Fluid Technique, Riding, and Taming Technique.


    As for the individual Myriad Streams Five Forms, shooting,bat, and other skills that focused onbat technique, they were not as urgent.


    With the panel¡¯s improvement, a casual auto-attack could surpass a former ultimate attack!


    Currently, the excess in his output was severe.


    From what he had seen of secondary deifications, the cost-effectiveness ratio of a second deification wasn¡¯t as good as the first, and not all skills were worth the investment.


    The daily increase in Yuan Force spent during a steady period tended to be higher than theseter-ranked skills.


    Moreover, if he was within an enhancement window, any deification would have to wait until after the daily expenditure.


    Unless some unforeseen fortune came his way, allowing him to train without worries in the short term, he wouldn¡¯t consider it...

 Chapter 163 - 147: Show of Strength

    "Hm?"


    Even though Tao Yu¡¯s side had encountered uncontroble demonization on the road and had already lost nearly half of their number,


    they were still arge force of more than thirty people.


    This was quite conspicuous at the temporary gathering ce, as teams that usually entered the Rainforest didn¡¯t have as many members¡ªaround ten was the mostmon size.


    Having too many or too few usually stemmed from other reasons.


    Watching a group of people deliberately hang ropes on the edge of the cliff that was over a dozen meters high and slowly climb down,


    one could tell that the strength of this group seemed quite average.


    Most of them were fully armed members who seemed well-trained, but their overall actions were only on par with the standard of Outsider Pioneers.


    Discover exclusive content at §Þ??


    A few who were closest and having a smoke on the edge of the campsite brightened up at the sight.


    By the looks of it, this seemed to be a mechanized Inner City person leading four or five Outsider Pioneer underlings, immediately taking advantage of the distance to approach them.


    He walked over while smiling and said,


    "There¡¯s quite a crowd here, need some help? Where are you brothers from?"


    His mechanical electronic eye kept locking onto the expressions of the people in front of him.


    When he saw that they all had a look of confusion, obviously unable to understand themonnguage, his eyes lit up even more with ecstasy.


    Natives!


    And so many of them!


    Had they just encountered a new world? Could these be escapees from there?


    Judging by their attire, were theybatants from that world?


    It¡¯s my lucky day to run into such good fortune!


    "Everyone..."


    Roar~


    A roar came from above, causing the Inner City Pioneer to pause briefly, then he looked up to see the Alien Queen standing on the cliff edge, staring at him coldly.


    The cruel look in the Alien Queen¡¯s eyes seemed as if she wanted to split him open.


    Yet, for an Inner City Pioneer, the threat of a single Alien Queen, in terms ofbat power, was mostly not something to fear.


    Especially for those who were mechanically augmented; direct firepower could easily eliminate the target.


    But the presence of the person riding atop the Alien Queen, whose face showed azy expression and a carefree manner as he looked down upon him, gave the Inner City Pioneer a slight pause in his heart.


    Then he greeted with a smile,


    "Brother, you¡¯ve caught an Alien Queen, eh? Nice luck. Are these people from the new world?"


    "Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to help? Didn¡¯t you see someone¡¯s about to fall down? Why don¡¯t you lend a hand?"


    Tao Yu did not answer but just urged them to work.


    This made the Inner City Pioneer halt mid-sentence and instead looked back at his few Outsider underlings, signaling them to go up and help catch the people.


    Afterward, he kept ncing around Tao Yu, seeming to flicker with uncertainty, wanting to see if there were any other people nearby.


    "Stop looking, I am the only Pioneer here,"


    Tao Yu, as if knowing what the other man was thinking, spoke indifferently. He remained on Da Hei¡¯s back at the edge of the cliff, seemingly looking around at something and not really giving the Inner City Pioneer a proper nce.


    I¡¯ve killed too many, no desire to kill again. These self-destructive crazies don¡¯t even offer much loot; their hard bodies blunting des when chopped.


    "Brother, I did lend a hand, so I should share in the spoils..."


    Whoosh~


    Tao Yu leaped from Da Hei¡¯s back andnded directly in front of the Inner City Pioneer from the cliff that was over a dozen meters high.


    "Share what?"


    Tao Yu¡¯s assertive manner left the Inner City Pioneer speechless, suppressing the words in his mouth and forcing a smile to change the topic,


    "Nothing, brother, you seem somewhat unfamiliar."


    "I am just an Outsidermoner, not very good with manners, please forgive me,"


    As Tao Yu spoke, his hand was already resting on the hilt of the de he conveniently took from Da Hei¡¯s back.


    This made the Inner City Pioneer¡¯s heart chill.


    He trulycked manners!


    At the same time, this caused some irritation in his heart; how dare an Outsider...


    "Brother Tao?"


    At that moment, a voice traveled over, and he turned to see Panda¡¯s towering 2.3-meter stature, approaching like a brown bear.


    Qimen, Han Lin, Huang Jian, and Nuosen were also with him.


    "Big Brother Tao, we meet again! When I went back to submit the mission, I ran into Panda, and as we talked, we realized we all knew each other."


    Huang Jian also smiled as he spoke.


    "Big Brother Tao, hello."


    Qimen, who had been somewhat defiant towards Tao Yu, had been humbled ever since witnessing Taff being killed in front of him, now respectfully lowering his eyes.


    "Brother Tao is back, seems like a good harvest. Huang Jian said you guys discovered a new world together. Is this stuff from the new world?"


    Han Lin and Tao Yu were the least acquainted since their only interaction was a previous confrontation with Taff. Yet because of having witnessed Tao Yu¡¯s capability and decisive action, he now spoke with a teasing tone.


    "Suppose so."


    Tao Yu nodded his head. Now that Han Lin had also invested in thepany, without having divided any benefits for himself but was able to bring in profit, it was surely worth acknowledging him.


    "It¡¯s just like Brother Tao. I¡¯ll be heading back for a trip in the next two days. If you need anything, you cane to me."


    "Alright."


    Having five Inner City people calling him "Brother Tao" in unison made the Pioneer across from Tao Yu utterly dumbfounded.


    Damn!


    He¡¯s just a bumpkin from the Outsider, where¡¯s your Inner City pride?!


    "Brother Tao turns out to be an Outsider hero. No wonder I haven¡¯t seen you before, haha, it turns out I¡¯m the one who¡¯s out of the loop."


    Even though his mind cursed, he still had a smile stered on his face.


    Who cares who it is, just follow along and call him that.


    The weakest among these five guys was already on par with himself, and Panda was a somewhat famous skilled worker. His recent Dada Transportation Company endeavor was thriving.


    Seeing that the opponent was admitting defeat straightforwardly, Tao Yu wasn¡¯t some kind of homicidal maniac. In broad daylight like this, it wasn¡¯t possible to really do anything. He simply gave a nce and didn¡¯t pay any more attention to it.


    Instead, he turned back to Panda first.


    "How¡¯s it going? Thepany hasn¡¯t had any issuestely, has it?"


    Panda had previously advanced him the dividends for the second month. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have obtained Innate Time Control so quickly.


    Although he hadn¡¯t encountered any emergencies that required using it, this favor still needed to be acknowledged. He still had a share in thepany, and if there was a situation where he could lend a hand, he definitely would.


    "Hey, what issues could there be? It¡¯s just that the following ie has decreased somewhat. Counting the advance from before, the second month can at most make up ten thousand Yuan Force for you¡­"


    Panda briefed Tao Yu sinctly.


    Now, the number of Pioneers arriving at the base was also increasing.


    Many Pioneers would first traverse mountains and rivers to report to the base and then take advantage of the early benefits to im a dormitory where they could live. Afterwards, they all began to operate with the base as the center.


    This low-threshold moving activity was undoubtedly the mostfortable ie for the ordinary Outsiders.


    A swarm surged into the city, starting to transport all sorts of trash.


    Even if they couldn¡¯t sell it, they could take it back home to make ends meet.


    Chairs, broken ss, cloth hangers, and such ¡ª Tao Yu¡¯s own home windows were still pasted with cardboard.


    It was perfectly normal to take a bag of trash back with him when he was ready to head back.


    Moreover, as the more valuable goods had been mostly swept up, the ie now was like a cliff falling off.


    "Well, there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. It¡¯s already good enough to get a taste of the first soup. What are your ns for the future?"


    Tao Yu had some ns in his mind. With good rtionships with the original residents like Jack, Tommy, and Judy, and now having brought back a group,bined with Panda and the others, they were sufficient to form a makeshift team.


    He hadn¡¯t thought of keeping it all to himself, and didn¡¯t even consider taking the lion¡¯s share, but Tao Yu was looking to earn dividends from the shared stock.


    "Yeah, I have some ns. Since the ie has decreased, we have mainly left the Outsiders to oversee the transportation. There will still be a trickle of ie each month. Then, coincidentally, I met with Huang Jian and the others, and we n to set up two ammunition production lines..."


    Panda¡¯s words made Tao Yu¡¯s eyes light up slightly. Trust a big brother from the Inner City to have quite a few ideas.


    By today¡¯s standards, the caliber of firearms and bullets were inconsistent. Although ammunition was still avable at the moment, they were just sitting and depleting resources.


    But if they could obtain bullet production lines or other types of machining equipment, that would also count as setting up a factory in the new Development Zone.


    A bullet¡¯s consumption was a very tangible and inevitable expenditure. Both the Monster World¡¯s Nan Bang and the Zombie World¡¯s beauties were ces where such production lines could be found.


    It was just that assembling, calibrating, and transporting these required a lot of effort and energy.


    "If there is anything I can help with, just let me know."


    Tao Yu¡¯s face was full of a pleasant smile, quite approachable.


    "Of course! This time we¡¯ll set up a newpany separately, with the transportationpany also under the newpany¡¯s wing. Then for production, we¡¯ll create another subsidiary. With your rtionship with the young master Sun and your strength, Brother Tao, we definitely need to form a strong partnership."


    It¡¯s a win-win situation. Panda was also quite aware of the current situation.


    If it was in the old Development Zone, indeed they wouldn¡¯t need the other party. They could simply rely on their family¡¯s influence.


    In the new Development Zone, he himself was the strongest representative of his family!


    Thinking of Taff who had been killed before, and young master Sun who hade over as a witness, Panda also had his own choices to make.


    It didn¡¯t matter that he was involved or not, this grandee wasn¡¯t greedy for a huge share, and the dividends were currently very fair, with profits for everyone.


    As long as he could stand out at critical moments and have the final say with a single hammer-strike, that would be enough!


    Panda was confident about maintaining things on a day-to-day basis and had also won over a few other decent guys from the Inner City. They were enough to prop up the operation.


    "This time we¡¯re preparing to get goods in the new Development Zone, while Han Lin will head back to arrange some Inner City resources. Brother Tao doesn¡¯t need to do anything extra; if you¡¯re free, just greet young master Sun and give us the green light for starting thepany."


    "Sure."


    Tao Yu certainly wouldn¡¯t object, then something else came to his mind, so he gestured An Zhijie over.


    "Come over here for a sec."


    Once An Zhijie came over, Tao Yu then said to Panda,


    "He¡¯s abat pilot who can fly helicopters. For this trip you¡¯re taking to get things, you can bring him along. See if you can fly a helicopter back directly."


    "Haha, Brother Tao, you really are our lucky star. We had just been worrying about the trouble of transporting goods through the Rainforest."


    Panda¡¯s eyes brightened, and he felt somewhat envious, always feeling like Brother Tao could encounter any good fortune¡­

 Chapter 164: Chapter 148: Transformation

    With mutual interests intertwined, everyone''s conversation flowed more smoothly. Tao Yu briefly discussed the updates in the new world, focusing first on the military strength of Nan Bang.


    Then, he mentioned the skills from this new world update.


    "This ability is quite good. Even without the world''s enhancement, it''s still powerful," Tao Yu said.


    He simply grew a keratinyer on his fingertips, forming ws that scratched a bloody mark on Panda''s tough skin.


    "Can it cover the entire body?"


    Panda felt the effect and was both shocked and pleased. This ability was extremelypatible with alien imntation.


    Although he had already learned from Nuosen that alien imnts would be highly active in that world.


    They were always fighting against rejection, adapting through medication. Treating it as pre-training wasn''t a bad idea after all.


    "Yes, but the skill ''Demonization'' is based on the deepest desires of each person. Moreover, you need to be able to fully suppress it for fifteen days to be considered safe. Otherwise, there''s a risk of losing sanity, and additional Wish-Power will be required to expel it..."


    Tao Yu''s ''Demonization,'' before Deification, was exactly like that. If he didn''t demonstrate the additional functions from Deification, there would hardly be any noticeable difference.


    Moreover, ''Demonization'' varied from person to person. Each individual was different, with no two abilities being entirely the same. Tao Yu also went over the advantages and disadvantages of ''Demonization.''


    "I have a vine here that I can lend you. If it gets too much, use it. But as for the pollution absorbed in the beginning, you''ll have to figure that out yourself."


    Tao Yu handed a vine to Panda, who would have topensate with Wish-Power if he used it. If not, he could simply return it.


    He had advanced Wish-Power many times before. It was a tit-for-tat situation, and Tao Yu could tell that Panda was very tempted by the capabilities of ''Demonization.''


    "Haha, thanks, Brother Tao," Panda said, without any reserve.


    Wasn''t the rtionship about helping each other to get closer? Other than one''s parents, any one-sided effort is unsustainable.


    "It''s no big deal. We should head back andplete the task now," Tao Yu said casually, waving his hand. The remaining vines, along with research data and researchers, were more than enough to submit for the task.


    Had he not collected an extra set of ''Demonization'' skill for Third Brother, he would not have minded selling it to the other party.


    "There are many of us. I''ll arrange transportation for you, Brother Tao."


    "Oh, has this base bought shares as well?"


    "Under thepany''s name. You have a share too, Brother Tao. Heretics had shown up here before. But the location is really good, so everyone decided to buy a stake together here. It''s mainly for convenience. The profit isn''t anything special," Panda exined.


    Tao Yu wasn''t surprised by Panda''s words. The buy-low-sell-high business involved risks, and with many involved, the profit share would indeed be limited.


    But leveraging the convenience of holding shares, tasks like gathering intelligence or collecting specific materials would be much easier.


    Like the current situation with transportation¡ªbeing able to arrange vehicles immediately...


    ...


    A modified bus drove along the highway, its front bumper reinforced with steel bars and windows covered with wire mesh. Continue your adventure with §Þ??


    Onboard were twenty soldiers from the Crow Squad, about a dozen survivors from the Green Family, and four researchers including Dr. Ren, filling up the entire bus.


    A member of the Crow Squad was driving the bus, while Tao Yu sat in the passenger seat giving instructions and practicing the Meditation Technique.


    Little cky resting on the roof, and Da Hei followed the bus, running alongside it.


    On this slow-speed highway, the scene was quite harmonious.


    asionally, a vehicle carrying Pioneers approached from the opposite direction. Many people curiously looked at Da Hei and Little ck on the roof but didn''t take any extra action.


    Beyond this, they overtook Pioneers walking towards the base time and again.


    They seemed to be newly arrived, each one covered in dust.


    Seeing the base again, Tao Yu noticed some changes; more tents had sprung up, and quite a few people were digging water channels, seemingly to expand the drainage system of the base.


    Tao Yu, who had heard the broadcasts on the road, had a somewhat strange look on his face.


    Perhaps due to the increasing number of arrivals, the hygiene at the base had taken a nosedive.


    In fact, Sun Shiqing had be so annoyed that she specifically dered in a broadcast that public defecation was not allowed and even threatened to confiscate the "tools of the crime."


    "I don''t know how effective it will be, but this is originally a military base, so even tens of thousands of people eating, drinking, and relieving themselves shouldn''t cause a problem. It must be some people''s habits..."


    Tao Yu knew that this was not just due to some bad habits of the outer city Pioneers; the survivors from Da Piaoliang weren''t necessarily much better.


    "We can''t let this turn into the same hellish environment as the outer city..."


    As Tao Yu''s bus approached, the presence of the Alien Queen drew the attention of the base guards from afar.


    A Pioneer who had taken up guard duty, escorted by two armed locals, approached tentatively, visibly swallowing hard at the sight of the Alien Queen.


    "Dear Pioneer, can the Alien Queen be leashed?"


    The Pioneer asked nervously as he negotiated.


    Then he took out a sign from behind him with several prominent words on it - nothing profound, just something easy to understand.


    Like banning public defecation,plete with some abstract pictures to illustrate the point.


    One was about keeping aliens on leashes, depicted in paint, with a clear message that the owner would be fully responsible for any bites, regardless of the reason.


    "It''s just aliens written there, not the Alien Queen. Don''t worry; she doesn''t bite people."


    Tao Yu didn''t have a leash on hand at the moment.


    But soon another eagle-eyed Pioneer came over with a leash.


    "Do you want to buy a leash, sir? It''s 10 Yuan Force each, strong and durable, with a recement guarantee if it breaks!"


    What a business, it seemed that many people had already attempted to tame ordinary aliens.


    When Tao Yu first tamed Little ck, he had no Skills at all; he just brute-forced it. Aliens indeed seemed to be quite sensible and tamable species.


    "Give me two."


    Tao Yu didn''t want to haggle over such a small expense. He took the Wish-Power Metal from the other man, infused it with Yuan Force, and tossed it to Little ck and Da Hei to put on themselves.


    Those watching the aliens leash themselves and voluntarily hang the other end on the vehicle''s guard rail also whispered among themselves.


    "Well-trained indeed."


    "These are the most obedient I''ve seen so far; some even have their own muzzles and tie their tails around their bodies."


    "There are still plenty of owners who got bitten by their aliens; it''s not an easy job."


    "The Alien Queen has arrived. I bet there aren''t even two at the farm, must be a big shot..."


    ...


    And so, Tao Yu entered the base smoothly with his entourage, leading the two aliens toward the mission hall.


    First things first,plete the mission!


    Two ''Chosen Ones,'' thetest intelligence, information and researchers on the vine, and samples of the vine itself, each could be traded for a handsome reward.


    The second Deification of [Fist Intent] should be more than enough.


    In addition, there might be unique missions rted to the Alien Queen, to see if she could be persuaded toy eggs here. Tao Yu didn''t need to keep Da Hei with him.


    Although he could indeed be used as a mount, his size was toorge for many ces, and if he could generate a steady ie, Tao Yu was all for making money decisively...

 Chapter 165: Chapter 149: Interests

    Roar~


    Da Hei, showing some impatience, let out a hissing roar, causing both Pioneers and natives nearby to keep their distance.


    Even though Tao Yu was holding two leashes, the Alien Queen still looked too fearsome to approach.


    The slender leashes appeared as if they could barely contain her.


    However, the members of Tao Yu''s team had grown ustomed to Da Hei and Little ck, who usually took on the role of protecting them, and they even found them somewhat endearing.


    "Not every Alien can be trained as well as I train them, mistaking them for others could be fatal."


    Tao Yu cautioned as he walked ahead.


    If some fool encountered another Alien and tried to pet it, they''d likely get bitten in return.


    After returning from a trip, he noticed that the Mission Hall had introduced a few new features.


    With the current situation of the gathering ce, it seemed like there were changes every time he came back.


    Now, there were noticeably more people in the hall, and not just Pioneers; there were also waiters in uniformed dealer outfits assigned exclusively to the ce.


    Next to it was Las Vegas, and Dada Company''s convoy had beening and going for so long that, naturally, they hadplete sets of uniforms.


    Moreover, donning dealer outfits seemed fitting for the Las Vegas natives, considering their local specialties.


    They were probably natives tasked with liaising and exining, to streamline the task system as quickly as possible.


    "Sir, are you here to submit or ept a mission? Do you need any assistance?"


    A female server, who didn''t possess stunning beauty but whose uniform was a plus, carefully approached Tao Yu despite her fear and inquired.


    "Submitting a mission, regarding the Alien Queen, plus some new world discoveries in the rainforest, and also selling some research materials, including a few researchers."


    Tao Yu spoke directly.


    "Ah, this, I''m not quite sure about that. Please wait a moment, I''ll get a manager."


    The server was clearly taken aback and then repeatedly apologized.


    "Go ahead."


    Tao Yu reckoned that those hurriedly trained for their posts probably couldn''t handleplex issues but were likely prepared for the usual types of problems. Your next journey awaits at §Þ??


    The missions in question involved at least hundreds of thousands of Yuan Force, so it was normal for her not to know.


    Tao Yu didn''t have to wait long before a young, handsome man with a fairplexion, no beard, and wearing gold-rimmed sses, exuding a refined air, came out to meet him.


    He was very young, so Tao Yu could reasonably assume the man was a Pioneer. Although there were no signs of alien imntation or mechanical modification on his body, being in such a position likely meant he was an Inner City Pioneer.


    "Good day, sir. My name is Frank. I hear you have some major business to discuss, please follow me to a private room."


    Frank looked at Tao Yu with a warm smile, his words polite.


    "Sure."


    After finishing speaking, Tao Yu turned to the others outside and said,


    "Wait here for a bit. Captain Park, could you please keep an eye on Da Hei and Little ck?"


    "Of course."


    Park Ji-hyun nodded her head.


    Along the way, the once-disorganized team had somewhat fallen into order.


    Tao Yu followed Frank into an office within the Mission Hall. This ce was originally an office in the military barracks and was ready-made.


    It was clear that the inside had been cleaned.


    "Please take a seat. Would you like something to drink?"


    "No, thank you. Let''s get straight to the point. What kind of projects and support does the base have here for research materials and the Alien Queen? What''s the situation like..."


    "First, I would like to hear what you have to offer, Mr. Tao."


    Even though Frank always maintained a polite smile, he did not give in an inch during the negotiation.


    As Tao Yu intended to sell the goods, he naturally outlined in detail the various advantages of the items he possessed, including a glimpse of some Demonization materials to the other party.


    Frank asked pointed questions and gained a thorough understanding.


    "Mr. Tao is a partner, right?"


    Frank suddenly asked, causing Tao Yu to pause.


    "Yes, a junior partner."


    "Heh, choosing to be a partner with Grade A talent, Mr. Tao, you have quite the vision."


    Frank seemed to ponder something.


    "You could say that."


    Tao Yu frowned slightly because he had begun to sense a trace of malice emanating from the ever-smiling Frank.


    The malice was not intense, certainly not indicating an intention to kill or attack himself, but it was definitely there.


    "Well, Mr. Tao''s belongings are quite valuable. If we can get the Alien Queen to build an incubator to startying eggs, plus all the researchers and data samples, I can offer a hundred thousand as a starting point, to make friends,"


    Frank said with a beaming smile as he made his offer to Tao Yu.


    Tao Yu raised his eyebrows in response.


    "You''re making the offer? Isn''t it thepany''s purchase?"


    "Heh, I think these items are very valuable. The Alien Queen could be a continual source, and if a vine could be researched, themercial prospects would be bright, so consider it my personal business,"


    Frank said as he adjusted his sses, emphasizing the words ''personal business.''


    "However, the cost is too high for me to pay all at once, so I can only offer a preliminary fifty thousand. I''ll write you a note for the rest, and you can collect the remaining fifty thousand from my family after you get back,"


    Frank said casually.


    "I don''t mind personal business either, but it''s not just about making up my mission points. The earnings from two ''Chosen One'' missions alone are worth more than a hundred thousand. Frank, my guy, you''re not showing much sincerity here."


    Tao Yu didn''t tear into him but still wore a smile on his face.


    "It seems Mr. Tao has some misunderstandings,"


    Frank took off his gold-rimmed sses, wiped them, and looked at Tao Yu with a half-smile.


    "I address you as Mr. Tao because that''s a professional courtesy, due to the esteem in which the young master of the Suns holds you, and I don''t wish to let down his trust, but you..."


    As he spoke, his expression also turned stern.


    "Should address me as your lord!"


    While dering this, he also released a formidable presence, which made Tao Yu press his temples as a sign of irritation.


    "Is it because I chose a partner?"


    "The gap between the Inner City and the Outer City is like heaven and earth. You reap benefitsmensurate with your strength. Isn''t a hundred thousand Yuan Force enough to satiate you? Greed will get you killed."


    Frank''s tone grew progressively colder.


    "I don''t like your attitude. Now it''s only fifty thousand. Take it and leave. And who knows, maybe I''ll be able to do you a favor in the future."


    Frank brought out a Yuan Force maic card and started injecting Yuan Force into it before pushing it across the table towards Tao Yu.


    This generosity stunned Tao Yu, and his gaze softened considerably as he looked up at Frank.


    Then he quickly grabbed the card and began absorbing the Yuan Force within it.


    Seeing Tao Yu take the card and start absorbing the Yuan Force, Frank''s face also revealed a hint of a smile,


    "Excellent, the deal is done. A wise man adapts to circumstances¡ªI have high hopes for you."


    Then he saw Tao Yu, who had finished absorbing all the Yuan Force, quietly slipping the card into his pocket.


    "Trying to fool me with an empty maic card; you''re being insincere. Holding such a key position but wanting to line your own pockets - I''m going to press you to see thedy. Don''t resist, or it might get you killed..."


    As Tao Yu said this, he pressed the y button on his watch, bringing up the earlier conversation between the two of them.


    This left Frank looking astonished before he burst into a rage,


    "Kid, do you realize what you''re saying?! Do you know what I represent?!"


    "I don''t care who''s behind you..."


    Tao Yu raised an eyebrow. You im to be from the Inner City¡ªhow does thatpare to thedy?


    "How dare you!"


    Frank was fuming, and as he got to his feet, he reached out to grab Tao Yu''s wrist.


    He hadn''t anticipated an Outer City bumpkin daring to defy his authority!


    Wasn''t the partner selected out of fear supposed to be timid?


    This is not what being timid looks like.


    Tao Yu, sensing the hand reaching for him, showed a hint of surprise in his eyes,


    "Yuan Force?"


    He then twisted his wrist and counterattacked towards the approaching w,


    "I can do that too..."


    Seeing Tao Yu fight back, a cruel smile crept on Frank''s lips. Someone from the Outer City...


    Bang~Crack~


    The sound of snapping bones resounded as Frank''s fingers, shaped like ws, twisted grotesquely in an instant. Then the wrist, elbow, arm, shoulder!


    Bang!


    The devastating force pulverized all the bones in its path.


    The brutal force ejected fragments of bone from Frank''s shoulder, spraying out.


    They embedded into the wall behind him like bullets, surrounded by countless droplets of blood¡­

 Chapter 166: Chapter 150 Deification Fist Intention

    "Power... how is this possible! It hasn''t been that long!"


    Frank clutched his severed arm, his face as pale as death, as hey on the ground watching Tao Yu sending voice messages, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.


    He had not chosen the path of mechanical augmentation, nor had he chosen to imnt foreign entities.


    His initial power was naturally lower than those who had taken shortcuts.


    That''s why he had to use his family influence to secure a clerical job.


    Even within the base, some inner city pioneers were needed to maintain order, after all, not everything could be left to the two adults in charge.


    Originally, he thought this was a windfall¡ªan outsider too timid to cause trouble, grateful for just a hundred thousand!


    How could they resist, how dare they resist!


    Most importantly, how could the other party unleash such a powerful force?!


    Since birth, he had been soaking in medicinal baths, standing post at six, setting bones at eight, and after decades of foundational training, along with the eleration through Yuan Force these past few months, he attained his current power.


    Yet, with a single strike, the other party shattered all his pride!


    An adventure! The other party must have had an adventure!


    A mix of jealousy, resentment, and greed spread from the depths of his heart, and looking over at that fellow who was continuously talking to his wristwatch, Frank, enduring the searing pain, gasped for breath and said,


    "You are strong, but after all, you are just a novice from the outer city. An adventure might give you some improvement, butpared to my family¡­"


    "Your family was involved, too?"


    A cool voice came from the doorway as Sun Shiyu''s slender figure entered, leaving Frank looking as if he had been choked by a duck, his face full of shock.


    How is that possible!


    How could Miss Sune here directly?!


    He knew that the Suns actually disliked these trifles, that''s why he had the guts to intercept.


    Even if he got discovered while taking advantage, he wouldn''t be severely punished.


    People of the Floating City relied on inner city folks for help, there were always some under-the-table benefits to share.


    But why had Miss Sune now?


    Thinking of what Tao Yu was saying into his watch, Frank had an incredulous look on his face.


    This kid could contact Miss Sun directly? Reach her immediately?!


    So this was his adventure!


    What the hell, what about our partnership? Isn''t this just screwing me over, Temor?!


    And those bastards in the base! Tight-lipped like what, sealed with cement?


    I''ve even treated you to meals! Why didn''t anyone tell me?


    Damn it all!


    At meals, you all call each other "brother," who the hell is your brother?


    Overwhelmed with regret, Frank quickly endured the agony and said,


    "It''s a misunderstanding, Miss Sun, let me exin, it''s all a misunderstanding..."


    Before he could finish, he was already floating in the air. Sun Shiyu slightly spread her palm,


    "I hate those who y both sides."


    Then she clenched her palm, and in an instant, Frank in mid-air was twisted into a pretzel. Except for his head still intact, his body looked like a wrung-out towel, his corpse''s face frozen in terror.


    Even Tao Yu who was beside couldn''t help but swallow his saliva; that was too brutal, but so satisfying...


    "Remember to be more decisive in the future. Who knows if there will be any tricks left, it would be a mess if you flip the car," Sun Shiyu said with a casual nce back at Tao Yu.


    She then paused and continued,


    "His family still holds some sway, I can''t just do away with them recklessly. I''ll take care of the rest. You leave discreetly from somewhere else, don''t bother with this anymore."


    Executions? Damn, Miss Sun, you''re too extreme! What are you even thinking about!


    Tao Yu wanted to say something more but caught sight of Sun Shiyu holding three Yuan Force cards fanned out like ying cards.


    "Here is three hundred thousand, consider it your reward for these missions. We won''t log the missions, and you cane directly to me if you have more in the future."


    "Okay..."


    Seeing Sun Shiyu fan the cards, Tao Yu''s heart pounded furiously. This is bad...


    ...


    "After selling Da Hei, I scraped together this money; you better not disappoint me..."


    Using Stealth, Tao Yu slipped out of the mission hall, looking at his significant Yuan Force savings, also heaving a deep sigh.


    Although he could already improve those fundamental skills ¨C Meditation Technique, Myriad Streams Breathing Method, and Five Forms as One ¨C with this budget, Tao Yu unhesitatingly set his sights on Fist Intent!


    The effects of innate talents and skills are distinctly different. Even though they can''t bring immediatebat efficacy, the results are clearly more outstanding.


    Deification!


    With a massive injection of Yuan Force, Tao Yu''s eyes once again filled with a sense of dislocation.


    It wasn''t just Fist Intent; Tao Yu also felt that Meditation Technique, Demonization, and Shadow Maniption ¨C these three skills seemed to have some subtle synergistic changes.


    ```


    [Fist Intention??] (MAX): Will can now initially interfere with the physical world, integrating into attacks with a will that persists in eroding the target''s spirit, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of both physical and mental skill training...


    ```


    Tao Yu felt the new changes in this ability and a strange expression surfaced at the bottom of his heart.


    Interference with the physical world?


    "It''s not an interference like telekinesis..."


    Tao Yu recalled the scene where Sun Shiyu sent Sun Shiqing flying, and thought back to how he had twisted Frank into a pretzel.


    His own Fist Intention didn''t seem to work that way...


    He flicked a button, which only fluttered in front of his eyes for a moment before falling.


    This was achieved purely through the refinement of thoughts by [Meditation Technique], barely lifting anything¡ªthe will from [Fist Intention] simply passed right through it.


    But...


    Crack~


    The button that fell to the ground, despite not having hit with much force, directly shattered into pieces!


    He approached the windowsill of the dormitory, where there was a cactus Jack had been cultivating, green and lush. Tao Yu slowly exhaled and then extended his finger to gently press towards the cactus.


    The spot he touched on the green cactus instantly showed signs of withering!


    "Let''s try again..."


    Looking around, Tao Yu saw Jack''s single bed, a metal one, and then squatted down to grasp the leg of the bed.


    Without using brute strength, he purely incited Fist Intention through Basic Combat and suddenly burst forth!


    It seemed as if a gust of wind had appeared in the air, as if the roar of a tiger had sounded. As Tao Yu removed his hand, he noticed spots of rust where he had held it.


    Although not very noticeable, it was ring inparison to the other areas!


    This, then, is the interference of will with the physical world!


    "Is it not physical movement, but directly ''killing'' and ''grinding''?"


    This reminded Tao Yu of the special infected body he had once worn down with his Fist Intention¡ªit had taken him fifteen minutes back then, but now, with the overwhelming will, his captured targets could bepletely ground to dust in just a minute!


    This had a very targeted effect against enemies with extremely resilient physical bodies.


    Some ''undying'' traits would turn into dead men before him!


    "Moreover, since my talent has changed, some abilities rted to the spirit have also mutated..."


    Tao Yu felt that [Meditation Technique] had begun to align with his Fist Intention, and his mental power had also be more ''brutal'' and ''aggressive''. This would make the mental attacks attached to bullets even stronger!


    Besides, [Shadow Maniption] was somewhat simr¡ªthe power of shadows could now alsobine with will to attack.


    As for [Demonization]...


    Looking at the dragon w emitting ck, distorted smoke, Tao Yu could feel that every move he made after Demonization seemed to be mixed with the impact of post-Demonization will.


    "[Demonization] is originally based on one''s inner self, so it seems normal that it would change; considering the current practical effect, this is actually more useful than [Innate Time Control]."


    Tao Yu was quite satisfied in his heart.


    [Innate Time Control] was powerful, involving time, and under extreme conditions could greatly increase his own strength, especially if Yuan Force was continuously restored.


    Anyone who couldn''t block his attack would die.


    But in reality, he rarely needed [Innate Time Control]¡ªthe level of Bullet Time was usually enough.


    On the other hand, the second Deification of Fist Intention was more down-to-earth.


    Less exaggerated than [Innate Time Control] at the limit, but almost usable in any fight.


    "One is a constant, the other is a limit; a perfect pairing."


    Feeling the remaining Yuan Force within him, Tao Yu turned his gaze back to Stealth.


    He had two versions of Stealth, one costing sixty thousand and the other ny thousand. Functionally, the ny thousand one was stronger, but that was only in quantity. Considering the daily expenditure and for emergencies, Tao Yu chose the Python version first.


    A cold sensation suddenly spread over his entire body, and his own shadow instantly enveloped him, and then he disappeared within the room the next instant.


    When he reappeared, he was already several meters away in the shadows!


    "It certainly did not disappoint me..."


    [Stealth¡¤Mark II]: Can enter into shadows for elerated movement, short distance shuttling where shadows connect and can additionally absorb the scattered Shadow Force.


    Apart from the strengthened original ability, two very practical new skills have been added, the short distance shuttle where the shadows connect which can be seen as a neutered version of small range teleportation.


    Plus, the extra absorption of scattered Shadow Force alsoplements the origin of the Shadow Force''s weak point.


    Being able to elerate the filling of Shadow Force stored in the shadows, while not increasing burst potential, can be seen as adding to the endurance which had always been his weakness.


    "Barely considered to haveid a good foundation now..."


    Thinking back to how he had disabled an Inner City Pioneer of the same period with just a punch of pure physical strength, Tao Yu finally took a slow breath of relief.


    Continuing to wander around nearby would likely bring limited benefits, so he needed to find a way to check out other ces.


    "Still need a new world, preferably one I''m more familiar with, but the price of the ''Chosen One'' is probably getting less and less..."


    Tao Yu felt the remaining Yuan Force he had, which was still substantial, but he also needed to sustain the daily consumption.


    As his strength grew stronger and stronger, so too did the eleration of the consumption of Yuan Force.


    "It''s been over two months, time to go back once, being too conspicuous isn''t good, just right to sort out Big Brother''s leg..."


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 167: Chapter 151 Return

    "Chief Steward, I''ve brought the people to you, let them get familiarized first, I''ll go back and rest for a few days."


    Tao Yu had brought the twenty members of the Crow Squad, as well as several folks from the Green Home Apartment, over to Jack to help look after them.


    As the representative of the base''s original inhabitants and the major-domo in charge of daily affairs, Jack, even if busy to the point of not touching the ground, still agreed to Tao Yu''s request.


    "Alright, just so happens I''m short on trustworthy folks, I''ll borrow them for a few days."


    Those from theb had already been handed in as tasks along with the data and vines, and Da Hei had been locked up in the Alien farm.


    Now only the members of the Crow Squad and those from Green Home needed to be settled in.


    Once they gradually became ustomed, and after Panda and the others managed to get some machine tools, they could also join in on thepany''s affairs.


    Now that he barely had enough resources for self-preservation, Tao Yu had already started thinking about traveling afar.


    With reliable friends here to help look after things, when he was back in the real world, he could remotely keep track of things, and the gains and tasks could be directly brought back to the real world forpletion, as the basics were already sufficient.


    "Let''s leave Cao Shaolin and Little ck here for now. With Wino following in the shadows, that''s enough for now. Keep Little ck in Jack''s room, let him take some time to feed it, and first give Cao Shaolin a temporary authority to keep Little ck in check..."


    ...


    After more than two months, he had returned.


    Looking at the familiar room in front of him, Tao Yu also felt a tickle at the tip of his nose.


    "Show them my money-making speed, and maybe spruce it up..., forget it, it would probably suffice just to find a ce in the Inner City, I''ll see about itter."


    Tao Yu originally thought about renovating the home.


    But considering the earth-shattering change in his strength over the past four-plus months and his steadily rising status,


    He felt that he should instead use all the remaining Yuan Force for strength training eleration, as even the pure strength that he could openly disy would be enough to establish a foothold in the Inner City.


    "That Frank was quite full of himself, but his power was much less than our gym leader''s brother. Compared to mechanical augmentation and alien imntation, his strength is clearly a notch lower."


    Tao Yu pondered in his heart that not everyone in the Inner City had the wealth of the likes of Joseph and Wino. There were lower rungs in the Inner City too.


    And the strength he could show openly in the Inner City was, by now, not at the bottom level.


    "Better take it slow for now, digest this first, then see how things go next time Ie back."


    Aside from the hundreds of Demonization materials in his backpack, he had casually brought some daily necessities home, including some cigars for Uncle Hu.


    The materials gathered locally in Las Vegas didn''t require any extra spending; this was also a habit among the Pioneers.


    But just as Tao Yu was getting ready to leave the house, he happened to hear some voices from the living room, it was his father''s voice, sounding a bit anxious.


    "Tiger, why hasn''t the seventh sone back yet, it''s been over two months, it''s too long."


    "Over two months is indeed a bit long. But the boy has improved so fast in strength, didn''t he arrange toe back and let you know he was okay not too long ago? I don''t see much trouble in it."


    It was Uncle Tiger''s voice.


    Tao Yu had actually nned based on the gym leader''s assessment of Wino, saying that Wino''s strength couldst at least two to three months, and he even specifically arranged a task toe back and report that all was well.


    But his own family''s understanding was limited; they were still filled with concern.


    In contrast, Uncle Tiger''s voice was markedly steady. Uncle Tiger himself should also be able tost more than two months.


    "Dad, Uncle Tiger, stop discussing, I''m back."


    Tao Yu, carrying his stuff, pushed open the door.


    He saw his parents, his third brother and sister-inw, his younger brother, and Uncle Tiger all there.


    The assorted motley stools were all taken, with some sitting and others standing.


    Anxiety was clear on his parents'' faces, while his third brother and younger brother were also somewhat worried.


    But at the sight of Tao Yu, their expressions turned to surprised joy, as though a heavy burden had been lifted from their hearts.


    "Goodd, your rate of strength improvement really is beyond what I expected."


    Uncle Tiger, looking at an even more robust Tao Yu, now possessing a robust and handsome seriousness, with a conspicuous long knife hanging at his waist, stood up with a trace of emotion on his face.


    When he knew that Tao Yu had Grade Abat talent, he thought that if the kid grew up, his future achievements would not be low.


    With a bit of effort, and within his lifetime, he might even enter the Inner City, make a good ce for himself there, and bring his whole family in too.


    The chance encounter with the new Development Zone did make it understandable why his strength improved so rapidly.


    But he hadn''t expected that in just four months!


    He could now easilyst over two months, that was too fast!


    Tao Hu could do it himself, but he wouldn''t take that risk.


    So seeing Tao Yu with his bags, Uncle Tiger still offered a word of caution,


    "I know your strength has increased quickly, but don''t take such risks next time. This umtion is not just about strength, sometimes it can vary from person to person and even be affected by poor condition."


    "Thanks for the advice, Uncle Tiger, I will be careful."


    Tao Yu could distinguish between what mattered; he wouldn''t brazenly rebut with how strong he was when someone offered him advice with the best of intentions.


    While he was saying this, Tao Yu also took out the cigars he had intended to give Uncle Tiger,


    "Here, this is the gift I brought back for you, Uncle Tiger."


    Uncle Tiger didn''t stand on ceremony, reaching out with his Mechanical Arm and took them nonchntly. He took one out, sniffed it close to his nose, then his eyes lit up slightly,


    "Not bad, pretty strong. But remember what I told you before, ''Joy'' doesn''t look like good stuff, don''t mess with it."


    Before, Tao Yu''s family didn''t need to worry about this, because they had no money.


    But after he had Tao Yu, Uncle Hu still shared some of his experiences.


    The security team had dealt with many cases and seen all kinds of people. Even though "happiness" was now openly sold, they could see things more clearly than the average person through various examples.


    "Thank you, Uncle Hu. I''m pretty averse to that stuff. It turns people into something neither human nor ghost."


    "Right, knowing that is good. Since you''re back, I''ll be heading out; I''ve got some things to take care of."


    Uncle Hu nodded.


    The Tao Yu family all went out to see off Uncle Hu. Tao Yu also watched him ride away on the motorcycle he had given him, his short legs pumping like pistons, as he zoomed off with a buzz.


    No idea how he manages to park it, though.


    "It''s good to have you back, really good. Honestly, it doesn''t matter if your strength improves slowly. It''s cheaper that way, and there''s no need to push yourself so hard."


    Tao Long felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart; in his eyes, the faster you elerate, the less cost-effective it bes. Once the initial danger period was over, there wasn''t such an urgent need.


    After all, he was in a gathering ce now, he might as well take it easy; there was no need to take unnecessary risks.


    "Don''t worry, I''m very careful. Mainly, I''m just doing some transport business with friends. And you know what, the new Development Zone is quite profitable."


    Tao Yu casually let slip some information.


    His parents worked diligently, and their daily Yuan Force ie was equivalent to the price of a single Alien tethering rope in the Development Zone.


    Of course, this was also because, in the beginning, some people found an opportunity and caught the trend. As more and more Aliens were tamed, this business was bound to getpetitive. With such a low threshold, it was all about speed ¨C being first to the feast andst to the famine.


    "Doing business is good, transport is safe," Tao Long remarked, though he didn''t quite understand but piecing together what he knew of the old gathering ce, he still thought it was feasible. After hesitating for a moment, he added cautiously,


    "But be careful; if the profits get too big, it''s better to let some go. You can only eat as much as you can digest; otherwise, it will bring trouble."


    Tao Long''s advice was derived from decades of experience and the cautious instinct of an Outsider.


    And Tao Yu took it to heart. After all, there had been several Inner City Pioneers who had died by their own hands, and even more from the outside.


    "Don''t worry, I know my limits. Plus, I''m on very good terms with both the miss and the young master of the Suns."


    Tao Yu took the opportunity to rify his connections ¨C it would be best if this news spread gradually.


    It might just reduce his troubles.


    There was a vast difference and much less hassle stopping a thought in the inception than after someone had acted upon it. Having had different experiences, Tao Yu knew this well.


    However, it was undeniable that sometimes the extra windfalls were quite substantial.


    Thinking of the Yuan Force that Frank had contributed, Tao Yu felt some satisfaction. If all the trouble were like this, he certainly wouldn''t mind it urring more often.


    It''s just unfortunate that oftentimes, they were self-destructive maniacs who not only didn''t give any Yuan Force but also left no equipment behind.


    Hacking at them was a waste of a good de.


    "The Suns, influential people... sss..."


    Tao Long gasped in surprise, never having expected his son to gain such favor.


    For someone who had spent decades in the Outer City, he had no idea how to handle it.


    He was both shocked and delighted, but soon managed topose himself.


    "It''s easier to meet Yama than to deal with his underlings. They are not the ones handling specific tasks, and at best, they only look upon you favorably ¨C that''s still different."


    Tao Yu rolled his eyes at his father''s suddenly eloquent words, throwing back at him the same kind of talk he used on his son,


    "Why are you speaking so fancily all of a sudden? Where did you learn that from?"


    "You little rascal..."


    Before Tao Long could be annoyed, Tao Yu hurriedly took out his backpack and said,


    "Here, these are the things I brought for Third Brother. Along with this vine, he should be able to slowly recover the use of his legs."


    Upon hearing this, the room fell silent, and everyone was dumbfounded.


    Something that could regenerate lost limbs? He''d managed to get it in just four months?


    Wasn''t this speed a bit too incredible?!


    It was only Tao Shi''s youthful curiosity that couldn''t hold back, breaking the silence as he asked,


    "Bro, can this stuff really regenerate limbs? It must be expensive, right?"


    Tao Shi, who often hung around the Chaoyang Society, had a bit of a discerning eye.


    For Outsiders, limb regeneration was almost an unsolvable issue!


    Whether it was mechanical arms or something that could regenerate limbs, neither was affordable for Outsiders.


    In the past, with Tao Hu''s Grade A talent, there was indeed a possibility of this ¨C they believed that once Tao Yu grew up, there might be a chance to solve this problem.


    But that was for when he grew up!


    At least it would take a decade, right?


    Tao Tong didn''t dare to harbor any hope so as not to pressure Tao Yu. The current priority was to let Tao Yu grow up.


    But what was this current situation?


    It had been just over four months, and he''d already managed to obtain such incredible items?!


    "Hey, it''s a specialty product of the new Development Zone. But it has some serious side effects. It started with over a hundred fragments; each one is heavily contaminated. Just absorbing them would take Third Brother at least a month. After waiting so long, we can''t rush it now..."

 Chapter 168: Chapter 152 Family

    ```


    "Little Seven, have you gotten yourself into some trouble, there are some deals you just can''t do."


    Tao Long said to Tao Yu with a hint of trepidation, the wrinkles on his face all squeezing together.


    In his limited understanding, getting so much money must mean risking one''s life!


    And even risking one''s life wasn''t enough!


    At least, apart from Little Seven who had Grade A talent, the entire familybined wouldn''t suffice.


    To put it bluntly, they weren''t worthy of such ie even if they risked their lives!


    Little Seven had Grade A talent, and if he were to sign his life away to some major power, there might be a glimmer of hope.


    "Hey, you justck experience, don''t you? I''m riding on the coattails of the two Masters from the Suns, even the slightest windfall from them can bring infinite benefits."


    Tao Yu imitated the expression Joseph had once worn as he mockingly gestured towards the Floating City in the sky.


    It couldn''t be helped, his family''s knowledge was too limited, bringing out his powerful patrons'' identity seemed the only way to stop their worries, as there didn''t seem to be any other method!


    If he didn''t brag a little, he estimated that even if he gave them some pocket money, they would be reluctant to spend it, saving it all instead.


    "Hiss~, do those noble people really value you so much?"


    Tao Long was shocked, his face failing to hide his astonishment.


    "Yes, do you know about the legendary ''Child of Destiny'' from the Abyss?"


    Tao Yu exined bluntly.


    ''Child of Destiny,'' Tao Yu had heard some stories and legends about it, mainly from his parents.


    They all nodded, indicating they knew.


    "This ''Child of Destiny'' has another name, called ''Chosen One''. When they stay at the base, they can reduce the probability of the base falling into the chaos of the Abyss, so they are quite valuable in the early stages, and I found one for the base."


    This was something that could be discussed openly, so he could say it candidly to his family members.


    However, seeing their somewhat nk expressions, they still didn''t grasp what this meant, Tao Yu pondered for a moment before adding,


    "You can think of it as each one granting a reward of one hundred thousand Yuan Force."


    The actual price was not calcted like that, but it did not prevent Tao Yu from saying so, as it made it easier for his family to ept and understand.


    At these words, Tao Long almost lost his bnce and nearly fell. He steadied himself against the doorframe for a long while before quickly darting out the door, cautiously looking left and right, and thening back to bolt the door.


    "You can''t talk about this outside, it could get someone killed."


    Tao Long warned gravely.


    Generally, Pioneers killing each other don''t lead to loss of Yuan Force, and robberies are quite rare.


    Unless there is some equipment or goods involved.


    But if someone has too much Yuan Force on them, there could be jealous people or desperate ouws willing to take a chance.


    What if they can''t withstand torture and spill everything?


    In the Outer City, one hundred thousand Yuan Force? Even ten thousand is enough to wipe out a family several times over!


    "Is it because you don''t believe me?"


    "We believe, we believe,"


    the family members all nodded rapidly like pecking chickens, their cautiousness bringing a slight smile to Tao Yu''s face.


    It''s good to be cautious; although they might miss some opportunities, safety is paramount¡­


    ¡­


    After discussing the details and matters of attention for absorbing the [Demonization] Skill with his third brother, fearing his sister-inw couldn''t handle it, Tao Yu also instructed Tao Shi to stay at home to oversee his third brother''s absorption process for the month. A maximum of three per day, and if anything felt off, he would have to stop absorbing.


    "You can begin the vine injection after starting absorption, just in case. What''s infused into one''s own body is the safest."


    "I understand, don''t worry, we''ve waited so many years, we won''t mind a bit more time."


    A smile appeared on Tao Tong''s face.


    The years of repression finally seemed hopeful, making him feel as if he was dreaming.


    Initially, he was fully aware of what losing a limb meant in the Outer City and had resigned himself to fate.


    It wasn''t until his younger brother revealed his Grade A talent that he nurtured a faint hope, yet even that hope would have meant waiting another ten or even twenty years.


    ```


    After all, it was essential not to impede my younger brother''s own progress; priorities must be kept clear.


    But who would have thought that in just a few months, such a surprise coulde so unexpectedly...


    ...


    Leaving two thousand Yuan Force with the third brother for family expenses went quite smoothly this time, without any further refusal.


    The whole family was immersed in an atmosphere of joy and happiness.


    Mother Hong Xia toiled in the kitchen and brought out a marinated pig head, a te of smoked ham, and a bowl of steamed cured meat.


    Threerge meat dishes, coupled with some eggs and tofu, made for a truly sumptuous feast.


    But today, everyone ate without a trace of reluctance or stinginess, wholly soaking in the joy and delight.


    Our father, who seldom drank as a sentry, even took out a cherished jar of yellow wine.


    The alcohol content wasn''t high, and the vor was quite ordinary, but it was enjoyed to the fullest.


    Tao Yu felt the ambiance of the gathering and likewise harbored indescribable emotions within his heart.


    This is what family is...


    "Old Seven, from now on you will be the backbone of our family. You have ideas, and we won''t rush or decide for you, but you still need to find a way to pass down your exceptional talent soon," Tao Long said, his face flushing a bit as he alluded indirectly.


    "Yes, I''ve been worn out by all the matchmakersingtely, I actually saw a few decent prospects..." Hong Xia was much more direct, as older women often enjoy this kind of topic.


    "You don''t have to worry about that, if I''m going to choose someone, it would at least be from the Inner City, I''ll refuse anyone from the Outer City," said Tao Yu, not outright opposing the idea but rather expressing his own ambitions.


    "It''s good to have aspirations, but actually, that''s not an issue. There are plenty who would like to take advantage of good talent..." Hong Xia continued to speak, but before she could finish, Tao Long interrupted her.


    "Enough, what vision do we possess? It''s not evenparable to that of Seven''s experiences these past few months. Let him make his own judgements," he said.


    Tao Yu also felt a chill deep down, was she about to say something incredibly crude just now?


    However, it seems like that would be normal, not just in the Outer City but even within the Inner City...


    ...


    Because the Development Zone now had a terminal, Tao Yu hadpleted all the tasks he could and for those he couldn''t, Sun Shiyu had already provided Yuan Force for direct subsidies, so there was no further need to visit the task hall.


    But with the cost-effective Qi Replenishing Pills and the avability of Qi-tonic Soup, Tao Yu still went to the Wan Liu Dojo for his daily training...


    "Master Tao."


    "Good day, Uncle Master."


    "Master Tao..."


    "..."


    Compared to before, Tao Yu''s presence in the Wan Liu Dojo waspletely different now, and everyone who knew him would greet him proactively.


    For those learning at the dojo, two months wasn''t considered a long time, especially not for the difficulty level of these skill sets.


    Tao Yu even spotted a few people who had first entered the dojo with him still engaged in group practice with therger group, apparently not having finished yet.


    But for Tao Yu, these times had seen earth-shaking transformations!


    His initial Deification upon returning, followed by the secondary Deification of two talents after four months!


    "Thoughpared to the expenses that will follow, it seems to be a long process of umtion." Tao Yu sighed slightly.


    His journey in the Abyss could be described as smooth sailing throughout.


    The fractured Heart of the World, the Chosen One, vine information and samples, the wealth secured from these pioneering conquests of the new world, added to the hage tasks during the initial clearance of the Development Zone, had earned him a hefty first pot of gold.


    What he needed next, apart from the daily umtion of experience, were new matching skills and another round of Deification, both exigent of significantly more Yuan Force.


    "Continuing to stay nearby, I can''t even guarantee the same rate of earning as before..." Tao Yu thought, as he arrived at the practice fields behind the cafeteria where he often trained, beginning today''s exercise regimen...

 Chapter 169 : 153 Accident

    "Junior Brother, have you already manifested your Yuan Force?"


    Liu Yi looked at Tao Yu''s rhythmically smooth practice, his eyes filled with surprise.


    Too fast!


    This effortless, natural feel, at least lv5!


    "Brother, as you know, I''ve been quite lucky and caught the attention of some big shot in the Floating City."


    Tao Yu continued to practice without pausing, smiling as he spoke to Liu Yi.


    He emphasized his connection with the influential figure again.


    Even if news traveled slowly in the Outer City, as long as he took any opportunity to mention it, the information would eventually spread, at least within a small circle.


    There was no need to spell it out, the other party would imagine that his progress was due to the recognition from a person of high status.


    "That''s because you have the abilities and talents to be recognized. Otherwise, why would they not recognize someone else? Impressive indeed."


    As Tao Yu finished his round of practice, he was ready to pause and chat with Liu Yi, seeking some advice.


    "Brother, you''ve seen and known much. I''d like to ask about the requirements for settling down in the Inner City if one wishes to do so."


    Indeed, his home was both dpidated and ancient, and the mosaicdenndscape and smells of the Outer City were somewhat overwhelming. He wasn''t nning to move in immediately, but it was always good to learn more about it.


    Liu Yi, the senior brother, was eligible to enter the Inner City but hadn''t done so; therefore, he certainly knew about such matters.


    Upon hearing Tao Yu''s question, a smile appeared on Liu Yi''s face.


    "Come, let''s talk over some tea."


    He then led Tao Yu towards his own little hut.


    Liu Yi was more than happy to share this information with Tao Yu!


    In some respects, Tao Yu had be a potentialpetitor to him.


    A Grade A talent, appreciated by high-ranking people, and making quick progress¡ªif he were to open a martial arts school in the Outer City, the simrity would be too great.


    Even without opening a martial arts school, as long as Tao Yu kept mingling in the Outer City, he would inevitably carve out a niche for himself with his strength and ambition.


    The same-sized cake for everyone else at his level would be reduced, leading to fiercerpetition.


    Desiring to move to the Inner City was a good thing!


    "Junior Brother is primarily focused on the Abyss, unlike someonezy like me."


    Liu Yi began byplimenting Tao Yu, whose main source of ie was from his martial arts school, which is why he could not possibly move to the Inner City.


    However, his status was clear, and he was well informed about certain channels.


    "Entering the Inner City is both simple and difficult. Essentially, it boils down to two issues."


    As he spoke, Liu Yi also raised his fingers.


    "One, the qualifications and identity for the Inner City, for example, you, Junior Brother, as a partner¡ªif you reach the status of a mid-level partner, you can gain eligibility for the Inner City, and being a mid-level partner in the Inner City is a reasonably respectable status. You could already bring your family in with you."


    Liu Yi seemed to know about Tao Yu''s family situation, which made Tao Yu nod in agreement.


    "Secondly, the cost of living in the Inner City naturallyes into y. You can''t just build houses there willy-nilly. You either rent or buy. As for the price, well, the cheapest single rooms cost at least a thousand a month. Some Outsiders who have obtained temporary work permits opt for shared bunks, which are somewhat cheaper¡­"


    Hearing Liu Yi''s words, Tao Yu had a clearer picture in mind.


    In fact, he had some understanding before, because his sister, who had already married and left home, worked as a garbage cleaner in the Inner City, getting up early to queue for entry and returning before night to rest.


    His brother-inw seemed to be a plumbing repairman in the Inner City and asionally stayed overnight. Both of them had standard work permits for the Inner City.


    Work permits also seemed to be graded. For example, his sister couldn''t stay overnight and had to enter in the morning and leave in the evening, while her husband could rent temporary bunks. However, unless necessary, they would not opt to stay overnight in the Inner City, as the cost was too high.


    Ie-wise, they earned a bit more than their parents¡ªprobably between five or six hundred Yuan Force a month together.


    But because there were only five days each month to explore the Abyss, there were rarely any subsidies for living essentials.


    Even if a meal was provided at work, the other expenses weren''t small, and as a result, it was hard to save any money.


    "Moreover, settling in the Inner Cityes with some additional monthly costs like garbage disposal; that''s 110 per person per month. If your residence includes utilities like gas, water, and electricity, those are also a cost. Sometimes there are local taxes in different districts of the Inner City, like the singles tax..."


    Liu Yi smiled at Tao Yu,


    "What do you think, Junior Brother? Do you have any thoughts about starting a family? I could introduce you to a couple of people. It''s okay if you don''t want to settle down, young man. It''s okay to have a bit of fun and relieve some stress."


    These aggressive words made Tao Yu feel like he was back in his previous life, under the pressure to marry.


    However, the difference here was that everyone he was introduced to didn''t mind if Tao Yu was just ''having a bit of fun''. The disparity was quite significant...


    "By the way, I''ve heard some news recently, rted to your uncle. I don''t know if he''s told you."


    At that moment, Liu Yi seemed to recall something and looked at Tao Yu.


    "Ah? Uncle Hu? What''s the matter?"


    Tao Yu had two blood uncles, but each family visited the Abyss at different times, so he hadn''t seen them in a long while. It must be about Uncle Hu.


    "It seems you haven''t heard yet. Recently, there''s been a hitch with his position as the Vice-Captain of the security team in South City. Someone found a connection in the Inner City and wants to rece him. You know, he''s still just acting in the role, not formally appointed, so anything is possible."


    Liu Yi was a standard boss in the Outsider area, even more informed about the Inner City folks'' news than they were in the Outsider area.


    Normally he couldn''t be bothered with such matters, just staying informed in advance. But he thought of the time when a big shot from the Floating City literally dropped from the sky.


    Merely making an appearance made things a lot more convenient for his gym''s settlement. So, it was also a kind of heads-up for Tao Yu.


    If there were any channels to try, then go for it. If not, just take it as hearsay...


    ...


    "Tch, this does have something to do with me..."


    As Tao Yu left the gym, he mulled over this information.


    To talk about connections in the Inner City, Uncle Hu had his own, as clearly shown by his Mechanical Arm. Moreover, he obviously maintained contact with his backers, so following the destruction of the Li family, he conveniently took over their position.


    That was the power hiswork brought him.


    Normally, it would be a foregone conclusion for the word ''acting'' to be removed from his title.


    But trouble started brewing when the Wild Wolf Gang and Skull Gang had a fierce ''showdown,'' culminating in the annihtion of the Wild Wolf Gang. It was rumored that the fate of an Inner City young master was uncertain.


    Even though Uncle Hu solved the case quickly and uprooted the Skull Gang, with Old Skull admitting guilt and already executed publicly,


    it still provided an excuse for Uncle Hu''s rivals.


    The position of Vice-Captain in charge of the South City security team offered both lucrative benefits and real power.


    The security team members were at least Grade D+ inbat talent, and they rarely trained for coordination. Unreservedly, a fully equipped security team squad could attempt to hunt down Gym Leader Liu Yi.


    When Tao Yu caused chaos in the military base fragment of the Monster World, he already felt that if individual strength was insufficient, the advantage of numbers would be significantly weakened.


    Thus, the value of a group of well-trained elites was extremely high.


    If back then the soldiers in that military base had been at the average level of the security team, Tao Yu would have found it quite troublesome.


    Because such value existed, it seemed quite natural for someone to look for an excuse to cause trouble.


    "Tch~, I stirred this up, so I should at least help clean up the mess."


    Tao Yu''s eyes grew cold for a moment, but then he pinched his own face.


    "If someone dies at a time like this, wouldn''t all the me fall on Uncle Hu''s head? It''s better to look for other solutions..."


    Looking down at his watch, it seemed the two from the Suns family hadn''t returned yet, and Panda and the others were getting ready to move the machine tools to the new world.


    "Ultimately, it''s still because my strength isn''t strong enough! If I were strong enough, if my status were high enough, why would I need to worry about these problems? They wouldn''t even ur in the first ce. Maybe I should try to get certified as a mid-level partner first?"

 Chapter 170: Chapter 154: Suppression

    ```


    Hesitating for a moment, Tao Yu still decided to go take a look at the Inner City.


    He was already preparing to set out for the Development Zone to explore new worlds, and there were some things that needed to be sorted out.


    If it were just his own affairs, Tao Yu actually had no urgent need for the status of an intermediate partner; going with the flow would have been fine.


    But the issue involved Uncle Tiger, and it was a mess he had created, so it was time to deal with the trouble first, even if it was a bit troublesome.


    Tao Yu then pulled out a copy of his ''Junior Partner'' certificate.


    Being a Junior Partner not only provided various conveniences but also served as a temporary pass to enter the Inner City, and could even allow for short-term lodging at some inns.


    Moreover,pared to a temporary work pass, the junior partner status offered more conveniences, such as being allowed to carry weapons and the like.


    "It''s getting dark; I''ll go tomorrow," he said.


    Tao Yu looked up at the sky.


    "Later, I''ll check how many points are needed for an intermediate partner. Although I haven''tpleted many tasks, the quality has always been high, right? It''s a pity that someone diedst time, and a few tasks were not counted..."


    Tao Yu had entered some information in his wristwatch, including plenty about partners.


    He just hadn''t realized before how many high-difficulty tasks he hadpleted, so he hadn''t paid much attention to it...


    ...


    "Total points, the number of tasks meeting the difficulty level, and the assessment application¡ªit''s no wonder that intermediate partners have a certain social status in the Inner City," he mused as hey in bed looking over the relevant content.


    The total score speaks for itself; whether it''s throughpleting high-difficulty tasks or stacking up low-difficulty ones, once you reach the number required, that''s enough.


    Then, the application for an intermediate partner status must include thepletion of at least one task with a difficulty coefficient that meets the threshold for intermediate partner tasks.


    Tao Yu estimated the difficulty coefficient, which he figured was about the same level as the task of venturing deep into the Alien nest to kill the Alien Queen.


    It was possible for multiple people toplete it, but credit would be given to only one person.


    "Even if thetter tasks weren''t properly submitted, the earlier ''Chosen One'' and base location selection tasks should already meet the standard, and thanks to thepany I''m listed as operating, the total points are almost there..."


    Tao Yu checked some rted information on his watch.


    Despite not being overly demanding in terms of personal strength, the ''Chosen One'' and base location selection were definitely considered standard-achieving tasks.


    Afterward, because of thepany establishment, the points from the transported goods would be distributed to him ording to his registered shares in thepany.


    Once he arrived at the new Development Zone with his terminal, those points would synchronize regrly with the real world, providing Tao Yu with a stable source of ie without the need for any action on his part.


    Whether it was material transportation or the ''Chosen One'' and base intelligence, both provided ies exceeding one hundred thousand Yuan Force.


    In the beginning, when Joseph and Wino, as moderately well-off families from the Inner City, had a start-up capital of about ten thousand; hence, it was normal that in such a short time, he had nearly reached the required points.


    "After all, the Development Zone does have its unique benefits, not only providing more Yuan Force, but also allotting more points for tasks. It''s still a bit short, though. This time, when I go to the Inner City, I''ll take on some tasks to make up the difference and then start the certification assessment..."


    Tao Yu made an estimate as he looked over the situation.


    Originally, if the ie from Monster World were all counted as task achievements, he would have enough points for intermediate partner status!


    But, unfortunately, that was not the case. Luckily, Tao Yu didn''t mind; he knew that the wealthy youngdy did it for his sake, to avoid unnecessary troubles.


    ording to his senior fellow disciple Liu Yi, reaching the status of an intermediate partner meant one could support their family living in the Inner City. Though not enough to establish a familial power, one could still be considered part of an ordinary family in the Inner City.


    Talking about the intermediate partner in itself, it was already a quite prestigious status.


    Tao Yu guessed that this might beparable to, in his previous life, a small business owner with some standing in a fifth-tier city or the head of a certain department.


    "Back when the Wild Wolf Gang were making wild guesses, that ''Lone Gunman'' and ''Wilderness Hunter'' were just intermediate partners, albeit ones with some fame among them, while ''Lethal Bullet'' was a Grade A partner," he recalled.


    At first, when he heard them shouting names, Tao Yu was quite curious, andter on, he managed to understand a bit through indirect means.


    Upon reaching intermediate status, partners also got to officially choose their ''code name,'' a symbol of setting a firm foothold in the Inner City.


    If he managed to get it done, it should indeed help with Uncle Tiger''s current troubles...


    ...


    "Going into the Inner City?"


    The next morning, bright and early, while still on leave at home, Tao Long was patching a leaky roof when he heard Tao Yu''s call.


    "Wait a moment, Little Seven. Help bring something to Fourth Sibling. She just gave birth and needs to replenish some nutrition," he said.


    Saying so, Tao Long deftly jumped down from the roof and went into the kitchen to whip something up.


    "She''s given birth again? That''s the fourth one, right?"


    Tao Yu was stunned; his fourth sister had been married for several years already. Going by this rate, it was practically one child less than every two years, in quick session. He seemed to only hear news about his fourth sister when she was either pregnant or had just given birth.


    "Yes, her own work points aren''t high, so she has to have more children. Luckily, her physique is still quite robust," Tao Long replied.


    Even though she had married off, Tao Long and Hong Xia were still very concerned about her.


    ```


    ```


    But their jobs required them to spend most of their time in the Abyss, and when they dide back, they could only rest and repair briefly before hurrying off again, almostpletely missing the couple who primarily worked in this world.


    Tao Long brought out the stuff, mainly two smoked hind legs of some unidentified animals, along with a basket of eggs.


    "Let the fourth child replenish herself more, don''t skimp on eating. Ah, I reckon she''ll have to go back to work in a couple of days."


    Hong Xia carried out the basket of eggs.


    Hearing Hong Xia''s words, Tao Yu opened his mouth too but ultimately said nothing.


    It seemed like this was just the norm for the Outer City.


    Back home, when they were younger, the older sibling would take care of the younger ones, with the babies being tied to their mother''s chest and taken to the factory. During the breastfeeding period, the mother''s job would be slightly amodated to allow her to work in this world, but that was all.


    Even now, the eighth child was in a state of benign neglect.


    Even if it weren''t for Tao Yu''s own Grade A Chosen One ability, which directly eliminated the concern of being cannon fodder, they would probably have to consider having a ninth child.


    Although he always knew the world was fucked up, hearing about his sister''s situation suddenly made Tao Yu feel helpless.


    But now that he had somewhat found his footing, he thought he might as well lend a hand...


    ...


    His sister lived at her inws'', which was on the way to the Inner City.


    Since they had to line up to enter the city every morning ande back at night, they tried to choose a ce to live as close to the Inner City as possible.


    Walking on the muddy streets of the Outer City, Tao Yu carried two smoked hind legs and a basket of eggs, attracting quite a few nces.


    This was considered a big spender in the Outer City.


    The Rainforest World might be abundant with meat, but besides the difficulty and unpredictability of hunting, just transporting it back and forth was a hassle, let alone the fact that most people''s areas were not suited for such hunting environments.


    However, Tao Yu had developed a more masculine presence, and as he walked with a fierce determination, no one was foolish enough to do anything rash for the sake of the meat.


    Trudging along the way, Tao Yu arrived at what he remembered to be his sister''s inws'' ce, which didn''t seem to have changed much¡ªa small house pieced together from scrap, surrounded by a makeshift fence.


    There was a hen that couldy eggs clucking away in a metal chicken cage.


    A woman who looked about Tao Yu''s mother''s age was cleaning up some chicken droppings, constantly hurrying someone inside the house.


    "Hurry up, dear, or we''ll bete."


    The voice from inside the house was chaotic, as if there were many people, along with the sound of a child''s crying.


    But soon enough, a gray-haired, dark-skinned old man came out with a gun in hand.


    From his attire, he appeared to be a city fortress guard, which was quite a decent job.


    Uponing out, he took a nce at Tao Yu, who had just arrived at the doorstep.


    Even though they had met, the encounters were rare, and considering the changes in Tao Yu after his cultivation, the old man did not recognize him at first.


    "Uncle Gu, Auntie Gu, I''m the seventh child of the Tao family, Tao Yu. My sister has just given birth, and I brought some things over."


    Tao Yu lifted the goods in his hand a bit higher.


    The old couple was startled by this.


    "Oh, this really isn''t necessary, it''s too precious."


    "Yes, we''ll ept the eggs. You''re Tao Yu, right? I remember you were so little thest time I saw you. You''ve grown up, grown up. I recall that you have a Grade Abat talent, don''t you?"


    Uncle Gu immediately recalled Tao Yu, mainly because Tao Yu''s Grade Abat talent wasn''t particrly hidden; as rtives, they definitely knew.


    Each family has almost non-stop work to do though, plus Tao Yu himself was frequentlying and going to the Abyss, so there wasn''t much interaction. It was possible that after Tao Yu entered the Abyss, a visit to congratte each other was all that took ce.


    "Yes, I''m in the Development Zone. With a good talent, moneyes faster. Just take these, let my sister eat well."


    Having said that, Uncle Gu and Auntie Gu didn''t protest further.


    But Uncle Gu was in a hurry to get to work, so he apologized and left in a rush.


    Auntie Gu also had work, though it was not as urgent, so she stayed a little longer to chat.


    Tao Yu could see that there were only the old couple left at home; their two sons and two daughters-inw, including his sister, seemed to be at work.


    The remaining ones were all children, the eldest of whom seemed to be their eldest son''s, around eleven or twelve years old, tasked with looking after a bunch of younger ones.


    From the chat with Auntie Gu, Tao Yu learned that his sister had indeed taken her newly born baby, strapped to her chest, to work at the Inner City.


    "She has to line up to get into the city early in the morning. Ah, she should have been able to rest for another day, but her co-worker had a premature delivery, so she had to fill in."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu''s lips twitched, but he couldn''t find any words to say.


    Thinking about Joseph and the others receiving $100,000 as start-up capital, the Suns benefitting from full support to develop their own Development Zone, and then thinking about the Outer City and those Heretic God Followers, Tao Yu''s emotions wereplex.


    What a fucked up world...


    ```

 Chapter 171: Chapter 155 Two Worlds

    The walls of the Inner City are still as majestic as ever.


    Although on this wall, now full of grease stains and dirt, one could often spot the traces of repairs with wooden boards and iron sheets, the cast shadows still instilled an innate sense of awe in all those queueing up at the city gate.


    Darkness had just faded and dawn was breaking, but a long queue had already formed at the city gate of South City, consisting of workers ''fortunate'' enough to have secured jobs in some of the dirtier and more tiring positions within the Inner City.


    Due to the disparity in identities and the high cost of living in the Inner City, the majority of these workers enter in the early morning and return at night.


    Although the gate itself was wide, the part designated for the passage of these workers was less than half of its width. A much wider roady adjacent, offering direct ess to the Inner City, yet they still had to queue and wind their way around the walls and buildings inside.


    They had to be checked to ensure they weren''t carrying any weapons or prohibited items, and they also had to make sure they weren''t excessively dirty. Only after passing these tedious procedures could they officially enter the Inner City.


    Among the crowd, women cradling infants were not umon, and pregnant women were also in line, slowly moving forward with the queue.


    "Lan, you were supposed to be able to rest for another two days, but there''s really no help for it, s..."


    An old man with snow-white hair and a face etched with the ravages of time, standing in front of Tao Lan, spoke with a tone tinged with a sigh.


    "I know, Xiao Mei is also having a hard time, it''s her first child, right?"


    Tao Lan''s somewhat delicate face was a bit pale, and she looked a little weak, but when she looked down at the scrawny monkey-like baby in the cloth pocket at her chest, a glimmer of maternal radiance still flickered across her face.


    This job was hard toe by, and she and her family could not afford the loss of it.


    "Later, I''ll allocate you to block number eight, the work there is a bit lighter. After we finish, we''lle help you," said the little old man, likely their foreman, who had made some adjustments.


    Thepany had certain favorable policies for pregnant women and nursing mothers, whether a bit of extra on their Yuan Force points or in the job allocation.


    But, that was all rtive!


    "Alright, thank you, Uncle San."


    Tao Lan''s face brightened with a smile. The foreman was her father-inw''s cousin, who usually looked after her to some extent.


    But the fact remained that the work had to be done. Facing a premature birth, there was really no way around it.


    As long as she didn''t step back, there were plenty of people scrambling to take her ce.


    The job was secure and stable, and the sry was even higher than what her parents earned, making it a rare and desirable position.


    Especially for a woman with ordinary talents like herself and no other particr skills.


    "Lan, how long do you think it will take for us to get a work card like your brother-inw''s? Then we could enter directly from the side into the Inner City."


    A young man behind her, enviously watching the few people asionally passing quickly through the wide adjacent path, said.


    Their identity cards only allowed them to enter for a day and leave the same day; even staying overnight was not permitted. If they ever had to stay overnight for some reason, they needed a special permit from above and had to pay for a multi-upancy hostel, with a cost equivalent to a day''s ie. Not to mention, they had to endure these inspections daily.


    But those with a higher-level work card could enter and exit normally after a brief questioning on the side.


    Tao Lan''s husband had such a work card.


    Hearing the words of the coworker behind her, Tao Lan opened her mouth, but in the end, she remained silent.


    Uncle San had been working for so long and still had to queue with everyone else; it was almost impossible, just a distant hope dangling in front of them.


    And even if one obtained such a card, it didn''t make much difference. Her husband had a long-term work card, yet he was still cautious, fearing that any mistake might lead to demotion; he still had to rise early and go to bedte, no different from before.


    asionally, in urgent cases, because of his long-term work card, he had to stay overnight.


    You couldn''t sleep on the streets in the Inner City, and even the worstmunal sleeping quarters cost 10 Yuan Force points per night...


    However, just as Tao Lan was pondering this, a somewhat familiar voice came from the side.


    "Sis, are you feeling alright?"


    Turning her head, she saw her brother, Tao Yu, who had grown sturdier, looking at her concerningly from outside the queue.


    Seeing her younger brother, Tao Lan''s face lit up with surprise, her eyes crinkling in a smile.


    "Little Seven, you''ve grown taller. You used to be shorter than me, and you''ve gotten sturdier too,"


    As she spoke, she even made a height gesture with her hand, tiptoed, and touched Tao Yu''s head.


    Tao Yu, seeing his sister''s expression, also breathed a sigh of relief. Herplexion wasn''t great, but she looked neat and tidy.


    Girls from the outer city are very tough.


    Tao Yu was also curiously looking at the tiny skinny monkey tied to his sister''s chest, a clean little nket wrapped the baby tightly, revealing a small face that was still a bit wrinkled, with eyes closed and even breathing, seemingly asleep.


    Years of adapting to the environment had made even the newborns strong.


    Tao Lan''s colleagues, hearing her address, also started chattering.


    "A''Lan, is this your brother with the Grade A talent?"


    "He''s very handsome."


    "Does the young man have a girlfriend yet?"


    "Grade A talent!"


    "..."


    Tao Yu''s presence had caused a littlemotion in the line.


    There was even a spreading trend.


    This prompted the guards at the city gate toe over and scold them.


    "What''s going on, what''s the noise for, keep it down."


    It was only with the guards'' scolding that the noise was suppressed.


    Perhaps having heard their conversation, the guard who looked at Tao Yu nodded and did not tell him to move away from the queue.


    At that moment, Tao Yu also took out his partnership certificate.


    "Can I enter the city with this?"


    The guard nced at the certificate, then at the watch on Tao Yu''s wrist, and his expression softened considerably.


    "You can. Do you have any identity chips in your watch? Just scan itter, you don''t need to carry this certificate with you all the time."


    "I do, thank you."


    This guard, who was usually very cold and serious towards the people in line, was kinder to Tao Yu.


    "Later, you can download an Inner City notice at the entrance, which spells out some general precautions. Junior partners can directly enter the city, but if there''s no ongoing task, you need to leave the city at night."


    "Alright."


    Tao Yu nodded at the guard, then turned to Tao Lan and asked,


    "Sis, where is your work area? I''lle over and help you after I''m done."


    "I''m not that fragile. This is already the fourth one," Tao Lan rolled her eyes at Tao Yu, but hesitated before saying,


    "I''m in Street Block Eight. You cane and see me if you''re free, but you don''t need to help. You should spend your time improving yourself, doing work like this is beneath you."


    "Yeah, young man, don''t waste your talent. A Grade talent, that''s truly remarkable,"


    The white-haired third uncle also felt a bit sentimental, a look of mncholy and envy in his eyes.


    If only he had an ordinarybat talent, not even a Grade A, maybe he could have mixed in as a city fortress guard or something.


    s... his talents were wasted, and his children had only average talents. Now it was up to the grandchildren to see if any of them could possess a better talent.


    Unfortunately, he wouldn''t be around to see it...

 Chapter 172: Chapter 156 Inner City

    Tao Yu took another look at his sister, and although Tao Lan''s face still bore the pallor of postpartum weakness, the sleeping baby in her arms made her seem so resilient.


    Standing in line, she even smiled and waved at Tao Yu, signalling for him to hurry into the city.


    Seeing his sister''s smile, Tao Yu also took a deep breath.


    Then, he turned and headed towards the city gate.


    As a ''partner,'' Tao Yu''s method of entering the Inner City was much simpler than that of the queuedborers.


    His watch already contained his identity chip, which Panda had arranged for him when he set up thepany, so he didn''t need to be checked when entering, just a quick ''beep'' with a swipe.


    However, the convenience came with a price tag of 10 points of Yuan Force.


    For an average Outsider family, this could be considered a day''s ie.


    "Even if my sister and brother-inw had such privileges, I''m afraid they wouldn''t use them," Tao Yu sighed to himself.


    His brother-inw could probably enter through this route as well, but his high-level work card would exempt him from the entry fee, a reward for his diligent work in the Inner City over the years.


    If they really had to pay for such work cards, it would almost equate to working for free for a day.


    "Laborers enter the city to serve the Inner City residents; their ''entry fee'' is actually the value of theirbor. Whereas junior partners'' entry doesn''t necessarily bring benefits to the Inner City, so this threshold is set..."


    As Tao Yu passed through the thick walls of the Inner City, the streets of the Inner City gradually came into view.


    Completely different from the dirt roads and muddiness of the Outer City.


    Although the overall style was not exactly clean, under the generally dim lighting, it brought a kind of oppressive sensation to the atmosphere, and even on the streets there was the asional piece of trash.


    But, all in all, it was much better than the Outer City!


    On the twone roads paved with asphalt, you could see the drains along the sidewalk, popted with pedestrians of various appearances. At this early hour, it was mainly theborers from the Outer City who had just passed their inspections.


    The rare natives of the Inner City were easily distinguished by their vital energy and attire.


    Brightly colored hair and various non-mainstream hairstyles were easy tells.


    From their yawning state, it seemed many had rich nightlife and were just returning home to catch up on sleep after their nightly diversions.


    Besides, most shops along the streets were still closed, presumably because it was too early for them to open, except for a bar with a colorful logo that was just closing its doors.


    Those neon signs seemed to have been flickering all night long.


    The adjacent buildings had a somewhat abstract style, with a wide variety of shapes as if there was no unified n.


    Giant neon signs formed various advertisements and slogans that filled the entire field of vision, extending upwards.


    Those multistory buildings, reaching dozens or even hundreds of stories high, all had bizarre styles.


    Those abstract architectural forms that would have been mocked online in a previous life weremon here, and one could not see two alike.


    "In the Outer City, one needs to worry about the asional appearance of Grey Mist creatures; in the Inner City, no such concerns exist..."


    As Tao Yu entered the Inner City and took a breath of the air, still tinged with a hint of exhaust, he felt the environment was just so-so.


    It wasn''t as nice as the Development Zone; Las Vegas was almost cleaned up now and honestly looked better than here.


    Looking back at theborers steadily emerging from the checkpoint, many of them seemed much livelier the moment they stepped into the Inner City.


    It was as if this ce embodied their hopes and aspirations.


    Looking up at the sky, the Floating City loomed directly above the Inner City, adding to the oppressive atmosphere, as if the sky itself had lowered.


    "First, I''ll find a few high-score Inner City missions, get the assessment qualification sorted out, and before I go back, secure the ''Intermediate Partner'' status."


    Originally, if it weren''t for Uncle Hu''s situation, Tao Yu had not nned to secure the ''Intermediate Partner'' status so soon.


    An identity that could stand firm in the Inner City, it was unlikely that many neers would meet the criteria so shortly, with talent, family, and resources all being indispensable.


    And it''s probably mostly those who relied on mechanical augmentations and exotic body imnts; while cultivation might not be inferior in theter stages, there was indeed a gap in the early stages!


    An Outsider, frankly speaking, was already quite conspicuous.


    But!


    When Tao Yu saw his sister queuing up so early in the morning, holding her child, he knew that even if he hadn''t been involved in Uncle Hu''s troubles, he would have to do the same!


    "Quickly bing an Intermediate Partner, gaining a foothold in the Inner City, a lot of issues will resolve themselves automatically. Doubts, jealousy, coveting, all will disappear in the face of strength..."


    Tao Yu recalled the abrupt change in attitude from Panda and the others after he had killed Taff and took a slow breath.


    With the advantages given by the Suns as a cover, it wasn''t unthinkable to maintain the level of an ordinary ''Intermediate Partner'' on the surface.


    If trouble arises, it should be focused on oneself!


    Besides, once he became an Intermediate Partner, he''d only need to reveal his capabilities when addressing specific issues.


    Those who should know would know, and he need not care about others who didn''t!


    Compared to the cautiousness of otherborers from the Outer City, too afraid to even look up, Tao Yu''s movements were much more natural.


    Looking at the few Inner City locals who wereughing and chatting as they exited the bar, he was not the least bit concerned or troubled.


    He had killed so many of them already.


    The Inner City Pioneers no longer held any aura of importance in his eyes; in the end, they were mere mortals, and beheading would mean death¡­


    ...


    "Even the Task Hall opens sote..."


    Tao Yu nced at the notices he had downloaded at the city gate and walked up to a Task Hall with an exaggeratedly styled entrance, resembling a circus tent, in front of him.


    It was one of many Task Halls within the Inner City. At the moment, besides the shing signs, the entrance to the Hall was closed tight.


    However, perhaps because some time had passed since the city gate, there were already seven or eight people waiting at the Task Hall.


    Tao Yu swept a nce and noticed a few with an air simr to the Inner City inhabitants he had encountered on the street earlier, and the others felt more like the mercenaries he had seen in the fortress hall before.


    They were very likely junior partners as well, possibly even junior partners who hadn''t acquired official Inner City status, and like Tao Yu, they were there for the higher rewards and points offered by Inner City missions.


    When Tao Yu arrived at the entrance, the people gave him a nce, but no one came forward to strike up a conversation; they just waited in silence.


    "The Inner City isn''t all safe, but this ce is definitely one of the rtively better-secured areas..."


    Tao Yu nced at the surveince cameras in front of the Task Hall.


    With the technology of Starshine City, if they really wanted, at least the Inner City could be easily filled with cameras.


    Not to mention, among the resources scavenged everywhere in the new Development Zone were many such devices.


    But, judging from what he had seen so far, the ces equipped with cameras in the Inner City were actually in the minority.


    Typically, ces like the city gate and Task Hall had coverage, but ordinary streets and alleys had none at all. Even without a strict traffic system due to the low number of vehicles, there were no cameras at intersections, even if there were odd-looking traffic lights.


    What exists must be reasonable. Since the Inner City has developed into its current state, there must be corresponding reasons.


    The reason definitely isn''t ack of money, that''s for sure...


    While waiting, Tao Yu maintained a low-level meditation technique and breathing exercises; not wasting time had be his instinct.


    If it weren''t for the fact that he couldn''t exercise properly, he would have liked to practice his boxing on the spot.


    After about twenty minutes, with seven or eight neers joining, sounds finally came from within the Task Hall.


    Through the ss in the door, they spotted a girl with pink hair and sleepy eyes with a mechanical arm approach the door to unlock it. She then pushed the heavy-looking door open with a force that seemed mismatched to her stature.


    "Step back, step back, watch out not to get hit," she muttered as she continued her task without pause.


    After opening the door, she took out several signs and ced them at the entrance.


    The signs had big, bold but few words, though highly noticeable.


    They were essentially a few sets of rules.


    Like no fighting, no loud noise, and the like.


    "Miss Mag, are there any new tasks?"


    "Miss Mag, has someonepleted the debt collection task for the Broken Fang Group?"


    "Miss Mag is still so energetic."


    "You look even prettier today."


    "Another day full of vitality."


    "..."


    As the girl was opening the door and cing the signs, several regrs who seemed to be used to queuing up started to greet her.


    From their attitude, one could guess that this sweet-looking and seemingly adorable girl was probably in charge of this daily, and her strength and abilities were not to be underestimated.


    "Cut the chatter and don''t be loud, don''t you know?" Mag muttered, not seeming very patient.


    Dealing with this repetitive task every day seemed normal.


    However, she then seemed to notice Tao Yu, and her displeased expression brightened slightly.


    "Ah ha, finally some new blood, and he''s a handsome guy at that."


    At this, several nearby people also focused their gaze on Tao Yu, scrutinizing him.


    Fortunately, since they were all here so early to line up for work, there were no hostile intentions mixed in, just a measure of assessment and observation.


    "Miss Mag is quite adorable, too. I''d like to take on a few partner missions around eight hundred points each, preferably not tooplicated, something one person can do, and with a shorter duration. Do you have any rmendations?"


    Tao Yu fully utilized his advantage in looks and asked with a cheerful smile.


    From the attitude of the people around, one could tell that Mag, the staff member of the Task Hall, was clearly aware of many tasks, and likely had ess to plenty of internal information and data.


    Task points usually corrte with the difficulty of tasks and various weighted bonuses.


    If it was simply based on the Yuan Force price, without any point weight bonus,pany tasks with about eight thousand Yuan Forcepensation would be required.


    The difficulty andplexity were bound to be high.


    But if there were tasks that had been long upleted, or had weight bonuses and rmendations, there could be various levels of point increases.


    Tao Yu himself was nearlypletely unfamiliar with the Inner City environment. Although he was confident in taking on tasks at this price point, it would certainly be best if he could understand a bit more...

 Chapter 173: Chapter 157 Take a Lead

    "Eight hundred points?"


    When Tao Yu''s words came out, it wasn''t just Mag who was stunned, but the roughly twenty people gathered outside seemed to perceive some surprise as well.


    Without any other bonuses, that would require a task with a difficulty of around eight thousand Yuan Force!


    Originally, Wino and Joseph had teamed up for a Python skill and were willing to spend so much time on it.


    Huang Jian and Nuosen, along with a whole group of people, entered the rainforest to hunt Aliens, and a single trip''s ie wasn''t necessarily this much.


    It could be said that this was also considered a substantial ie for Inner City.


    Usually, tasks with eight hundred points are taken by multiple people or consume a lot of time.


    It''s just that tasks with eight hundred points are actually okay; the Pioneers present had all more or less participated in them, and even those with over a thousand points weren''t unheard of.


    But!


    Task rewards are directly proportional to difficulty.


    When you add prefixes like ''notplicated'' ''can be done by one person'' ''short duration'' to an eight hundred point task, as veterans in taking on tasks, they deeply understood the difficulty involved!


    A greenhorn? Or a master?


    The neer''s face was somewhat unfamiliar, his equipment standard and nothing special, with no visible signs of exotic imnts or mechanical enhancements, nor did they know where he came from.


    "Brother, you seem a bit unfamiliar, don''t you rarelye here to the hall to take on tasks?"


    A figure with three mechanical arms asked, arms crossed over his chest, one hand still scratching his messy hair, seemingly unable to help but inquire.


    "First time."


    There was no need to pretend; he indeed was a new face here.


    "You seem quite confident, ''notplicated'' ''can be done by one person'' ''short duration'' ''high reward''¡ªthese are tasks I also want, but it''s a shame they''re too difficult for me to handle."


    The man with three arms continued offhandedly.


    "Somewhat confident, yes."


    Tao Yu''s gaze, however, remained mostly focused on Miss Mag, the pink-haired girl with a mechanical arm, who seemed to frown at that moment and then spoke up,


    "There are indeed such tasks, but actually, very few people are willing to take them on; they''re not considered good tasks."


    After saying this, she gave Tao Yu another look and added,


    "Quite young."


    "Miss Mag is also very young."


    Mag seemed taken aback by Tao Yu''s response, and then chuckled, reaching out to touch her delicate, doll-like, cute cheek.


    And then they saw her cheek suddenly ''pop'' outward, revealing mechanical traces.


    "You have a way with words, I like that, but newbie, blind confidence can get you killed."


    After Miss Mag closed her ''hatch'' on her face again, she said with a smile brimming in her eyes.


    Truth be told, her sudden popping motion had also startled Tao Yu a bit, somewhat unexpectedly.


    It seemed this petite and cute hall attendant had been working here for quite some time.


    "Recently, the new Development Zone has been giving out a lot of point supplements; you''ve set a limit for tasks around eight hundred points¡ªis it that you''ve nearly saved up enough for a mid-level partnership and want to take a shot at it?"


    After arranging all the badges, Miss Mag took out a remote control from her bosom and pressed it.


    The dim hall immediately lit up.


    Various disys also began to roll out and reveal streams of task information.


    Apparently, Miss Mag, being a veteran of the mission hall, was quite clear about the recent task point situation and their flow.


    Tao Yu didn''t reveal any information, but just by his youthful appearance and the requirements he proposed, she had managed to get a good idea about him.


    "Miss Mag is as insightful as ever."


    Tao Yu admitted openly and without denial, which caused the surrounding Pioneers who were secretly sizing up Tao Yu to reveal an ''I see'' expression.


    A few even had a hint of mockery shing by.


    "Haha, such a na?ve young man! If bing a mid-level partner were that easy, we wouldn''t be here working ourselves to the bone."


    The one with the three arms shook his head and chuckled.


    "But are the points really that easy to earn in the new Development Zone? It''s only been four months in total, right? And you''re already close to umting enough for a mid-level partnership?"


    Another Lizardman seemed quite envious.


    "I''ve paid some attention to it, and indeed it far exceeds the old Development Zone, sigh, it''s not fair."


    "Are all the newbies nowadays so confident? Doesn''t their family teach them anything?"


    "What''s the use of just having points? I have enough points, and I barely managed toplete the task difficulty, but I haven''t passed the assessment seven times."


    A man with a weathered face and no obvious modifications sighed at that moment.


    What Miss Mag had said resonated in the hearts of this group of early risers working hard for a partnership.


    Being a mid-level partner wasn''t that easy.


    "Actually, the difficulty is okay, I passed on my first try. But so what? Don''t I still have toe over here andpete for tasks with you all?"


    A man with a total of four mechanical arms said a bit Versailles-like off to the side.


    And he apparently had some fame here, as many peopleughed and cursed at him.


    "Don''tpare us all to you, you have A+ level talent,e on."


    "Exactly, I don''t know why you bother getting up early andpeting with us."


    "I can''t take this, I have to do a good task today to calm my nerves."


    "You do have the nickname ''Four-Armed Vajra,'' after all."


    "..."


    Although those rebellious task goers beside him had a jocr tone, Tao Yu could clearly sense a hint of ttery in their words.


    They all took on tasks here, but obviously, this ''Four-Armed Vajra''s'' status stood a cut above the rest.

 Chapter 174: Chapter 157: Leading the Way_2

    Mid-level partners are not considered big shots in the Inner City, but they are still seen as elites.


    But everyone is here to make a living. Although Mag''s previous words had stirred some resonance, making the scene a bit lively for a moment, the waiting crowd soon entered the hall and began to search for their tasks.


    Even the "Four-Armed Vajra" was no exception.


    After Mag finished her own tasks, she still nced at Tao Yu.


    "The tasks you want, I can rmend a few to you, but they are among the more difficult ones with the same score, some with veryplicated entanglements. Come with me."


    Tao Yu made good use of the convenience brought by his appearance.


    Then he saw Mag approach the front desk, tiptoe to pull out a data cable, and plug it into the port on the back of her neck.


    At the same time, she extended her finger, which morphed into an interface.


    "Bring your watch here."


    Tao Yu connected his watch with the other''s interface and downloaded three task files.


    However, at the same time, a look of surprise crossed Mag''s face.


    "Temporary authority? You''re an Outsider?"


    Although her voice was low, many people here had some skills, and quite a few heard her from up close.


    They all looked over with the same look of surprise.


    "An Outsider?"


    "No way..."


    "Ah, I haven''t gotten my Inner City status yet, but isn''t this a bit bold?"


    "Wait, an Outsider newbie, even with the advantage of points, shouldn''t be able to earn enough to be close to a mid-level partner so quickly, right?"


    "A stroke of luck? Did theyplete some major task?"


    "Even if they did, it''s still exaggerated. I know a senior partner''s son started a transportationpany over there, and he should at most just about meet the standard."


    "..."


    For a moment, the previously subdued topic began to stir up discussion once again.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu did not worry about the opinions of others and directly looked through the three tasks Mag had picked out for him.


    [Debt Collection][Tax Clues Seeking][House Requisition]


    Looking at these three tasks, Tao Yu also raised an eyebrow. The [Debt Collection] offered a reward of four thousand Yuan Force, primarily relying on the added weight of points, [Tax Clues Seeking] five thousand, and [House Requisition] eight thousand Yuan Force alone.


    The tasks for partners are distributed by thepany, akin to an outsourcing job.


    What Tao Yu hadn''t expected was that, after making his request, the nature of all three tasks was somewhat simr.


    Debt collection and tax clues seeking were two different organizations.


    One was thend-clearing department under thepany''s urban development division¡ªthe Mechanical Arm Team in the Outer City Science Department¡ªwho ordered a batch of equipment from a factory in the Inner City, only to find the equipment substandard upon delivery, resulting in a dispute.


    Since the Inner City factory dared to do such a thing, they must have their own influence. Anyway, they couldn''t make any official arrangements with thepany, and in the end, it was just the Outer City Mechanical Arm Team that had to post a partner''s task for help.


    The following tax clues seeking and house requisition were pretty much simr scenarios.


    "Miss Mag, as someone from the Outside, I don''t quite understand. If I represent thepany toplete the task, they won''t threaten or retaliate against me, will they?"


    As Tao Yu flipped through the three tasks, he turned back and humbly consulted Miss Mag.


    "That won''t happen, but if youck strength, you might suffer some minor injuries, and no one will seek justice for you. Just arrived in the Inner City to do tasks, trying them out won''t do any other harm."


    As she said this, Mag paused, gazing at Tao Yu''s handsome face, and then smirked somewhat wickedly.


    "However, since you''re so handsome, you might suffer other kinds of losses."


    "Then, am I allowed to fight back?"


    "If you weren''t allowed to fight back, why would we issue this task? Let''s put it this way, if you take on this task and end up wiping them out, that''s also within the rules. By taking on the task, you represent thepany; this is the power of a partner!"


    Hearing this, Tao Yu couldn''t help but take a deep breath, his eyes growing brighter.


    "Wiping them out is allowed? How dare they default on their debts? A team could take on a task, rob them clean, and it''s all for nothing."


    Hearing Tao Yu say that, Mag couldn''t help but roll her mechanical eye.


    "They only allow extermination, but not looting, all the goods and spoils belong to thepany, and you still have to pay taxes, pluspensate for the damage, who would be full enough to take on that?"


    "Oh..., this is really..."


    Tao Yu sighed with some regret, quite mncholic, as his ns for a quick fortune were nipped in the bud.


    No wonder no one takes it, sigh...


    While thinking this, he epted all three tasks in front of Mag, who looked a bit bewildered.


    Once all arepleted, that should be about enough for the points of a middle partner.


    Tao Yu was cautious himself, so he divided the point-deficit into three parts, to do three rtively easier quick tasks. Otherwise, a single task worth over two thousand points wouldn''t be so simple, the risk would be high...


    "Hey~, you''re not serious, right? One hard task is enough, no need to touch three, even ''Four-Armed Vajra'' as a middle partner doesn''t take them, can''t you see that?"


    Right then, ''Four-Armed Vajra'' happened to walk by nearby, seemingly having chosen a task already, and said to Mag with a smile,


    "It''s not necessarily so, Miss Mag, this time I''m here to take on the [debt collection] task, that miser won''t possibly keep dragging his feet forever.


    "I had a chat with the deputy captain of the logistics brigade, and they are willing to let go of some benefits; deducting some costs and making a bit of pocket money should be doable."


    Hearing ''Four-Armed Vajra''''s words, Tao Yu also understood that most of these tasks could be considered ''favor'' tasks.


    Characterized by ''fast and efficient'', they let some middle or even senior partners who could easily lend a hand act as middlemen, these points and Yuan Force are purely ''intermediary fees''.


    "Having epted them, I have to give it a try, but being an Outsider makes it easy to be underestimated, causing unexpectedplications, I need to find someone to act as a bridge..."


    Then Tao Yu fixed his gaze on ''Four-Armed Vajra'' who was nearby.


    "Brother, are you trying to steal my task?"


    Tao Yu rubbed his fingers together, making some creaking noises, and also deliberately showed a displeased expression on his face.


    This action made everyone around who noticed stop and stare; ''Four-Armed Vajra''''s red electronic eyes flickered, then he burst into loudughter.


    "You''re quite clever, kiddo, wanting to tag along and gain some experience, right? Well, my father also came from the Outer City, so consider it as giving you a hand."


    These words made Tao Yu''s face show an embarrassed color, what a strangely nice guy.


    "Cough, you''re not mad, brother?"


    Tao Yu always went with the flow, his Spirit Perception indeed hadn''t detected any malice, which made it hard for him to proceed.


    And ''Four-Armed Vajra''looked at Tao Yu with surprise, speaking with a weird expression,


    "Little brother, you don''t think you looked fierce just now, do you? Haha, that''s really funny."


    Not fierce?


    Tao Yu looked at his own stature, over one meter eighty tall, his body well-muscled, and dressed in battle gear, he certainly had a good appearance. Chapter Read:


    But then Tao Yu also looked at ''Four-Armed Vajra''''s four ferocious Mechanical Arms and the various devils and creatures filling at least half of the hall, which started to numb his expression.


    From ''Four-Armed Vajra''''s perspective, what he saw earlier must have been a vignt juvenile beast, putting on a fearsome face to intimidate him...


    "Then I''ll trouble you, brother, it''s a good opportunity to learn about the process."


    Tao Yu cleared his throat; it''s best not topete for the task then.


    Mag spoke up at this moment,


    "That''s a smart choice, you''re lucky, having a veteran bring you along for your first time. Normally, you''d have to pay some Yuan Force for this, so be diligent along the way..."


    ''Four-Armed Vajra''ughed and patted Tao Yu''s shoulder.


    "For an Outsider to gather points so quickly in such a short time, whether by luck or adventure, the talent can''t be poor, so strive hard and try to establish a firm foothold in the Inner City..."


    Hearing these heartfelt words, Tao Yu felt a stir in his heart.


    That this guy mentioned his father was from the Outsider, it must be true, and he might have faced a lot of setbacks and discrimination as a child.


    But most importantly, standing here at such a young age, within such a short period, made the other party willing to offer a helping hand!


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 175: Chapter 158: The Task Isnt All About Fighting and Assassinating

    The spacious streets are bing increasingly crowded as time passes, with the asional roar of motorcycles and the tail gas from poor quality fuel bringing a different kind of vitality to the street.


    "These debt tasks asionallye up, and most of the time it''s not about fighting and killing. Even the high-level partners mostly go through procedures. You were too harsh earlier," said Four-Armed Vajra, walking alongside Tao Yu on the sidewalk, taking the opportunity to mentor him.


    "I wasn''t thinking thoroughly," Tao Yu admitted.


    Grateful for the guidance and information provided, Tao Yu was naturally willing to say some nice words and also began to ask for advice in turn.


    "Brother Goudan, what''s the security situation in the Inner City? It seems like there isn''t much surveince," Tao Yu asked.


    "Call me Brother Vajra," Four-Armed Vajra corrected him.


    The electronic eyes of Four-Armed Vajra flickered. Recalling the hard times from the past, he had inadvertently let slip his real name, Wang Goudan, and the youngster had caught on to it, which somewhat dampened his spirits and made him feel like his prestige had fallen.


    Nevertheless, he answered,


    "The security situation in the Inner City is mainly divided into four zones. You''ll gradually understand if you stay longer. There are zones like the mission hall with awork-linked surveince system, which can be considered high-security areas.


    "If anything serious happens in these ces, whether you wear a mask or disguise yourself, you will inevitably provoke a full-scale investigation by the Inner City security team. So, aside from the rarities meant to establish power or suicidal acts of revenge, it''s rtively safe..."


    Hearing Wang Goudan''s exnation, Tao Yu also began to form an outline of the Inner City environment in his mind.


    Compared to the Outsider areas, the Inner City was indeed much better overall, not as prone to fatalities at every turn, but still not entirely peaceful.


    Besides the high-security areas, the second tier includes upscalemunities,pany bases, and club strongholds, which have their surveince systems and where few incidents ur.


    The third category includes areas thatck surveince but are still densely popted, and the fourth is entirelyprised of dead spots in security.


    Gang members and club-affiliated individuals use these areas to resolve issues, leading the well-informed Inner City residents to avoid these ces as much as possible, creating a vicious cycle.


    "Those ces are more chaotic than the Outsider areas, so you need to be more cautious. The simplest sign is areas where shoes or other markers are hung on telephone poles," exined Wang Goudan.


    Despite Wang Goudan''s constant chatter, he turned out to be quite a decent person.


    "Thanks, Brother Gold Egg," Tao Yu joked.


    "It''s Brother Vajra!"


    Watching Wang Goudan correct him earnestly, Tao Yu found it amusing.


    "If it weren''t for Brother Vajra, I bet I''d have to take a lot more detours," Tao Yu said appreciatively.


    This thanks was sincere,


    not stingy despite having almost been duped by Joseph previously.


    Even if Wang Goudan''s demeanor changed and he wanted to deceive Tao Yu into something, the information he provided was indeed helpful.


    "Had I had this kind of information when my father first came here, my childhood would have been a lot better," said Wang Goudan nonchntly, as casually guiding someone didn''t cost him anything.


    It was both a form of empathy for past life struggles and a potential investment in the talent from the Outsider areas.


    "Outsiders whoe to the Inner City also form various small groups. To get by smoothly, it''s best to band together, but since you''re from the Development Zone, finding a group to join can be a bit of a hassle," he said.


    These small groups within the Abyss also support each other. There used to be only the old Development Zone without much choice, but with the new Development Zone now, there are distinctions. Chapter Continue:


    "We''re here, this is the ce,"


    As Wang Goudan finished speaking, Tao Yu noticed that they had arrived in front of a towering skyscraper.


    Looking up, the building had at least a hundred floors!


    If it was just about height, Tao Yu, from his past life, had seen taller buildings.


    But the key was that the appearance of this building was truly abstract, with the first twenty or thirty floors level with the adjacent buildings and rtively standardized. Once it surpassed the height of the neighboring buildings, it started to expand haphazardly to the side, ''developing'' outward.


    The building looked like a gnawed popsicle, with various LED billboards littering the windows and walls.


    ncing over, there were more than two per floor on average, adding up to hundreds.


    More than half of them advertised ''partner teams,'' ''mercenary groups,'' ''adventure groups,'' ''frontier teams,'' and the like, with the rest beingpany or factory offices.


    It was essentially amercial office building.


    "Our target is on the twenty-third floor; half of that floor is upied by the ''White Factory'' branch," Wang Goudan said offhandedly as he led Tao Yu into the lobby of themercial building, whichcked ess control, and waited in front of what looked like rows of freight elevators.


    Even with a row of elevator shafts, there were quite a few people nearby at the moment.


    But some of them couldn''t help but take a few extra looks at Wang Goudan''s four Mechanical Arms.


    Before reaching a certain level of strength, those four Mechanical Arms were also a sign of capability.


    "Brother Vajra, howe I don''t see any surveince? Isn''t this supposed to be a second-tier area?"


    Tao Yu looked around. With his vision, he couldn''t spot a single camera; could they all be micro cameras? That would make assessment a bit of a hassleter on.


    "No, this ce is in the third tier. You generally don''t need to be overly concerned about anything. Besides, it''s best if you get into the habit of recording at all times," Four-Armed Vajra suggested.

 Chapter 176: Chapter 158 The Task is not to Fight and Assassin_2

    Wang Goudan pointed to his own mechanical eye, flickering with red light, and then, as the elevator arrived, he squeezed into it with Tao Yu.


    Do office buildings of this standard have no surveince?


    Tao Yu felt something was a bit odd.


    "Why do you think we came here?"


    Wang Goudan asked, standing with Tao Yu in a corner of the elevator, speaking easily.


    This made Tao Yu pause, as it did seem to make sense.


    Perhaps the teams setting up home here have a need to avoid surveince...


    No wonder the reward for this mission was not low, and Miss Mag said she''d suffer some flesh and skin losses.


    It seemed pretty normal for a greenhorn toe in toplete a mission, get ''educated'' thoroughly, and emerge battered and bruised, iming to have taken a fall.


    "Lesson learned."


    Tao Yu nodded thoughtfully.


    "Don''t worry, taking on a mission here represents thepany''s reputation, we''re at least safe from life-threatening danger, the rest depends on the face of your Four-Armed Vajra brother..."


    Wang Goudan, with his arms crossed, stood silently as the elevator made several stops on its way up, and they finally reached their destination floor, the twenty-third...


    ...


    It seemed there were only twopanies on the twenty-third floor. Right out of the elevator, one could see two different signposts pointing in opposite directions.


    The one on the other side was brimming with various ambiguous heart symbols and colorful lights that didn''t look very serious.


    It read ''Dream Home''.


    A seductive cat woman was standing in provocative clothing in front of the sign, smoking a slim cigarette. Tao Yu nced at her and noticed her cat ears were the real deal.


    Seeing the two mene up, herzy expression suddenly brightened, and then she focused on Tao Yu, saying in a husky voice,


    "Handsome guy, our sister here will give you a discount~"


    After speaking, she even gave Tao Yu a sultry look and blew a heart-shaped smoke ring that floated toward him.


    "After the mission, you might want to try this ce out. The service is quite good, and the reputation is decent too. Not many cases of overcharging customers, so it suits someone like you."


    Wang Goudan seriously reminded Tao Yu, leaving him somewhat speechless.


    Not many, so there were some, after all.


    Listening to Wang Goudan, it seemed that overcharging in the Inner City was the norm, and having fewer cases of it was enough for a good reputation. Still, this didn''t surprise Tao Yu.


    "Such a handsome guy like you, I''d even want to make you a regr, sister here couldn''t bear to part with you."


    It seemed the cat woman already realized these two weren''t here specifically for her, so she made a heart shape with her hands towards Tao Yu and then went back to watching the outside world while smoking.


    Tao Yu and Wang moved away from the pink-lit corridor and headed in the other direction.


    In contrast to next door, ''White Factory''s office seemed much simpler, but Tao Yu still felt that a factory located next to such a shop seemed a bit disreputable.


    "Can I help you?"


    A few steps in, there was a receptionist sitting there.


    His massive nose ring and colorful hairstyle made the spirited young man fit well with the Inner City''s style.


    "We''re here to meet with Mr. White, as partners. There was prior correspondence,ing to talk."


    Wang Goudan spoke calmly, causing the spirited young man to raise an eyebrow, then nod and point inside.


    "The boss mentioned it to me earlier, just go in and find him."


    However, as he said this, there was a hint of amusement at the corner of his mouth, and he whistled softly.


    Inside the office area, quite a few people were looking over, with several standing up, all bulky figures either mechanically modified or with exotic imnts.


    But as for this little intimidation, Wang Goudan, a mid-level partner, acted as if he didn''t notice it. He led Tao Yu straight inside, knocking on the door of the innermost office under the watchful eyes of manypany employees.


    "''Four-Armed Vajra'', huh? Come on in."


    The door opened, and the two walked in to see three people already inside the office. Wang Goudan raised an eyebrow but still closed the door after entering.


    With a click of the door closing, the excellent soundproofing seemed to instantly iste inside from outside, turning it into two different worlds.


    Tao Yu had alsopleted his preliminary assessment of the three inside.


    A middle-aged man with mechanical modifications sat in the boss''s chair, with his legs propped up on the desk.


    Behind him were two mechanically modified women with indifferent expressions but who looked as pretty as exquisite figurines, serving both as secretaries and bodyguards.


    Seeing the two enter, Mr. White didn''t dally and took the initiative to speak,


    "I already know why you''re here, and you''ve talked with that guy already. Well, here''s the deal: I gave him a ten thousand Yuan Force facilitation fee for this job, plus the profit he promised to cut. Give that back to me, and we''ll call it even."


    Finishing his words, he sported a mocking smile and added,


    "With the mission''s four thousand Yuan Force reward included, you just need to give six thousand Yuan Force to get eight hundred points. How about that, wouldn''t you say this deal is both straightforward and economical?"


    "It seems Mr. Whitecks sincerity."


    Wang Goudan''s face also lost its smile, and his tone became somewhat colder.


    He had already negotiated a profit-sharing deal with the other side. If they were forting and quick to agree,


    to quickly finish the mission and save time, he was willing to give up an additional two or three thousand from the mission reward.


    Making an easy one or two thousand benefits from a simple visit waspletely eptable to him.


    But the other side''s steep opening demand cooled Wang Goudan''s expression.

 Chapter 177: Chapter 158 The Task Isnt All About Fighting and Killing_3

    His middle partner had also fought his way up from the bottom.


    "Sincerity? In honor of your middle partner status, I''ll give you a 50% discount, just add another five thousand, one thousand Yuan Force for eight hundred points, fair enough? That''s giving you face."


    White raised an eyebrow, cutting the price in half as if he really didn''t want things to be too stiff, continuing with an additionalment


    "My main factories are in the old Development Zone, the processing quality in the Inner City Area can only be this good, you can''t expect me to keep arranging for people to bring backponents for assembly, can you? The cost would be too high, I would lose money."


    "The details of your trade contract are spelled out clearly, and they have nothing to do with me, I''m just here to carry out thepany''s mission."


    Wang Goudan remained unmoved.


    "Huh, pressing me with thepany? I''ve delivered goods before, this is just a business dispute."


    White still appeared nonchnt, and since he was proceeding this way, he must have had the confidence to do so, thinking either way he would not suffer a loss.


    If a senior partner hade, then it would have been a different story; he would have sent them off with gifts and some regard, and he might have given in a little more to the well-known middle partners.


    But the title of ''Four-Armed Vajra'' really wasn''t worth conceding too much for, anyway. The more he could snag, the better¡ªit all added up over time.


    "So, it looks like Mr. White is ready to have a more ''frank'' discussion."


    Wang Goudan took off his coat and threw it towards Tao Yu, then somewhat speechlessly watched as his coat fell to the ground.


    This action caused White, who was also ready to p his hands, tough out loud


    "Haha, Mr. ''Four-Armed Vajra'', your sidekick doesn''t seem to know his ce, does he?"


    At that moment, Tao Yu seemed to realize something btedly and turned to ask Wang Goudan


    "Vajra bro, didn''t you say it''s not about fighting and killing? What''s this for?"


    "I said that''s usually the case, most of the time. Do you understand?"


    Wang Goudan was also a bit frustrated. This was embarrassing, okay? Do I have no face left?


    Pick up my coat, will you?


    "So, does that mean I can start fighting now? It won''t matter if I annihte them on apany mission, as long as I don''t cause too much destruction?"


    Tao Yu asked tentatively.


    "Haha, this is amusing. Where did you find this blockhead, a circus worker? Such..."


    Boom~


    Energy erupted, tiles under Tao Yu''s feet burst apart, and in an instant, he shot forward like a cannonball, carried by a gust of wind.


    This sudden burst of speed caused the four cybeically-enhanced guards'' electronic eyes to emit focusing sounds.


    So fast!


    The quickest-reacting action figure bodyguard stepped forward automatically, half-instinctively, his arm transforming into a silver de, slicing toward Tao Yu.


    But barely halfway through the swing, a sh of silver light shone, and the entire arm was severed with a burst of sparks, its owner mmed heavily by Tao Yu.


    With a vigorous eruption of energy mixed with electric sparks, he was embedded into the adjacent wall, motionless!


    Meanwhile, the [Warlord''s Standard-issue Pistol] in Tao Yu''s other hand began firing continuously at another action figure bodyguard.


    Despite the mechanical enhancements usually providing strong resistance against bullets, under Tao Yu''s precise shooting and the [Warlord''s Standard-issue Pistol]''s armor-piercing quality,


    there was no need to use mental force or Shadow Force enhancements, as the hits to vital joints kept the other action figure bodyguard stiffening.


    With a backhand swipe of the [Giant Lizard''s Fang], he brutally pressed down on White, who had raised his hand to block, and prated his forehead.


    As sparks flew and the dagger was embedded in the skull, the de tip pressed against White''s brain shielded by metallic bone, halting all of White''s resistance and movement instantly.


    He pleaded in an almost weeping tone,


    "Brother, let''s talk nicely, peace is most valuable, peace is most valuable! Doing missions isn''t about fighting and killing..."


    "I didn''t kill you, did I..."


    Tao Yu tilted his head, looking at the other party with slight confusion, but the tip of the dagger kept inching deeper, beginning to touch the other party''s brain...

 Chapter 178: Chapter 159: Harvest

    Feeling the incessant rms from the chip, foreign substances relentlessly advanced towards his brain across the retina, even starting to damage some of the outeryers.


    White truly had the fright of his life and kept speaking.


    "Brother, I''ll pay, I''ll settle the bill! Right now, immediately! Stay calm, killing me won''tplete your mission, the Yuan Force will be gone!"


    At this moment, the ''Four-Armed Vajra'' beside him was alsopletely baffled, his electronic eye constantly flickering without pause, seemingly a bit overwhelmed.


    But after hearing White''s words, he finally showed some reaction and also spoke up.


    "That''s right, killing him indeed doesn''t count aspleting the mission, because the money hasn''t been recovered."


    The exquisite doll that crashed into the wall, still sparking with electrical fire, also emitted a somewhat distorted electronic voice.


    "We''ve taken a huge loss. I told you not to be stingy, now our repair costs alone will be at least tens of thousands of Yuan Force!"


    Although her role might be that of a secretary or bodyguard, she did not hesitate at all in charging her own boss.


    The other one, the mechanized shadow that had only been shot at the joints, was now ironically the best off among the three of them.


    But even so, hydraulic fluid leaked from the joints, bitterness evident all around.


    "A small saving leads to a big loss. Where did this overwhelming neere from? With such strength, there really is no need for fighting and killing..."


    Hearing his subordinates start toin, White also felt the dagger in his head stop advancing and his heart was speechless with frustration.


    This kind of mission wasn''t umon¡ªit was justpanies with certain backgrounds exploiting the rules to fleece the system.


    He didn''t really want to keep dodging the bill indefinitely; rough negotiations leading to mutual concessions could still be profitable.


    If a high-ranking partner came along, he would agree promptly and respectfully to send them on their way.


    With mid-level partners, it was more like choosing dishes based on the server, to see if there was still a chance to fleece something.


    Mid-level partners also had their own hierarchy, and that ''Four-Armed Vajra'' wasn''t very famous, at least he hadn''t heard much about him.


    Moving his lips could mean at least a thousand Yuan Force in the ount, so naturally, he wanted to test the waters.


    Saying ten thousand, then halving it straight away would reveal his intentions.


    Actually, even halving that again wasn''t out of the question; it was all up for negotiation, who would actually resort to real fighting?


    Who would bear the loss of actual fighting?


    White believed that ''Four-Armed Vajra'' should understand his meaning¡ªa mid-level partner, after all, should be an old hand by now, not someone who couldn''t understand what was being said.


    The opponent''s disrobing was just a way to exert pressure, and in the end, it was highly unlikely they woulde to blows.


    Based on experience, White figured that he should be able to squeeze another two thousand or so Yuan Force out of the situation.


    But who expected the other party to bring a greenhorn that didn''t y by the rules?


    Even if the neer was a greenhorn, the key point was that their strength was simply too exaggerated!


    Looking so young, with not a trace of modification, they must have been employing some kind of powerful Breathing Technique.


    Without relying on modifications and imnts, purely pursuing the path of cultivation, advancement in the early stage was significantly slower.


    In Inner City, it was rare to find young people with such abilities!


    Was this some young master out to experience life?


    But no matter how much heined in his heart, with the dagger still lodged in his head, he could only force a smile and tremble as he said,


    "Young master, could you please pull out this dagger? I agree, I ept all the previous conditions, and I''m willing to offer an additional four thousand for the inconvenience of your special trip."


    "Your life is only worth four thousand?"


    Tao Yu raised an eyebrow, as if thinking of pushing the dagger in a bit further.


    But White just gave a dryugh, not daring to speak.


    Even with his life in the other''s hands, it was pointless to keep retreating.


    If they wanted to kill him, he would still be dead; paying them would only benefit his enemies.


    As forpleting the task, his offer of an additionalpensation of four thousand was already a sign of good faith.


    "As long as he''s alive, that''s good enough, right? I could randomly scratch his head to open a blind box, wherever I cut, whatever function area gets hit, oh well..."


    Tao Yu directed his question to Wang Goudan.


    Without waiting for Wang Goudan to open his mouth, White''s expression soured again,


    "Young master, I can add another two thousand, I really can''t afford any more. I still have topensate the logistics team, I''ve already lost a lot, and there''s also our healing and repair costs, I really can''t handle it."


    "Didn''t you say you wouldpensate fully?"


    Tao Yu asked again.


    "Yes, it''s because of the fullpensation that I''ve already lost a lot."


    "The concessions they agreed to don''t have to bepensated for."


    Tao Yu''s words immediately caused White''s expression to freeze, and then he showed a mournful face.


    "Alright, the generous twenty thousand shall be a gift for the young master..."


    "Appreciate it, I like your sincerity. Hope there''s a chance to cooperate again next time."


    Tao Yu pulled out the Colossal Lizard''s Fang, still tipped with bits of brain and bloodstains, and stuck it back at his waist.


    He then dug out a maic card and stuffed it into White''s hand.


    White silently injected twenty-six thousand Yuan Force into it.


    After all this, Tao Yu seemed to have discovered a new world, turning back to Wang Goudan with an impassioned gaze,


    "Vajra bro..."


    "Just call me Goudan."


    The expression on Four-Armed Vajra''s face stiffened for a moment, as he corrected him once again.


    He really feared this guy might suddenly turn on him, too.


    Was my own voice a little loud on the way here...


    "I''ve taken on another two tasks, should be the same, right?"


    Tao Yu felt the itch to try.


    This way of making money was too fast!


    Hunting aliens himself, wiping out a nest was just a one-time bounty like today''s.


    It was dirty, exhausting, and there was the fatigue from the journey.


    Even without the ''incentive'' part of other tasks, the rewardbined with the given courtesy money as a diligent worker also made for a handsome ie.


    His own Meditation Technique hadn''t even achieved Deification.


    "Uh, the next two you could try, but probably not after that,"


    Four-Armed Vajra was a standard slick old hand and instantly understood Tao Yu''s thoughts, kindly exining,


    "First off, these kinds of tasks aren''t that abundant, and Miss Mag could only find these three suitable ones for you. Second, those who take on these jobs are usually very well-informed."


    As he spoke, he nced at White, who was awkwardly repairing the gap on his head.


    Watch and learn ¨C if you dare eat at this table, you should have the skills to match. Who would make a losing deal?


    Although this answer wasn''t fully articted, Tao Yu got the point; he was just basking in the newbie glow.


    "Even senior partners usually just collect the task rewards, leaving some room for maneuver in their work,"


    Wang Goudan knew Tao Yu came from the outer city and although he didn''t understand why he was so strong, he still gently reminded him.


    This made Tao Yu nod,


    "Got it, thanks for the heads-up."


    Tao Yu didn''t think his strength could dominate the Inner City; there were definitely many stronger than him, at least those who showed greater strength than what he had disyed.


    If making money was this simple, why would it be his turn?


    It''s just like what Wang Goudan said earlier ¨C these tasks weren''t simply about fighting and killing...


    But at least with the newbie glow,pleting the current tasks on hand was assured!


    ...


    "We''ll pay up; brother, we were blind to Mount Tai before, here''s a small token to apologize."


    ...


    "We misjudged this time, please ept this tea money as a slight expression of our apology..."


    ...


    For the next two tasks, Tao Yu asked Wang Goudan to help, and they took a trip together.


    The process was surprisingly ''smooth''!


    Indeed, as Wang Goudan said, those who are given such tasks, apart from those who really can''t pay and thus are hopeless, are all quite shrewd.


    "Damn, adding in the task rewards, that''s an ie of fifty thousand. That was way too fast,"


    Tao Yu was a bit heartbroken; such money-making opportunities couldn''t be a long-term meal ticket, which was infuriating.


    Meanwhile, Wang Goudan was standing in a phone booth, constantly contacting the task issuers for verification and waiting for task settlement.


    Of the three tasks, the first one was Wang Goudan''s, which would earn four thousand Yuan Force as reward. Tao Yu had no intention of stealing it, but since Wang Goudan was not as desperate for points, thepletion could be recorded under Tao Yu''s name, allowing him to umte points and meet the assessment criteria for an intermediate partner.


    "With your strength, passing the assessment is no problem at all, you''re even strong among the intermediate partners. Not like me; people might not give me face,"


    Wang Goudan seemed a bit wistful, his expressionplex as he looked at Tao Yu.


    Now he hadpleted the coordination with the three task issuers. Once they confirmed and verified everything, they could go to the task hall toplete the settlement and collect the rewards...

 Chapter 179: Chapter 160 Relations

    Wang Goudan also felt quite emotional about Tao Yu.


    At first, he thought Tao Yu was just a kid who had recentlye from the outer city, nice to look at and possibly talented, so he lent a hand without much thought.


    But who would have imagined that he was a strong dragon crossing the river!


    It seemed usible that someone from the newly developed outer city could umte enough points to be a mid-level partner due to their talent.


    After all, the new development zone had many opportunities, high task rewards, and heavy points weight.


    Theoretically, with a bit of luck, one could also stand a chance to meet the standard.


    However, the way Tao Yu breezed through the three tasks hadpletely refreshed his cognition.


    Fierce! Way too fierce!


    The way he handled the Myriad Streams Five Forms fighting style seemed at least above lv5!


    As for strength, he was extraordinarily exceptional, seemingly having passed the most awkward stage of the early training journey.


    For him to reach this level, he must have encountered some fortunate event, and surely gained the favor of a big shot!


    Both elements were crucial and he would surely soar to great heights and secure his position in the Inner City.


    "Today, Goudan I''ve also taken advantage of you. I was prepared to negotiate down to about two thousand Yuan Force toplete it, and I estimated that would take haggling for a day or two. Who knew I could get a full payment in one go,"


    After finishing the wrap-up of the task, Wang Goudan''s face showed a hint of emotion.


    Although he was a mid-level partner with respectable abilities, earning four thousand Yuan Force in one day was still considered a very good day''s work.


    So he was more than willing to help Tao Yu familiarize with the process andplete some trivial matters, feeling overall that he still made more than expected today.


    "Not at all, Brother Goudan helped me a lot today too. Otherwise, I would really be in the dark here."


    Tao Yu leaned on the nearby phone booth and smiled.


    If he wanted to be stingy, he could have deducted some Yuan Force from Wang Goudan''s four thousand ie with no issue, but Tao Yu felt there was no need to be so heartless.


    "Haha, if it weren''t for me it would have just taken a little more time to understand everything. At worst, I would''ve spent a hundred or so Yuan Force to gather some information. Strength is the strongest pass,"


    "But you still have to remember, brother, it''s fine for these three tasks, but you can''t use the same approach if there''s more toe in the future."


    Wang Goudan once again reminded Tao Yu.


    "I understand."


    Tao Yu nced at the sky. The three tasks had only taken up half of the day, and at noon, both of them had made do with some dry food for a meal.


    "Goudan brother, are you free tonight? Where should we eat? It''s my treat."


    An unexpected fortune of tens of thousands of Yuan Force for a day''s work wasn''t something Tao Yu nned to be stingy with.


    Ever since he had crossed over to this world, to be honest, he hadn''t had a decent meal yet.


    Since entering the Abyss, he had been living off beef cans, and now that it was his first time in the Inner City, he not only wanted to get a glimpse of the world but also felt that Wang Goudan was someone worth getting in touch with.


    In this world, there was no Baidu, no Google, and no GPT. The transmission of messages wasn''t something you could easily search for or learn about by scrolling through short videos. Outside the city, it all depended on shouting, and even in the city, telephones weren''t widespread.


    The standard inte bandwidth was even worse than dial-up, and only ces like the task hall had more convenient information transmission.


    Tao Yu wasn''t alone; he had family concerns. Like Uncle Hu''s situation that arose, and his older sister''s ''ustomed'' job, problems weren''t just solved with brute force and fighting.


    He wasn''t nning on getting entangled inplicated interpersonal rtionships, but some guys with seemingly good characters were worthmunicating with more.


    You never know when they might remind you of something or pass on a piece of information.


    Just as the head of Wanliu Dojo casually informed him of the trouble Uncle Hu was facing.


    From today''s interaction, when Tao Yu had only shown a certain level of talent, Wang Goudan was willing to offer help. Inviting him for a meal seemed like the natural thing to do.


    Having just acquired over thirty thousand Yuan Force, plus the Yuan Force about to be settled from the tasks, with an ie of fifty thousand in a day, spending a few hundred or even a thousand was not uneptable.


    "Haha, of course I''lle if someone''s treating. There have been a few ces I''ve wanted to try for a long time, but never had the chance. Today, I''ll be depending on you, brother,"


    Wang Goudan was also interested in forming a closer rtionship, and knowing what the other had earned that day, he wouldn''t stand on ceremony.


    If it were him with such earnings, not to mention eating out, he''d go for the whole nine yards.


    Unlike the outer city, the ie of Inner City Pioneers, especially frencing mid-level partners like him, was already pursuing more enjoyment.


    The pressure of the Abyss was there, and when one''s self-improvement entered a stable phase or even a diminishing returns phase, enjoying life timely was amon phenomenon.


    "Great, you can lead the way then. But I''ve got to check on my sister first. If she hasn''t finished work, I''ll need to help out. Any good ces in District 8?"


    "District 8 is considered a nearby recreational area. It''s full of entertainment venues and restaurants. Let''s go. Has your sister also moved to the city? What does she do?"


    Wang Goudan casually asked.


    "Outer city work card, a cleaner."


    Wang Goudan was genuinely taken aback by Tao Yu''s words, having never expected that the young talent, who could definitely be considered an expert among mid-level partners and firmly rooted in the Inner City, would have a sister working in such a job!


    He then remembered Tao Yu''s age and the time that had passed in the new development zone.


    That such a level of strength was achieved in such a short time and his surroundings couldn''t keep up was only natural.


    But...


    This was also an opportunity for him!


    Wang Goudan''s eyes gleamed slightly.


    He himself was quite talented and his strength in the Inner City was considerable. His status as a mid-level partner had allowed him to stand firm, outdoing his own father.


    He also knew thatpared to the real upper echelons of the Inner City, he was at an absolute disadvantage in both talent and heritage, with a gulf that seemed insurmountable.


    Having entered a phase of steady improvement in strength, although he had not yet reached the diminishing returns phase, and while his investment in Yuan Force was still yielding steady gains,


    But he could already vaguely see his own ceiling, and under normal circumstances, he feared he had no chance of touching the realm of high-level partners.


    Even if he were lucky enough to umte the points, he wouldn''t be able to pass the assessment!


    Lacking more cutting-edge modification channels and higher-level skill channels, he had an invisible ceiling above him.


    Eventually, even if he earned more Yuan Force, it would only serve to maintain his strength, he might as well stay on the fringe and hang on with the most cost-effective means of Yuan Force maintenance, and then, like other Inner City Pioneers who had reached their limits, enjoy life¡­


    But now, a new opportunity had appeared.


    At this moment, in Wang Goudan''s eyes, Tao Yu''s figure had be somewhat different, as if it was radiating a brilliant light.


    If it were him, he could definitely do it!


    If he could secure an upper-level channel for himself, he wouldn''t have to worry about being ripped off when saving enough Yuan Force for an upgrade and transformation.


    He had found new hope for breaking through the ceiling...


    ¡­


    In the eighth district, a leisurely street in the southern area of the Inner City, was a ce where the consumption level was quite decent.


    The quality of various entertainment venues was above average, and so was the cost.


    For this reason, there were enough service personnel at the various entertainment venues, restaurants, and casinos, who would take care of the cleanliness around their entrances on a regr day.


    The main work of the cleaners from the Outer City was to transport trash, which was rtively easypared to some dirty and disordered streets.


    Tao Lan was dressed in a yellow maternity-specific work uniform, with her little baby in the specially made infant pouch at the front.


    She herself wore a face mask and hood, carefully steering a garbage transport vehicle through the alleys.


    Her work uniform had a special maternitybel on it. While it was a kind of care for the workforce during pregnancy and nursing periods, it wasn''t infallible.


    There were many mentally unstable lunatics in the Inner City, and because they had more disposable money, the ''happiness'' overflow was even worse than in the Outer City.


    So she had to be wary of the vacant-looking figures lying in corners.


    To the Inner City folks, bullying workers from the Outer City was kind of embarrassing, the discrimination was severe, but fortunately, those who bullied for fun were few.


    However, those corner dwellers, possibly mentally unstable, were not included in this, as most injuries or deaths of Outer City workers were caused by them.


    "Phew, thankfully Uncle San got me this spot today, it''s less exhausting," she sighed.


    After driving all day and continuously emptying trash cans and transporting the waste to designated spots, a tired Tao Lan had sweat stains on her forehead.


    The weakness after childbirth made her palms sweaty as she gripped the lever.


    "I wonder how Yu is doing, with Grade A talent; I hope he grows up fast."


    In Tao Lan''s heart, there was also a glimmer of hope that if her brother could make a name for himself, she too could benefit.


    She didn''t need special support; sometimes, taking advantage of a name could save a lot of trouble.


    But it was still too early for that ¨C even the strongest talent needed time to mature.


    "Hey, trashdy, there''s some more here, clean it up well," a voice called from ahead.


    The alley where Tao Lan was located was indeed the ''back door'' to many shops, and the door to one of them opened, revealing a service worker with colorful hair who waved impatiently at Tao Lan.


    "Oh, sure, I''m sorry," Tao Lan replied submissively, and the service worker''s expression softened slightly upon seeing her maternitybel and the baby pouch in front of her.


    Thepany always emphasized the protection of infants.


    Other workers from the Outer City might endure oppression and even torture without thepany caring, but mistreating pregnant or nursing workers would bring the security team down on them.


    "That''s fine, just be more careful next time," the service worker said, nodding after watching Tao Lan get out of the vehicle and efficiently clean the trash can with her tools, not saying anything further.


    But just then, two figures walked from the main street into the alley behind the kitchen, immediately catching the attention of Tao Lan and the service worker.


    The area was deserted andcked surveince, asionally bing a spot for criminals and gang members to trade contraband.


    For the two people who were both at the bottom of society, the obvious choice was to avoid them if possible.


    The service worker pulled on Tao Lan''s arm, suggesting they hide in the kitchen if things seemed off.


    "Sis, I had to circle this area almostpletely to find you," Tao Yu said as he saw Tao Lan in her work uniform with a mask on, holding cleaning tools, and with a baby pouch at her front, feeling a tinge of sadness in his heart.


    "How much is left? I''ll help you finish up, and then we can eat something in this shop."


    The service worker who had arranged for Tao Lan to work chuckled internally at Tao Yu''s words.


    Eat something in this shop? Could the meager earnings from a whole day''s hard work afford even the cheapest dish for one person?


    But he didn''tugh out loud, not because of high standards, but because he saw the four mechanical arms of Wang Goudan beside Tao Yu.


    Not to mention the quality of the mechanical arms, just the number indicated that the other wasn''t from the bottom ranks.


    Definitely higher than himself! To eat here regrly might be a stretch, but an asional meal was certainly feasible.


    This made him nce back at Tao Lan curiously, reminding himself not to underestimate others.


    Who would have thought that a cleaner from the Outer City could connect with such a character? He would have to be careful with his attitude in the future...

 Chapter 180: Chapter 161: Dominance

    ng~


    Having finished cleaning out the trash bin, Tao Yu followed Tao Lan''s cleaning truck towards the direction of the dumpsite, while also checking on the baby who had just been breastfed inside the work uniform.


    This breastfeeding work uniform was specially issued forctating employees, warm and dust-proof. Given the wealth of the Inner City, it was naturally nothing to them.


    The importance ced on the younger generation could actually be seen in areas like cannon fodder credits and so on.


    After all, each one was akin to opening a blind box.


    It was indeed as Tao Lan had said; if nothing unexpected happened, it seemed not to affect her much.


    "Really, you shouldn''t be doing this kind of work. You''ll have the chance to settle down in the Inner City and be somebody important in the future,"


    As Tao Lan slowly drove the garbage truck, she looked down at the baby sleeping soundly and then turned to look at Tao Yu, a hint of reproach shing across her pale face.


    "I can''t even help my sister, what kind of damn big shot would that make me?"


    Tao Yu was indifferent to his sister''s chastisement.


    Wang Goudan had been silent on the side the whole time, seemingly lost in thought.


    "It''s not about now, but potential,"


    Tao Lan curiously nced at Wang Goudan beside her, a trace of awe in her eyes.


    Four Mechanical Arms, a sure sign of somebody important.


    She hadn''t expected her brother to have already made the acquaintance of such a powerful figure.


    Thinking of bringing such a strong person to a ce like this to find her made Tao Lan feel a little anxious and inferior.


    Perhaps because of her, the big shot might think less of her newly acquainted brother.


    "You can go if you have other things to do. I won''t be needing you. I brought some dry food with me, and I need to go back before dark. You''ve already saved me a lot of time, so I can go home earlier today,"


    Tao Lan urged her brother a few times.


    "Brother Tao, I happen to know someone who might be able to help you out. Wait for me a bit after you guys go back,"


    Wang Goudan, who hadn''t said much so far, seemed to have picked up on Tao Lan''s thoughts and spoke up in a low voice at this point.


    "Okay, thanks, Brother King Kong."


    Tao Yu didn''t refuse the kind gesture.


    He had specifically invited him toe, partly with some ideas in mind.


    Wang Goudan, a mid-tier partner, had a certain status. Even bosses like White had to give him some face.


    If he really knew someone, of course he would try to help out.


    Tao Yu didn''t have the notion of shouldering everything, earning money to support the whole family on his own, and his rtives wouldn''t ept that either.


    Teaching a man to fish is better than giving him a fish. He aimed to settle his family down, finding suitable positions for them to be self-sufficient. That was always Tao Yu''s n.


    However, as soon as Tao Lan saw Wang Goudan leave, she felt a bit guilty. She sighed and said to Tao Yu,


    "Ah, you should have gone with him. It''s rare to get a chance to interact with such important people. He might have just been politely making an excuse to leave."


    "Uh, important people..."


    Tao Yu had been pondering how to phrase his exnation.


    Indeed, his family members, like himself, were genuine Outsiders from the outer city, with significant gaps in their knowledge. He had to exin in a way that would be more understandable to them.


    "Forget it, sis will understandter. I''m quite capable, you know."


    Later on, Tao Yu still felt it would be better to wait for Wang Goudan to call the person over and start addressing the issue, as it would be more direct than saying a thousand words.


    As a mid-tier partner, capable of making smallpany bosses give face, Tao Yu didn''t think Wang Goudan was boasting.


    "Why are you back already? Chatting with others during work hours?"


    However, right at that moment, Tao Yu heard a scolding voiceing from ahead.


    In front of a vehicle about to enter a garbage processing factory, a figure wearing a safety helmet strode over with arms akimbo in a rather domineering posture.


    Seeing Tao Lan and the handsome young man Tao Yu chatting, his expression grew somewhat dark.


    Tao Yu frowned upon seeing this man, who was likely some minor supervisor of the garbage processing nt.


    The way the other person was eyeing his sister also annoyed Tao Yu.


    "Manager Cao, I am so sorry, this is my brother, he helped me finish the work in advance,"


    Tao Lan didn''t retort against the scolding, merely spoke softly and exined.


    "Oh? You have a brother here too? That''s just perfect, we are short on manpower these days, everyone has their own duties, and we can''t always be amodating you, so your workload will return to normal. Let him help more."


    As Manager Cao spoke, his tone briefly paused, then continued in a particrly arrogant and enticing tone,


    "Let him follow you and try, who knows, he might have a chance at a new position in the future. It''s a godsend opportunity for you all, seize it well, and don''t say I didn''t give you a chance."


    "You''ve misunderstood, Manager Cao, my brother won''t being every day,"


    Tao Lan said urgently, her face growing pale.


    "If he coulde today, then why not tomorrow? Oveing difficulties is something you need to consider. I''m just notifying you, he doesn''t have to help if you don''t want him to, as long as you can finish the work,"


    Manager Cao pulled a long face, inly not listening to Tao Lan''s exnation.


    And Tao Yu interrupted his sister, who was about to plead further, and said,


    "Sis, has this guy been giving you a hard time frequently?"


    "No, uh, this..., he''s new,"


    Tao Lan stammered, unsure how to exin. She could feel that since Manager Cao came on board, there had indeed been some targeting towards her, and his gaze felt disgusting.


    She had been swallowing her pride just for the sake of her job. And since their uncle had been working here for such a long time, he had some influence, and it had been okay until now.


    She just hadn''t expected him to find such an excuse today.


    "Presumptuous! What do you mean ''giving a hard time''? You damn kid, you don''t know what''s good for you! Alright, alright, you''ve grown some backbone, have you? You don''t need toe tomorrow then!"


    Tao Yu didn''t lower his voice, which made Manager Cao pause, slightly taken aback.


    It was only after realizing he was the target of thement that his face flushed with anger.


    How dared this Outsider mud-legged yokel defy him! The nerve!


    Tao Yu wasn''t particrly capable either, not everyone in the Inner City had great talent.


    But even so, facing Outsiders, he felt all the more superior.


    Apart from a few foremen and team leaders, the majority at the waste treatment nt were Outsiderborers, which gave him an absolute psychological advantage.


    No one from the Inner City had ever dared to talk back to him!


    He had had his eye on that little wife for a long time but initially didn''t dare do anything since she was pregnant;ter, with the nursing period ''buff'', he likewise found no excuse.


    This time, catching her in the act was just an opportunity to cause trouble.


    But who would have thought that an Outsider bumpkin would talk back to him!


    "Lawless, totallywless!"


    Themotion here gradually attracted the attention of a few Outsiders who hade back to change equipment or who had simrly finished their work quickly.


    Many of them changed their expression, and Uncle Gu also hurried over with an apologetic smile,


    "Manager Tao, you''re magnanimous. If there''s anything wrong on Tao Lan''s part, I, the old man, will apologize on her behalf. She has just given birth, and her mood has been affected by hormones, you..."


    "Shut up! Old man, you really think you''re somebody?"


    Tao Yu scolded Uncle Gu, then raised his voice intentionally so that nearby Outsiderborers could hear,


    "Listen up, thepany is benevolent and has provided so many conveniences for employees during their nursing period..."


    While speaking, he even respectfully made a gesture towards the Floating City,


    "But some people, ungrateful for thepany''s kindness, are behaving recklessly. Today, I shall rectify this corruption! Later on, I will report to the factory manager and have the rule-breaker expelled!"


    Manager Tao spoke with righteous indignation, but his expression appeared somewhat sinister, constantly surveying the otherborers around him, none daring to meet his gaze.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu stood next to his sister with folded arms, coldly observing the man filled with malice towards them.


    This man must have had his eyes on his sister for a long time; he just seized an opportunity this time because of Tao Yu''s arrival.


    Fortunately, Tao Yu was present to defuse the time bomb. Otherwise, once Tao Lan''s nursing period had ended and if something went wrong, she truly would have suffered.


    It was then that Uncle Gu stepped forward again, though reluctantly,


    "Manager Tao, Tao Lan''s brother has Grade A talent."


    At these words, Manager Tao''s eloquent speech came to an abrupt halt as if someone had grasped his throat.


    His own face turned from green to purple.


    Turning to look at Tao Yu, his expression became extremely strange and twisted, as if he wanted to smile but couldn''t control it.


    Tao Yu could even feel the malice towards him growing stronger.


    The feeling of jealousy was overwhelming.


    Manager Tao, inwardly, was furiously cursing at this moment.


    Why? Why should an Outsider bumpkin have Grade A talent?!


    Thinking of how he had offended the other today, his thoughts grew darker.


    So what if he has Grade A talent? If it doesn''t develop, it''s worth nothing!


    "I... I seem to have heard about that before, but I hadn''t expected to meet the person himself."


    Manager Tao forced a change in his tone.


    Indeed, to avoid being bullied, it was quite normal to make up stories about having a rtive with a good talent or working somewhere. Manager Tao had heard too many rumors to take them to heart.


    If someone really had the ability, wouldn''t they fetch that person themselves? Couldn''t they just send a message from afar?


    Otherwise, if everyone''s boasts were believed, how would he carry out his work?


    He was, after all, a genuine local from the Inner City!


    But now, it seemed like the person himself had trulye over, and from Tao Yu''s tone, it was very likely!


    "Are you done?"


    Tao Yu looked at Manager Tao, who had stopped abruptly after his long speech, speaking in a somewhat indifferent tone.


    The piercing chill in his voice startled Manager Tao.


    Looking at Tao Yu standing quietly with folded arms, he also had a vague sense that something was amiss.


    So well-built, though not like those with imnted alien bodies, but the proportionate physique was alsopletely unlike the average Outsider bumpkin.


    His strength was probably not weak!


    This realization caused Manager Tao, who himself had average talent and strength, to gulp, and then he stated with false calm but inward vulnerability,


    "What? From the look on your face, you want to start a fight? Have the guts to hit me and see what happens!"


    "Interesting,"


    Tao Yu grinned, revealing a row of sharp white teeth, and the atmosphere around him began to change. In Manager Tao''s eyes, an inexplicable pressure suddenly weighed on him, as if Tao Yu had split into two.


    His body felt as if it were filled with lead, heavy. The air stuck to him like mercury, and the air in his lungs seemed to bepletely squeezed out, as if no amount of panting could draw in the oxygen.


    "I haven''t heard such a request before," said Tao Yu, ignoring Manager Tao''s suddenly pale face. His arm, still folded, shifted slightly, then pressed down!


    The force traveled from his body and instantly from his feet to the ground.


    Crack~


    A fracture spread swiftly from under Tao Yu''s feet to beneath Manager Tao.


    Spurt~


    Without any warning, a mouthful of blood sprayed out, and Manager Tao simply copsed to the ground.


    Blood began flowing from his mouth and nose, growing more and more profuse, as if the capiries in his lungs had burst.


    If he could find a righteous excuse to hassle Tao Lan,


    Then Tao Yu could certainly find a righteous excuse to kill him...


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 181: Chapter 162: Settle It

    "I didn''t touch him,"


    Tao Yu lifted his foot from the cracked ground and casually walked a couple of steps to the side.


    Meanwhile, Tao Lan looked visibly tense and whispered softly,


    "Yu, he won''t be in trouble, will he? The security management of the Inner City is very strict."


    "No worries,"


    Tao Yu didn''t care much about it.


    Havingpleted three tasks with Wang Goudan today, Tao Yu had also figured out quite a few of the Inner City''s ways of handling things!


    Such trash, not to mention that I really didn''t touch him, even if I had struck him dead after he said that sentence, it would be nothing more than that!


    The most that would happen would be a fine.


    This factory area entrance typicallyes under the third-tier security zone.


    The other party provoked first, even uttering ''hit me'' kind of words, Tao Yu didn''t make a direct move, just ''scaring'' him to death -- he deserved it.


    As for the autopsy?


    At most, they would think that I used some sort of Skill involving telekic power.


    Plus, it''s very likely that this kind of ''minor incident'' wouldn''t even undergo an autopsy¡­


    ¡­


    "Don''t be so impulsive next time; you neers to the city are such a hassle. Hurry up and adapt,"


    a security team captain who hade over to register made a cursory inspection of Supervisor Cao''s body, then turned to Tao Yu and startedining.


    The Inner City security team did note under the samemand as the Outsider security team and had no rtion; they surely didn''t know each other before.


    But!


    When handling this matter, this captain obviously favored Tao Yu.


    Rude words, provocation first, and even a request to ''hit me'' without making a ''direct'' move.


    Dead for nothing!


    Cause of death, sudden onset of disease, scared to death¡­


    Between a dead nobody and a promising ''greenhorn'' who had just entered the city, it''s obvious whom to choose.


    The Outsider city is a tough ce to survive, harsh and miserable, but if someone from the Outsider city really makes it in, that person''s mentality and will, forged through adversity, tend to be exceptionally strong. Provided they don''t die young, they can usually grow quickly to the limit of their natural talent without being distracted by pleasures.


    "Since it''s the treatment nt, just handle this corpse, and that''s it. Dismiss, dismiss."


    "Thank you, Captain Dave,"


    Tao Yu said with a smile and a wave of his hand, no matter what, this was still their security team for the area, and their strength was quite formidable, far exceeding the overall standard of the Outsider security team.


    Even Dave, who was a mere squad leader before, already showed signs of non-human modification, and his strength was even beyond Uncle Tiger, who was acting as the Outsider city''s deputy captain.


    "There''s no need to get your hands dirty with such disgusting riffraff; asionally it''s okay, but if it happens too often, there will be trouble."


    Wang Goudan arrived at the scene with another person showing traces of mechanical modifications.


    "Got it, I''ll be careful next time."


    Aside from Supervisor Cao being truly detestable, Tao Yu wanted to establish his authority indirectly this time, to support his sister.


    The effect was indeed very clear, as the man Wang Goudan brought had a smile on his face and even apologized to Tao Yu,


    "Really sorry, ah, little brother Tao, I misjudged the person. Don''t worry, that dead bastard''s family is just like that, simple and straightforward rtions; I''ll take care of it. Your sister is rather frail right now, so it''s actually more suitable for her to take over that guy''s position, rtively easier work, too."


    The speaker was actually the owner of this waste processing nt!


    This kind of decision could be made by him alone!


    He might be somewhat of an owner, but due to hierarchical issues, he was on par with an average ''middle-level partner'', a friend known to Wang Goudan.


    With this, matters going forward would be much simpler.


    Just that, due to the dead body and its handling, Tao Yu''s n to feast got dyed.


    But it brought Tao Lan an unexpected surprise like she was in a dream.


    Who would have thought that two major figures from the Inner City would get along with her little brother like brothers!


    Moreover, a single sentence of theirs skyrocketed her job status, doubling her ie and significantly lightening her workload and even gave her a bit of power in her hands.


    For a moment, she found it hard to believe!


    The other Outsider workers nearby, seeing Tao Yu''s convivial conversation with the two Inner City personalities, were simrly stunned.


    A few who had queued up with Tao Lan to enter or knew about her having a brother with a Grade A talent, were also struggling to understand.


    Grade A talents are really that awesome, huh?


    The gap in status is too vast; they truly can''tprehend reaching this level...


    ...


    "As long as the strength is there, then all problems can be solved easily,"


    Without leaving the city, Tao Yu found a hotel to stay the night. Standing at the window, looking at the brightly lit streets of the Inner City, he reinforced this belief in his heart once again.


    To Outsiders, it seemed like the sky was falling, but here it was just a matter of a few words to solve everything!


    Even with those few people I''m not familiar with...


    ...


    Having practiced the Meditation Technique and Breathing Technique all night, Tao Yu headed to the task hall early the next morning once more.


    It was still the task hall not yet open, the same familiar faces as yesterday.


    "Yo, little brother, you''re back again? How did those three tasks go?"


    Upon seeing Tao Yu, Three Arms chuckled teasingly.


    A few of the junior partners who were in the know yesterday also grinned, sharing a knowing smile.


    "Thanks for your concern, I''ve finished them. I''m preparing to apply for the Grade A partner assessment, hoping to pass it in one go,"


    It wasn''t something that needed to be kept secret, so Tao Yu simply said it out loud.


    Although nobody would go out of their way to spread it around or advertise yesterday''s tasks,


    it was apparent that the task group, who would queue up early, was also unable to get the news, which shows just how poorly informed they were.


    This is indeed a world where exchanging information is quite troublesome...


    "Finished?"


    "Really?"


    "All three? Or did youplete just the one with ''Four Arms''?"


    ...


    The quiet crowd, waiting in line, suddenly became a bit restless.


    "All three, just enough for the points."


    Swoosh~


    Miss Mag promptly opened the doors of the task hall and took over the conversation, reaffirming and confirming thepletion.


    As a task hall staff member, she had far more ess to information than these folks.


    But even so, as someone who was seen to be experienced and knowledgeable, a hint of surprise flickered in her eyes when she looked at Tao Yu.


    She had merely helped pick out tasks casually because he had a handsome look andpleting these tasks wasn''t very risky, just a bit of hardship typical for a newbie to adapt to the Inner City environment,


    so they wouldn''t be blinded by the high returns of tasks in the Development Zone.


    But who knew? His earnings rate was even faster than the subsidies in the Development Zone, wasn''t it?


    That''s too exaggerated...


    "I must have misjudged before; I didn''t see iting. Wow, handsome, you''re so strong,"


    Miss Mag rearranged the signboards, her delicate porcin doll-like face beaming with an even brighter smile.


    "I also have to thank Miss Mag for helping me select the tasks. Now, I''d like toplete the settlement and apply to take the Grade A partner assessment, if that''s possible,"


    "Of course, your actions yesterday did make a bit of a name for yourself in certain circles,"


    "Oh? So I''m famous now?"


    "Not exactly, you don''t even have a code name yet, who knows who you even are. But quite a few people know about some greenhorn now, so I guess there will be fewer of those types of tasks recently."


    While talking, Mag led Tao Yu straight to the back of the task hall.


    "There''s no need for Grade A partner assessment; it''s merely a formality to test strength, and you''ve already met the standard. I''ll take care of the procedure for you,"


    Tao Yu, following behind Miss Mag, was actually a bit surprised at this point.


    It seemed Miss Mag''s own influence and authority were higher than he had imagined.


    She actually had the power to grant the status of a Grade A partner.


    Looking at Wang Goudan and the situation at the garbage processing facility yesterday, one could tell that a Grade A partner status in the Inner City was not low at all.


    The power Miss Mag held in her hands was indeed not insignificant...

 Chapter 182: Chapter 163: A Hammer Settles It

    "Mid-level partner..."


    Tao Yu watched as Miss Mag busied herself with a cumbersomeputer, his heart filled with a tinge of sentimentality.


    Just over four months ago, this was something he didn''t even dare to dream of.


    In theory, this was the qualification for life in the Inner City, where moving in and out of the city no longer required handling fees, and one could simply rent a ce to move their family into the Inner City!


    As long as family members were apanied by him during the registration process, they could easily acquire Inner City identity.


    "No need to rush, let''s stabilize things first."


    Tao Yu hadn''t the intention to make the move just yet.


    Take Wang Goudan, for example; he was a second-generation Inner City Pioneer with no significant umtion of resources, but through diligence and adequate talent, he slowly worked his way up to bing a mid-level partner.


    Although he could kill Wang Goudan without using a second move, those with mechanical enhancements, if they ambushed him with weapons or covered him with firepower, would pose a significant problem.


    If you added to the mix those real Inner City powerhouses with good talents, good backgrounds, and sufficient umtion of time...


    "I wonder how many could survive a one-on-one in the Inner City with ''Innate Time Control'' and ''Fist Intention'' pairing with ''Ambush¡¤Modified II''..."


    Tao Yu had never seen such powerhouses and felt somewhat uncertain.


    For instance, if someone had mechanical or alien imnts pushed to the extreme and could not be killed by targeting their vitals, or if they had telekic abilities like Sun Shiyu that covered their entire body, or abilities like ''Demonization'' that made them have no vital points, he really wouldn''t be able to handle them.


    His strength was stillcking, not secure enough.


    If after a series of fancy maneuvers, the other person just blocked with one finger and then ''click'' dealt him a cut, wouldn''t he just be doomed?


    After weighing his options mentally, Tao Yu concluded that he was not strong enough!


    "Hey, what''s on your mind? Wake up."


    Miss Mag''s voice brought Tao Yu back to reality.


    Looking at her exquisite doll-like face, one couldn''t tell she was a modified human capable of pulling out wires from her face; the craftsmanship was too exquisite, and he wondered which factory had made her.


    "Please go ahead, Miss Mag."


    "Code name; mid-level partners can arrange their own codenames. Our mission system has a decent level of secrecy. Some partners use codenames all the time, even wearing masks or the like, depending on their preferences. You can''t change the codename easily, so think carefully."


    Miss Mag handed over a tablet for Tao Yu to write on.


    Upon hearing about the codename, Tao Yu thought of what the Wild Wolf Gang had said about the ''Wilderness Hunter'' and the ''Lethal Bullet,'' the high-level partner from the end.


    They seemed too characteristic upon first hearing, as if their abilities werepletely reflected in their codenames.


    Wang Goudan''s codename was also like that, it seemed these few guys weren''t the type to hide their identities.


    Tao Yu hesitated, knowing that his identity as a mid-level partner would definitely need to be disyed to some extent ¡ª at least to use this status to deal with someplicated issues and troubles, but indeed, there was no need to reveal his special skills.


    "Let''s go with ''Eight-Armed Vajra''..."


    Tao Yu casually wrote the codename on the tablet, causing even Miss Mag to be a bit speechless at his caution.


    Utilizing her privileges, she nced at Tao Yu''s registered talents. Hmm, Grade A ''Dynamic Vision,'' but the news she received stated he had nearly beaten White to death with sheer physical power; nothing was certain.


    Miss Mag couldn''t help but picture a scene.


    A group ambushing ''Eight-Armed Vajra,'' carrying a lot of equipment specifically targeting mechanical modifications for disruption and anti-locking, only to be directly shot at with a gun, in in sight. Realizing the target uses a gun and getting close forbat, they''d be suddenly struck dead by two punches.


    "Good thinking, handsome. You''re not as rash as you appear; however, cautious people live longer. Looks like I don''t need to advise you further."


    Miss Mag put away the signing pad and then pressed a button on a rugged machine beside her. Soon, with the buzzing sound of the machine, a metal namete was created.


    Made of steel, the surface looked somewhat rough, with the codename engraved on the back and the logo of partners shaking hands on the front.


    "This is recorded in the system, with a built-in chip. I see you also have a mission wristband; we can update the chip information in your wristband."


    "Thank you, Miss Mag."


    Tao Yu understood that she probably thought his first three missions were too simple and crude and wanted to advise him to dial it back a bit, not be so extreme.


    But then she changed her mind upon seeing the name he had chosen for his codename.


    "Given your personality, I think the two basic sets that a mid-level partner can buy suit you well."


    Miss Mag seemed to have thought of something, heading straight to the storage room behind the office to search for a moment.


    After nging around for a while, she brought out a set of pitch-ck cloak and a ck head cover.


    "The mid-level partner''s benefit set; it''s a kind of uniform and a disy of identity. The material''s radiation protection is strong, and it resists most detection abilities well, but its defense is just mediocre, only as good as its wear resistance."


    Tao Yu took the cloak and face mask, which were clearly standard-issue equipment, with the distinct associate logo on the back of the ck cloak and a smaller one at the chest.


    Touching it, the material felt quite smooth and nice to the touch, and it even had that special feel of being water and oil resistant.


    ording to Miss Mag, at the very least, it should be as good as foil in terms of insting and retaining heat.


    It should provide a decent shielding effect against infrared detection or biological radars as well.


    "The first set is half price at two hundred, but the rest will cost four hundred each, and four hundred is the cost price. Don''t think you''re getting a loss,"


    Miss Mag said casually.


    "Okay, I''ll take two sets."


    One to use now, and one as a spare, could save a lot of trouble¡­


    ...


    The ck cloak paired with the hood covered most of the body, and beneath the shadow of the hood, one could still see the exclusive face mask of the associate.


    The handshake logo on the back and chest of the cloak also disyed the owner''s identity and status.


    Walking on the streets of the Inner City, one would asionally draw some nces.


    Theughing hip-hop crowds on the street would lower their voices when Tao Yu passed by.


    This was the influence that came with being a mid-level associate!


    This outfit alone represented one''s status.


    Mid-level associates might not be considered upper ss in the Inner City, but in the eyes of ordinary people, mid-level associates were already sessful people.


    "That should be enough, now I should be qualified to visit the security team captain in person¡­"


    Tao Yu walked from the south gate of the Inner City toward the Outer City, attracting some attention from the guards.


    It was indeed a rare sight to see someone dressed as a mid-level associate heading towards the Outer City¡ªit made one wonder if some troublesome issue had arisen out there¡­


    ...


    Unimpeded!


    That was the feeling in Tao Yu''s heart. In the past, even with Uncle Hu''s influence, visiting the security team involved all sorts of registrations, inquiries, and waiting.


    But this time, Tao Yu didn''t even need to swipe his watch; he was let through directly!


    The security team''s usual rules seemed to be virtually non-existent, and the original procedures and systems vanished into thin air in the face of Tao Yu''s outfit.


    And so, he arrived directly at the door of the security team captain''s office.


    The security team captain of the Outer City, Ze Chuan, seemed to have been forewarned as well, stepping out of the room with a friendly smile that Tao Yu had never seen on him before.


    "My associate friend, I wonder if there is anything I can help with. Here in the Outer City, I''m rather well-informed,"


    Ze Chuan gestured for Tao Yu toe in.


    When it came to strength, Ze Chuan was not a weakling among the mid-level associates, and Tao Yu could feel the other''s powerful Qi-Blood. Ze Chuan followed the path of cultivation, and his Qi-Blood energy was not weaker than Tao Yu''s own, even stronger than their head instructor''s brother by a fair margin.


    But!


    This represented the upper limit of the Outer City!


    The strongest force within the Outer City''s martial institutions!


    And yet, the clothes Tao Yu was wearing already marked his lower limit¡­


    "It''s not apany task, more of a personal issue of mine,"


    Tao Yu nodded and spoke in a slightly altered voice.


    "Haha, to me, your personal issue is no different from a task. Please speak, wherever I can lend a hand, I''ll do my utmost."


    Without prior acquaintance or any promised favors, the security team captain, who held a high position in the Outer City, was already taking charge of the situation.


    Though he used the phrase ''do my utmost'' as a qualifier¡ªin case the task was too difficult it would just be ''did my best''¡ªit still showed his attitude.


    "No need to do your utmost. It''s a simple matter for you. Tao Hu is my friend, and it seems he has run into some trouble recently."


    "What trouble? It''s all unfounded rumors. The Wild Wolf Gang has been wiped out, and he solved all the problems in three days. That''s a great achievement. I''ll report it right away; we can move forward with the appointment to Deputy Captain of South City and remove the ''acting'' part¡­"


    Ze Chuan''s words were hearty, a decision made outright¡­


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 183: Chapter 164: Invitation

    "You''re still hiding things from us, huh? Next time, make things clear, so people don''t have to make a special trip."


    Tao Hu was utterly bewildered as he looked at the beaming Ze Chuan in front of him.


    Although he had no idea what had happened, he managed to keep his expressionposed and epted the official appointment letter with a smile on his face.


    Yet on the way back, he was still puzzled.


    He had been ready to go to the Inner City to seek out his backers and see if he could pull some strings, but the matter had resolved itself?


    From what he gathered from Ze Chuan''s words, someone else had put in a good word for him?


    Who?


    Tao Hu quickly thought it through and then considered Tao Yu.


    However, he didn''t think Tao Yu himself had done it. Instead, he believed that Tao Yu''s talent had caught the eye of some important person who then gave him a nudge in the right direction.


    "Heh, if it''s really this kid, then he''s be quite impressive," Tao Hu chuckled to himself. After some thought, he didn''t go home directly but instead hopped on his beloved motorbike, turned it around, and headed in the direction of the Tao family.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu returned to his room and put away the partner''s costume.


    After leaving the security team, he took the opportunity to slip into the shadows to tidy up the costume.


    It wasn''t that he was being overly cautious, he just didn''t want the cloak dragging on the ground and getting dirty...


    "My sister''s problem is solved, Uncle Hu''s issue has been taken care of, third brother checked and is absorbing it smoothly, he can even handle four pieces a day without any problem..."


    Tao Yu thought about some of the misceneous issues he had addressed upon returning and was quite pleased with himself.


    But then he heard the sound of a motorcycle approaching from afar and guessed that it must be Uncle Hu.


    Sure enough, Tao Hu''s booming voice soon reached them,


    "Is Yu at home? I have a question."


    Tao Tong, who had just finished absorbing a "Demonization" meat chunk and was resting at the doorway, put on a smile and said,


    "He''s here, just got back. He must have heard you."


    "I''ming."


    Tao Yu stepped out of his room and saw Uncle Hu parked his bike in a casual yet mboyant manner.


    "You little rascal, did you get someone you know to help me out?" Tao Hu asked bluntly.


    "Kind of," Tao Yu replied, not bothering to exin in detail. "I heard about it at the dojo from senior brother, so I thought I''d see if I could lend a hand."


    Tao Yu, not wanting to overwhelm his family with too much information all at once, decided to feed it to them slowly, bit by bit, like slicing sausage.


    "Haha, you''ve done me a big favor, thanks," Tao Hu smiled from ear to ear.


    He had been very anxious because the appointment he had nearly secured was in jeopardy.


    With the official appointment now in ce, he was naturally relieved to have that weight off his chest, and upon further reflection, he felt a mix of emotions.


    It hadn''t been long¡ªwhen he helped his great-nephew, he had some investment thoughts, thinking it would be a long time before it paid off.


    Yet in just four months, Tao Yu had solved such a difficult problem for him, which was no small feat.


    What a promising future...


    Since Tao Hu hade all this way, he wasn''t just going to say hello and leave. He stayed and chatted casually with his nephews Tao Tong and Tao Yu.


    He also shared some of his own perspectives and experiences.


    And to be honest, even though Uncle Hu had always hung around the Outsider areas, he had his unique outlook on the Abyss, honed from decades of experience. Not all of it was useful, but he had still managed to draw some valuable lessons.


    Tao Yu, taking his own situation into ount, filled in some gaps with additional insights.


    However, while they were chatting at the doorway, Tao Shi came running from the direction of the farm.


    "Bro, someone''s looking for you."


    Upon seeing his younger brother, Tao Yu''s expression stiffened.


    Who was looking for him?


    It couldn''t be another "Cowgirl Sister," could it...


    Ever since he returned, Tao Yu felt that there were even more people eyeing him.


    Going out to the dojo for training or errands was one thing, but once back home, he might run into a number of attractive women from the Outsider areas loitering nearby.


    The ones he had vaguely fantasized about during his adolescence, when his memory was not fully restored, seemed to be wanting to get close as well.


    And ording to Tao Yu''s judgment, many of them were simply hoping to hit the jackpot, all well aware and without any intentions of getting attached.


    Or to put it differently, in the face of his talent, it was impossible to get attached; thepany had no rules protecting against such interactions, and in fact, they even encouraged it.


    If he wanted to, his night life back home could certainly be plentiful.


    However, with higher standards, he didn''t want to waste time indulging in such matters.


    With that time, wouldn''t it be better to practice some boxing?


    "Who is it? Didn''t I say I''d be straight back?"


    Tao Yu nced at his younger brother with annoyance.


    "No, it''s not Sister Cow, it''s Brother Chao. It seems someone has invited you to a gathering."


    "Lin Chao?"


    Tao Yu raised an eyebrow. His impression of Lin Chao was quite good, but he had already declined the invitation to join Lin''s Chaoyang Society, and even if Lin hadn''t given up, it wasn''t like him toe directly to the house.


    "It''s not an invitation to join the society. It seems to be a dinner initiated by a genius with Level S talent from the new Development Zone, and it''s taking ce at ''Gourmet Fort''."


    "Oh."


    Tao Yu paused upon hearing this. Level S talent?


    Unless specified otherwise, such a Level S talent should generally be a standardbat talent.


    Even so, that was quite impressive.


    But considering that four months had passed since people started entering the new Development Zone, and if you included those who had died, the total number might well be around ten thousand by now, so the emergence of a Level S talent didn''t seem so strange.


    Themon view in the Outer City was that with a Grade Cbat talent, one could just barely make it to the bottom rungs of the Inner City, but normally, no one would choose this option, as they would not even have a ce to live, leading to a deficit living in the Inner City.


    A Grade B talent could secure a foothold, a Grade A talent might have the opportunity to be part of the middle tier, like a mid-level partner, while a Level S talent could have the chance to squeeze into the elite ss in the Inner City, even possibly bing a senior partner.


    Having been to the Inner City, Tao Yu knew there was also an underss there, with many peopleckingbat talents or possessing less than Grade C talent, but they had their family''s radiation to rely on¡ªat least they had a ce to live and could survive in the Inner City.


    There were also many who ended up in the Outer City because of their family circumstances.


    Just revealing a Grade A talent of his own had brought him lots of goodwill and advance investment.


    This genius with a Level S talent, especially in the new Development Zone, was probably already receiving every kind of angel investment, growing much faster than the average Outsider.


    "It wouldn''t be bad to meet him..."


    Tao Yu quickly thought it over. Wang Goudan had said before that many new groups in the Inner City also formed alliances.


    Everyone''s goal was just mutual support, gathering a group of talented geniuses to get to know each other, which could also be quite good.


    Whether it was now or in the future when everyone had grown stronger, a simple callout could often provide many conveniences.


    "Alright, did they say when?"


    "Tonight at six o''clock, at Gourmet Fort''s Restaurant Number One."


    "Okay, tell him I''lle on my ownter, and I''ll see him then."


    With Uncle Hu here, Tao Yu didn''t intend to leave his guest behind, and besides, Lin Chao wouldn''t mind these things. He would just see himter.


    "Oh, alright."


    Tao Shi sprinted off into the distance again. Watching his monkey-like antics, Tao Yu figured the boy was bound to lean more towards their mother''s talents in the future.


    At this moment, Uncle Hu also spoke,


    "Don''t mind me, I should be heading back soon. You young people should socialize more."


    Obviously, Uncle Hu was very supportive of such interactions.


    It''s hard to p with one hand. No matter how strong a person is, how many nails can they hammer in by themselves?


    Even the Sun Shiyu siblings, who are as strong as theye, needyers of assistance to seed. The system of Floating City, Inner City, and Outer City operates simrly.


    Powerful individuals who can''t be everywhere at once need to focus on holding down the fort and making breakthroughs, striving to obtain rare items whenever possible. The main work of producing Yuan Force on a daily basis has to be distributed to others.


    "In the old Development Zone, animal husbandry, aquaculture, agriculture, and mining all have substantial Yuan Force ie, but actually, it''s the ordinary Pioneers who are mainly responsible for production. With your talent, you will definitely be able to break out of that cycle.


    "In the new Development Zone, first try to find some reliable partners to break new ground, earn your first pot of gold, and grow as quickly as possible. Later on, bing a manager of production resources will be better than anything else."


    Tao Hu seemed a bit emotional and envious while speaking.


    With a Grade A talent going to an old Development Zone, there wouldn''t be much opportunity, just a worker''s life. But in a new Development Zone, one could certainly try to control some production resources!


    Those were resources that could continuously generate Yuan Force.


    Why was he fighting tooth and nail for the vice-captain position of the South City area? Because having more trained subordinates ready to be called upon would drastically increase his influence!


    When power levels are within a certain range, numbers can be very cost-effective.


    The entry threshold for the Outer City''s security forces, added to experienced coordination, can overpower any high-level Outer City expert with sheer numbers, including Ze Chuan, the team captain!


    Tao Yurgely agreed with this, but his own situation was somewhat exceptional. In his view, the Abyss offered limitless possibilities, which meant that even if he were unmatched in the world one day, he would have to keep his ace in the hole secret.


    What if enemies came from the heavens?


    In Uncle Hu''s view, everyone has a growth ceiling based on their talent, so one must form alliances and climb within groups, but Tao Yu hadn''t yet seen his own ceiling...


    So connections could only serve as an aid, offering some help in improving his strength.


    But controlling production resources? That indeed piqued his interest.


    Even Alien breeding counts as one, and what Panda and the others had started to consider regarding machinery and bullet production lines also counts...

 Chapter 184: Chapter 165: The Geniuses of the Outer City

    ```


    ''Gourmet Fort'' was different fromprehensive forts like ''Hound Fort''.


    The most notable aspect of this fort was its array of chefs and cuisines, with channels to old Development Zone Yuan Force bred creatures and arge gathering of chefs, turning the fort into something akin to a food street.


    As the sky gradually darkened, ''Gourmet Fort'' hungnterns on the machine gun towers, and numerous torches were lit within, filling the air with a scent of pine. A few restaurants that were still open were brightly lit inside.


    However, given the spending level of the Outsiders, only members of the security forces asionally had enough money to dine at the smaller establishments.


    The rtively nicer restaurants inside catered to the likes of Outisder organization leaders.


    A single meal''s per capita cost could reach tens or even hundreds of Yuan Force, sometimes even more.


    For the vast majority of Outsiders, this was an absolutely unaffordable ce.


    Even with money, it''s not to be spent so recklessly.


    Those who could afford to dine here were all capable individuals in the Outer City, at the very least core members of a gang or squad leaders of the security team.


    "Quite wealthy, eh? Choosing this ce for a gathering and I wonder how many people were invited. It must be only those with Grade A talents and thoseparable to Grade A. If I included Level B, it''d make my flesh ache."


    Tao Yu arrived at the fort''s entrance, and even without wearing a partner''s uniform, entering the fort with his current looks was quite straightforward.


    The ''Number One Restaurant'' where the gathering was being held was a small courtyard, separated by wooden partitions, with some green nts and flower beds, and it had a tranquil vibe amidst the hustle and bustle.


    Four wooden buildings stood at the four corners of the courtyard, guarding the central hall, which was thergest.


    There were corridors connecting the lodges and the central hall, all festooned with oilmps even as the sky grew darker.


    Such an environment in the Outer City felt somewhat out of ce to Tao Yu; it seemed as though the artistic style had changedpletely.


    "Indeed, even in the worst ces, the wealthy want to enjoy themselves. No wonder there are so many people who are eligible but don''t go to the Inner City."


    Tao Yu, having been baptized by his previous life, wasn''t much shocked by this scenery, but he did feel somewhat emotional inside.


    "Sir, do you have a reservation?"


    A beautiful hostess at the entrance of the courtyard asked Tao Yu with a gentle voice as he approached.


    "B21, reserved by Mr. Niu."


    "May I have your name, sir?"


    "Tao Yu."


    "Alright, sir, please follow me."


    The beautiful hostess''s smile brightened instantly as she led Tao Yu, staying very close to him and asionally there was some physical contact.


    Tao Yu neither resisted nor initiated any action, especially whenpared to the flirtatiousness of a little rich woman, there was nopetition at all.


    The reservation wasn''t in the central hall, but in one of the lodges next to it.


    On the second floor of the lodge, after climbing the stairs, Tao Yu saw that seven or eight people who had already arrived were chatting casually, and it seemed he was among thest to arrive.


    Lin Chao was also here.


    Upon seeing Tao Yu, he actively greeted him with a smile,


    "Brother Tao, we meet again. Every encounter with you is breathtaking."


    Hearing Lin Chao''s words, Tao Yu also smiled,


    "That''s because you have great talent."


    The exchange between Tao Yu and Lin Chao also attracted the attention of others.


    It was quite apparent that Lin Chao was in a somewhat core position among the group.


    Intuition as a talent was truly marvelous to have as a teammate, especially when pioneering unknown worlds.


    "Brother Chao, is this the Brother Tao you mentioned?"


    A petite and sprightly girl with a pockmarked face asked Lin Chao.


    She was looking at Lin Chao as if she was trying to find an excuse to talk, her eyes almost forming threads.


    "Yes, he is a genius with abilities and talents far beyond mine."


    ```


    While saying this, Lin Chao also introduced Tao Yu.


    "This is also a member of our society, Wang Xiaoli, a Grade A agility talent, capable of closebat and assassinating aliens one-on-one, with not-so-ordinarybat strength."


    "Hello."


    Tao Yu nodded to the yful, hemp-faced girl, observing the dagger at her waist. Being able to assassinate aliens at close range with a short weapon indeed demonstrated considerable strength.


    At least for the fresh faces in the new Development Zone, that would be the case. Relying solely on her own to earn Yuan Force must be somewhat tough; she must also have financial help from the society, even skills.


    As for Lin Chao''s candid remark that she was "far above me," none of those present took it to heart.


    Knowing Lin Chao''s personality and getting to understand him over time, they just considered it modesty.


    Yet even so, the seven or eight people present mostly looked at Tao Yu with goodwill, many nodding with a smile or exchanging pleasantries during the introduction.


    They were all talents from the Outsider birth, and they didn''t have the snobby issues of the Inner City''s young masters.


    Being invited here in the first ce was for the sake of making friends and forming teams.


    Only an idiot would randomly make enemies here.


    So, indeed, the atmosphere was quite harmonious, apart from two whose families were somewhat prominent in the Outsidermunity, most had climbed up from the actual bottom and didn''t have any frustrating issues.


    "Actually, it''s not bad, four men and four women. I suppose none of us have settled down yet. Why don''t we just pair up among ourselves, keep it internal?"


    A burly man seemingly felt the conversation was going well andughed heartily.


    He winked at another tall, roughly seven-out-of-ten beauty next to him.


    Among the eight people, these two had the mostfortable family conditions. The man was the son of a fort officer, named Zhang Lei, and the woman''s father was the captain of a security team, holding a status simr to the former Uncle Hu, named Zhao Yan.


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan, the woman, did not show much repulsion but simply said,


    "Dream on, the Development Zone is receiving the highest subsidies right now. I definitely don''t want to be pregnant at this time."


    As long as the talent is there, being a bit ugly really doesn''t matter!


    Still, she let her gaze sweep over Tao Yu''s face.


    Among the several men present, it was Tao Yu who had the highest looks.


    If one could possess both talent and good looks, naturally that would be even better.


    "I haven''t considered it for the time being, you all do as you please."


    Tao Yu didn''t want to extend this topic further. The conversation was going well, and he didn''t want this matter to spoil the mood.


    "Same here,"


    Lin Chao promptly stated his position, leaving the hemp-faced girl somewhat disappointed.


    Looking down at her washboard-like figure, she thought she was merely malnourished, and with better conditions, there would be a chance for rescue.


    "Alright, if two people aren''t willing, then there''s not much to be done,"


    The burly man who suggested itined a bit but didn''t persist. Then he asked as if inquiring,


    "Do you guys know anything about the Level S Big Brother this time? I''ve got a little insider news. His father seems to be from the Gourmet Fort. Although his status wasn''t high before, now with a Level S talented son emerging, it has shot up dramatically."


    "Oh? Now we only know that this big brother has Level S talent, do you know what it is specifically?"


    "It seems to be ''Battle Will,'' aprehensive talent that takes care of both physical and mental aspects. If the grade is low, it''s a bit awkward, neither here nor there, but if the grade is high, that''s excellent."


    "''Battle Will,'' huh? Although it''s not as fundamental as Lin Chao''s ''Intuition,'' it''s also a path of dual cultivation. Once fully developed, it''s unlikely to leave any weaknesses, and being Level S is a bit extravagant."


    Another somewhat skinny man also spoke up at this point.


    Lin Chao''s ''Intuition'', although only Grade B, was roughly equivalent to the ordinary Grade A+ to S-bat talent, making him the most talented individual present next to the Level S talent.


    Plus, he had a good personality; at least no one here disliked him.


    Just then, footsteps on the wooden stairs heralded another arrival.


    The voice arrived before the person did,


    "I thank everyone for honoring this meeting with your presence. My name is Niu Changchun, and by inviting you all to gather, I aim to foster closer rtionships for mutual assistance in the new Development Zone. Andter, when we all enter the Inner City, we can also form amunity of support."

 Chapter 185: Chapter 166 Eating

    Niu Changchun slowly ascended the stairs, his spacious blue robe quite rare in the Outer City, though somewhatmon within the city walls. Outside the city walls, it was easy to get dirty.


    But for this very reason, the originally handsome Niu Changchun was made to look refined and schrly, if not quite on par with Tao Yu, at least quite impressive.


    Further bolstered by his Level S talent, this caused three of the female Pioneers on the scene, save for the freckled one, to show a glint of admiration in their eyes.


    And as Niu Changchun began to speak, he naturally seemed to be the center of attention, effortlessly stealing the spotlight that originally belonged to Lin Chao.


    Standing beside him, Tao Yu also slightly raised his eyes, noticing that the other''s spiritual fluctuations were somewhat scattered. He was starting to practice the Meditation Technique, but hadn''t yet subdued his thoughts and had not entered the gateway.


    Almost as soon as Tao Yu thought this, Niu Changchun spoke with a slightly apologetic tone,


    "Sorry, I just went to the Inner City to learn the Meditation Technique from a great master, and I''ve only just obtained the Visualization Diagram. I haven''tpletely mastered it, so it might be a bit ring. Please don''t mind it."


    Hearing this, Tao Yu couldn''t help but twitch the corner of his eye.


    Good grief, who asked you...


    ring?


    Tao Yu nced at Niu Changchun''s expression. Since he hadn''t entered the gateway, it wasn''t like how Tao Yu was when he had just seeded.


    Yet Niu Changchun''s attitude of unting his gains still garnered a round of ttery.


    "The Meditation Technique? Brother Niu is really on his way to skyrocketing sess. As far as I know, even in the Inner City, the Meditation Technique is quite rare, and the Visualization Diagram needs to be directly imprinted by a meditation master, which takes a toll on the caster."


    The previously rugged-looking Zhang Lei, who had suggested they keep things internal, now totally got Niu Changchun''s intention to unt and started to build upon it, telling the other Outsiders of modest backgrounds just how incredible this thing was.


    "Haha, you tter me too much; it''s not so exaggerated. It''s a pity that Young Master Sun and Miss Sun aren''t skilled in this; otherwise, they might have personally taught it to me. s, although they seem rather aloof on ordinary days, they don''t discriminate against us..."


    Niu Changchun''s eyes shimmered with a hint of yearning as he spoke somewhat absent-mindedly.


    Tao Yu could understand that admiring look; the allure of the rich young mistress was like a poison. He could easily remain unaffected by various trials in the Outer City.


    But she often could send him into a fantasy with just one or two gestures.


    But hearing Niu Changchun''s words, Tao Yu couldn''t help but feel a bit amused.


    In fact, over this period, that little rascal Sun Shiqing had already be capable of passing on the Visualization Diagram; their growth rate was truly impressive.


    Sun Shiyu might be suffering from a psychological shadow, but Sun Shiqing seemed to be purelyzy.


    He had bluffed this fellowpletely.


    And although the siblings did seem somewhat aloof during their first meeting, without any sense of superiority, there was a clear sense of distance.


    But upon getting to know them better, it turned out they were quite easygoing. The wealthy miss didn''t seem to regard him as a man, casually slinging an arm over his shoulder or flicking his forehead when discussing the Meditation Technique.


    She had no idea how attractive she was, nor how hard it was for him to stay disciplined.


    However, Tao Yu thought it made sense; he had made the initiative to contact them based on his unique insights into the Meditation Technique.


    Perhaps all Niu Changchun had was the initial aloofness from their first meeting.


    As Tao Yu reminisced and zoned out, Niu Changchun and the otherspleted their first round of interaction.


    Then, seeming to consider his words, Niu Changchun said,


    "However, the approachability of those of higher status is not an excuse for one to frivolously unt their name. I''ve recently heard some unfavorable rumors..."


    Having said this, he nced at Tao Yu, who was the most visually appealing person present, as if considering how to broach the subject.


    Tao Yu too felt the other''s conflicted emotions, which seemed to be about him.


    There was a faint mix of hostility, though not pronounced enough toe to blows or even harsh words¡ªjust in annoyance.


    This made Tao Yu raise an eyebrow and casually inquire,


    "Oh? What sort of unfavorable rumors?"


    Seeing Tao Yu joining the conversation, Niu Changchun quickly continued,


    "It''s like this, upon my return, I heard that someone has been casually raising the banner of esteemed individuals, leveraging the rewards from a mission to misuse their names; this isn''t right."


    After all, he was still an eighteen-year-old youth. Perhaps given a reminder, his reason understood, but he still couldn''t resist taking a subtle jab.


    At this moment, the others nearby also detected an underlying message in the conversation. However, they were unclear about the specifics and also fell silent, quietly awaiting an oue.


    "I think, perhaps we need to rify something. Just like me, although I too have received a reward, I never mention it frequently, and I always present myself as approachable and down-to-earth to others. All this talk of being valued and appreciated is nothing but empty words..."


    Niu Changchun began to promote himself as if he were the temte for others to follow.


    After a brief pause, he then turned to Tao Yu and asked,


    "So, Brother Tao, what do you think?"


    With that said, everyone else understood that Tao Yu was probably the one pulling strings behind the scenes.


    Such a matter did not really involve picking sides. Even Zhang Lei looked somewhat indifferent.


    Haven''t they themselves would have taken this opportunity to wave the big banner? Us Outsiders with no strong foundations need banners like this to ward off many troubles. They would say it seems improper to mention it every time they met someone, but then they felt like they were missing out if they didn''t mention it every other encounter.


    And there you go again, saying you haven''t shown off, but since you arrived, it''s been brought up every three sentences. We wouldn''t have known about it if you hadn''t brought it up yourself...oh dear...


    But this was the sort of thing that was better observed from the sidelines. Everyone here was a genius with Grade A talent or above; they would give Niu Changchun a wide berth, but certainly wouldn''t stoop to being sycophants.


    Joking aside, with Grade A talent, if they were to be sycophants, they''d at least align themselves with Inner City geniuses or even directly serve under Floating City''s nobility.


    The reason everyone was gathering now was more about mutual assistance, making friends andworking, not offending each other.


    Better to have no achievement than to make a mistake.


    So, no one else took a stance, simply staying on the sidelines to watch the drama unfold.


    "I think... let''s eat."


    Tao Yu pointed to the dishes on the table and felt somewhat speechless in his heart.


    After being cut off once by the base, he thought about unting his achievements more obviously to avoid future troubles.


    Since his return, he had mentioned it numerous times to his family, practically whenever he met someone.


    Who would have guessed he''d encounter someone like this?


    Well, banner or no banner, one would face different issues either way, right?


    Tao Yu''s response made Niu Changchun''s expression stiffen. You really came here just to eat?


    But after being called out like that, he didn''t have much ground to argue.


    After all, he had paid to have everyone here, and no one else had taken a stance; it was not possible for him to do something unterally that would cause displeasure¡ªthat would be too much of a loss.


    "Exactly, well said, let''s eat, let''s eat."


    While saying this, he pped his hands and ordered,


    "Bring out the dishes."


    As dishes after dishes of exquisite food were served, the atmosphere ramped up once again.


    Even Zhang Lei and Zhao Yan had only dined here once or twice at most, while for others it was their first time tasting such fare.


    Niu Changchun, being from Gourmet Fort himself, wasn''t the most experienced, but he was quite articte in introducing the dishes.


    "This serving of prime beef is from livestock bred using Yuan Force in the old agglomeration zones. The meat is not only tender and delicious, but also very beneficial for one''s Qi-Blood energy. If one could insist on incorporating it into their regr training diet, the effects on their training would be significantly enhanced. It''s just a pity that it''s too expensive..."


    "This bowl... is just a pity that it''s too expensive."


    "...too expensive."


    "...expensive..."


    Niu Changchun''s introduction was quite good, emphasizing all the features, but every few words he hinted at the cost, as if he wanted to suggest he had spared no expense.


    Tao Yu also started to eat without any distractions, and the food really was excellent. While the Outer City might appear dreadful, this high-end dining location was top-notch in taste.


    Thanks to the special ingredients, the vors were even better than some of the delicacies he had tasted in his previous life.


    Moreover, most of the food indeed had effectsparable to Qi-tonic Soup or even surpassed it. After eating their fill, they would be able to go back and practice their punches with vigor.


    It''s just a pity that the cost-performance ratio was still a bit low. Today was a free feast, but if he had to pay for it himself, he wouldn''t be willing to splurge¡ªat least not for now. Isn''t Qi-tonic Soup fragrant? After doing the math, these were even more expensive than the convenient Qi Replenishing Pills...

 Chapter 186: Chapter 167 Different

    "Brother Niu has grand ambitions,bined with Level S talent and the patronage of noble benefactors, his future achievements are boundless."


    By this time, Zhang Lei had already be chummy with Niu Changchun, hispliments flowing like they were free of charge.


    "Oh, please, don''t bring up the support of the nobility so casually, that''s not appropriate."


    Niu Changchun was all humility, but as soon as he brought up the subject, Zhang Lei deftly changed the topic, saying,


    "Speaking of which, I heard that a ''Mid-level Partner'' from our new Development Zone has emerged, quite impressive. I wonder which big shot it is, having already umted enough points."


    "Are you sure they''re from our new Development Zone? That doesn''t seem likely. It''s only been a little over four months. Even if the Inner City young masters have enough strength, they couldn''t have gathered that many points, right?"


    "For real?"


    With Zhang Lei''s words, quite a few people perked up with interest, while everyone else, except Tao Yu who was still boasting, looked genuinely surprised.


    Only Lin Chao nced at Tao Yu without showing any sign.


    He was among those who knew Tao Yu the best, relying on the "Chosen One" mission and the tasks of pioneering the new world; with what he had umted over this period, it should have been enough.


    As for his strength, let''s not even talk about it. He had personally overwhelmed two teams led by Inner City Pioneers, and that nerve-racking experience still gave him nightmares to this day.


    Before returning, Lin Chao had also heard that there had been an incident at the mission hall, where one of the Inner City young masters had been directly killed by Miss Sun Shiqing when he tried to intercept her ns. His body was hung at the base''s entrance as a warning to others.


    Lin Chao thought this might be rted to Tao Yu. Considering the potential troubles it could bring to Tao Yu, he naturally didn''t reveal anything.


    "It should be true."


    At this moment, Niu Changchun also spoke up, then adding,


    "While I was learning the Meditation Technique from Master Wang, I heard a senior brother mention it casually. Well, it''s been over four months now, and with the many opportunities in the Development Zone and the bonus rewards for umting points, it''s understandable."


    Niu Changchun himself possessed Level S talent and had received considerable angel investment, thus his strength had improved rapidly.


    He felt that once his points were enough and he had fully digested what he had already earned, he could try to challenge himself! Master Wang had told him that with his Level S talent and steady progress, even an Outsider without much background could aspire to be a Senior Partner!


    Even among the Inner City Pioneers, there were few whose talents surpassed his own!


    Not to mention in the new Development Zone!


    Niu Changchun had that confidence.


    "Nheless, being a ''Partner'' is ultimately not the proper path. It''s just something to pay attention to in passing. Even ''Senior Partners'' are no match for having one''s own industry. We should still seek shortcuts to corporate promotion or even start our ownpanies to acquire production resources..."


    Niu Changchun then shared his thoughts.


    But Zhang Lei, who had been ttering him, justughed it off at this point,


    "Well, the new Development Zone is still recovering. It''s a bit premature to talk about setting uppanies and factories. We can discuss thatter."


    ttering words cost nothing, but formingpanies and such, how would the benefits be divided? Who would take orders from whom?


    Better to join an existingpany; the recently established Dada Transportation Company by some of the Inner City young masters is quite good.


    "No, listen to me, as far as I know, that Dada Transportation Company has already made a pretty penny, and I''ve got word that they seem to be nning a trip to the new fragments to work on machine tools. We could totally follow suit."


    Niu Changchun, a former Outsider with an average family background, wasn''t as knowledgeable as Zhang Lei and Zhao Yan, so it was somewhat bewildering for him to think of ways to make money.


    But with a sessful example before him, why not just imitate it!


    "Eh? Brother Niu, with you saying this, we could really do it too. Let''s start our own transportation business, go to the new fragments for those machine tools. Moreover, the Zombie World might also have these machine tools avable, we could find a way to transport some. With Brother Niu''s clout, they probably wouldn''t mind."


    The other thin male Pioneer also joined the conversation, lending his support.


    He spoke far less frequently than Zhang Lei, but this time his support was substantial, far more effective than Zhang Lei''s idle talk.


    Tao Yu also felt a bit speechless hearing this, discussing how to copycat his ownpany right in front of him. This didn''t seem quite right...


    As Panda began to recruit more people as partners, his shares were quickly diluting. If it continued like this, Tao Yu would soon be thergest shareholder.


    And by the way, that short guy spoke, he seemed to have had a simr idea a long time ago, but was concerned that he couldn''t withstand retaliation from Inner City people, so he hadn''t acted on it.


    Now, seeing Niu Changchun, the Level S talent Pioneer, wanting to take the lead, he was just giving a nudge from behind.


    "I don''t think that''s a good idea."


    While Tao Yu was still thinking, Lin Chao was the first to speak up.


    ```


    "Oh? Brother Lin, what insights do you have?"


    Niu Changchun valued Lin Chao quite highly, as thetter''s talent was second only to his own, and crucially, he was quite popr¡ªalbeit a bit conservative at times.


    "I know you all don''t like being preached to, nor do you enjoy listening to me talk about morality, but if we talk purely in terms of practical interests, who among us can withstand the retaliation of the Inner City Pioneers? The base can''t deal with us, but what about in the wild?"


    At this point, Lin Chao paused for a moment, then continued,


    "Brother Niu came a few dayster than the rest of us. After arrival, you mainly focused on leaving the secr world behind to assimte your gains, so you might not be fully aware of the bloodshed that marked the establishment of the base.


    "Back then, the number of people killed by the Pioneers wasn''t any less than those killed by the Aliens, and now, top talents from the Inner City like Taff are missing, with no news of life or death..."


    Taff was quite famous when he first arrived at the base, with high talent and a strong family background. He even received a special summons from Sun Shiqing and was assigned important tasks.


    Then one day, he suddenly disappeared and has not been seen since.


    At first, nobody thought much of his absence; it was possible he went to explore other fragments.


    With Taff''s strength, spending two or three more months in the Abyss wasn''t a significant matter.


    However, as time passed and there was still no word from him, not even a message to report his status, the likelihood of an ident, given past experiences, greatly increased.


    To this day, most people have already concluded that Taff is dead.


    There are quite a few other Inner City Pioneers who are also missing.


    It''s different from the time of the first awakening; back then, they would inevitably return every fifteen days, so it was clear who was alive or dead.


    The current disappearances are judged as probable idents based on past experience, with a very slim possibility of a miracle.


    But since it''s a miracle, that means it can be deemed negligible.


    Lin Chao''s words indeed dissuaded Niu Changchun from some of his thoughts.


    As a Level S talent owner, he was also keen on preserving his reputation, after all, he believed that his greatest strength was his potential.


    "This... Brother Lin''s words are not without merit. It seems I was somewhat inconsiderate."


    Having grown up in the Outsider, and seen the dark side of the world, Niu Changchun wasn''t annoyed by Lin Chao''s persuasion.


    This caused the other Pioneer, who had also wanted to push forward, to feel somewhat disappointed, but he didn''t say much.


    Having Niu Changchun take the lead, and even if he took the lion''s share, didn''t matter much; one''s safety was the minimum guaranteed. But if he didn''t lead, then definitely neither would they.


    "s, I still haven''t truly caught the eye of the influential people, otherwise, things wouldn''t havee to this."


    Niu Changchun sighed ruefully and then said to Tao Yu,


    "Brother Tao, you''re a few days older than me and have better talent. Perhaps your strength now is not inferior to mine, and you have your confidence, but what''s fake will always be fake. It will be toote when it''s exposed and can''t be covered up anymore, and the influential ones might take notice and be displeased..."


    "You''re right, let''s eat, let''s eat."


    Tao Yu had no intention of arguing.


    However, just then, his wristwatch suddenly vibrated, causing Tao Yu''s expression to freeze. He had only one contact¡ªit couldn''t be that she was back...


    This vibration also caught Niu Changchun''s attention, who then rolled up his own sleeve and proudly showed off his wristwatch, saying,


    "Oh, you have a mission bracelet too? What a coincidence, I have one as well, given to me by Young Master Sun."


    "Uh..."


    "Is someone contacting you? Did you get amunication chip especially made? They''re quite expensive; I couldn''t bear to get one."


    Niu Changchun remarked as he watched Tao Yu''s bracelet vibrate.


    "Yes."


    "Why aren''t you checking it? It''s a message, isn''t it?"


    "Alright."


    Tao Yu felt that it wasn''t nice to outright refuse to check the message in front of someone, especially if word got to her, it could be troublesome.


    So he put the bracelet to his ear, ready to hear what the young missus, who had returned, wanted to say.


    "Not bad, you''ve passed as an intermediate partner? You haven''t disgraced me..."


    Tao Yu didn''t have earphones, and even though the speakerphone next to his ear wasn''t loud, everyone present had at least an A- in talent and were quite capable; this didn''t prevent them from hearing the contents inside...


    ```

 Chapter 187: Chapter 168: Who is the Holy One?

    The once lively dining table suddenly became subdued, silencing all conversation abruptly.


    Even the sounds of serving food and chewing were gone.


    The quietness of the scene was a bit frightening.


    Niu Changchun wanted to tell himself it was an illusion, an auditory hallucination.


    But that haunting voice was so distinctive, there was no way he could have misheard it!


    How could this be possible?


    How could it be!


    How did the other party have that person''s contact info?


    I have a bracelet too!


    "Right, he was one of the first, he went in before me, maybe there were fewer people then and he got more attention, that must be it."


    Niu Changchun kept hypnotising himself, but soon, like everyone else, he realized another issue!


    "Tao, Brother Tao, is it you who passed the assessment for an intermediate partnership?"


    Zhang Lei stammered out the question.


    We''ve been discussing it here for so long, thinking it must be some Inner City scion who made the cut bypleting a series of tasks.


    You''re telling me the person is right here at this table, having dinner?


    And showing off like crazy?


    Truth be told, although Zhang Lei had kept quiet and appeared all smiles and slick, he couldn''t help feeling some disdain when Tao Yu started gobbling down food like he''d never seen food before, he just hadn''t shown it.


    He thought that even though he hadn''t dined here too many times, everyone present was a genius of the same calibre, getting acquainted was more valuable than any of these dishes.


    This was too unseemly!


    But now, after hearing what that voice had revealed, any previous disdain flew off to the w Wastnd Country.


    This was having character, not sweating the small stuff!


    "Actually, I had a feeling it might be you from the start."


    Lin Chao didn''t find it too strange; he had his suspicions from the beginning.


    Inner City young masters?


    Anyway, no one from the Inner City in the new Development Zone has given me the same impression so far.


    It was just Lin Chao''s nature to not gossip here, when Zhang Wei kept spilling Tao Yu''s information in the Rainforest, he was somewhat disapproving.


    Heter gave Zhang Wei a serious ideological lesson.


    Only now did the others recall Lin Chao''s polite words and realize it wasn''t just politeness!


    They were all Grade A talents; how did he manage to do it?!


    "Tao Brother, you''ve be an intermediate partner?"


    Zhao Yan''s eyes also gleamed, the beautiful Pioneer who had imed she didn''t want to be pregnant at a crucial moment seemed to be somewhat emotionally swayed now.


    "Just luck I guess, I had enough points."


    Tao Yu suppressed some thoughts that rmed Lin Chao and didn''t pay much attention to this matter; after all, the status of an intermediate partner was meant to avoid some troubles.


    The reason he reconsidered some fleeting thoughts was actually rted to the tone of Sun Shiyu''s words, which were too familiar!


    With such a gap in status, if the goodwill was excessive, it might not only bring benefits but could also lead to troubles he couldn''t handle.


    Actually, the extent of leveraging that he had used before was just right.


    It would make others cautious, but not overly so.


    I thought it would be about the Meditation Technique again; that would have been a rather formic conversation.


    But I didn''t expect it to be abouting over for casual conversation because of this.


    "Uh, if I mentioned the Meditation Technique, I wonder if Niu Changchun would fall apart."


    Tao Yu inexplicably thought of Niu Changchun''s expression from before.


    Fortunately, he hade to understand the speed of information dissemination in this world; even if these people knew, it would mostly spread within a small circle.


    Without the various social circles, groups, and almost no telephones of the past life, the speed of spreading news was indeed quite awkward.


    "To meet the points requirement for an upgrade to intermediate partner in such a short time, even with point bonuses in the new Development Zone, is quite incredible. It must be at least two or three hundred thousand Yuan Force or even more, unbelievable."


    Zhang Lei made a rough estimate and was somewhat astonished.


    There are indeed various bonuses in the new Development Zone, particrly with points.


    But likewise, those in the new Development Zone also cannot rely on their elders'' power!


    Even the Inner City Pioneers would find it difficult to earn that much.


    Many Inner City Pioneers have lots of Yuan Force in their hands, but that''s not earned by themselves; it mainlyes from their family''s support!


    But now an Outsider, relying on his own abilities, has earned so much¡ªthis is too stunning.


    "This isn''t just a matter of luck."


    Lin Chao also shook his head at this point; he knew Tao Yu had found a ''Chosen One,'' but that single mission alone was far from enough; rather, it provided a leverage forying a strong foundation for what came next.


    "Is it through transportation?"


    Zhang Lei''s thoughts flickered, considering some of his own ns.


    The thin young man who initially wanted to push Niu Changchun to enter the scene was now looking over intently.


    The Dada Company should be the first to make a fortune by now, fully on track.


    Although otherpanies and organizations would follow, it doesn''t mean they won''t outperform Dada in the future, but at least in the early stages, they sure can''t match picking up money directly in the city.


    Such an achievement in just four months, he must have caught this updraft!


    Had first dibs on the soup!


    "Sort of, I have a bit of a rtionship with Panda."


    These words truly made almost everyone present envious and jealous.


    All Grade A talents, why is his luck so good!


    Zhang Lei was speechless, thinking about applying to Dada Company, and buddy, you''ve already gotten on board?


    To be allotted so many points, it definitely isn''t as simple as being a in coborator.


    While the others envied and were jealous, they also felt slightly awkward. At the beginning, they discussed how to imitate this model to make money, yet the main character had been right beside them all along.


    No wonder he was silent the whole time, eating like there''s no tomorrow. Turns out neither the intermediate partner status nor Dada''s transportation could pass you by...


    Upon hearing this, Niu Changchun''s feelings were mixed, but at least he felt a bit better.


    I enteredter than them and missed this wave of opportunity.


    But my potential is even greater!


    Even if I''m currentlyckingpared to others, I have a future!


    And to think that after hearing that haunting voice, they didn''t choose to reply immediately,


    I was dying to grab their watch and send a reply as a sign of respect.


    Even with such thoughts in my heart, I still reminded Tao Yu proactively,


    "You should reply to Miss Sun now, how could you let her wait like this?"


    I couldn''t ept anything that might upset or disappoint Miss Sun, even the slightest possibility must be prevented.


    "Uh..."


    Tao Yu swallowed the greeting he was about to say.


    Beingte didn''t matter before, but now it''s been seen by others, it''s better to reply immediately.


    Then he picked up his wristband and sent a voice message,


    "Thank you, Miss, for your concern. I''m having dinner with a few friends, sorry for the slow reply, hope you don''t mind."


    Right after it was sent, the reply came instantly.


    "Heh, today''s the fastest reply from you. I have something to discusster, I''lle to pick you up."


    Sun Shiyu, knowing there were other people with Tao Yu, didn''t bring up anything explosive. She just mockingly told him to wait there.


    Without a doubt, this once again shattered Niu Changchun''sposure.


    Today''s the fastest reply?


    Dammit! What on earth have you done, you bastard!


    Through the words exchanged between Tao Yu and Niu Changchun, the others realized that it was actually Miss Sun?!


    They had never even seen her!


    Usually, it was Young Master Sun who addressed the broadcast, so only now did they truly understand what was going on!


    This was even more shocking to them than the ''Intermediate Partner'' information.


    All present were at least Grade A- in talent and could someday reach the rank of an Intermediate Partner, provided they didn''t die young.


    Being lucky enough to stumble upon an opportunity at a time like this indeed provoked envy.


    But it wasn''t something they needed to look up to, they could all reach such heights in the future.


    But now, a noble from the Floating City was actively seeking them out, which had apletely different significance!


    From the tone of it, the two seemed to be quite familiar!


    Earlier, Niu Changchun insinuated that the other party shouldn''t wave the big g of a noble, but it turned out they actually had a big g to wave.


    This wasn''t just about being ''approachable.''


    "Cough, Niu brother was right earlier, we can''t just casually use the name of someone important because they are approachable. I don''t like it either, so I hope no one spreads rumors," I cautioned the group.


    This made the atmosphere somewhatical.


    It started with Niu Changchun orchestrating the gathering, wanting Tao Yu to ''rify'' and not misuse the noble''s name.


    Now, in turn, it was Tao Yu who was cooling things down and putting out fires.


    "We wouldn''t dare to gossip."


    Zhang Lei also smiled awkwardly at this time, feeling morefortable speaking to close acquaintances about the ''Intermediate Partner'' matter,


    But as for noble affairs, whether it''s true admiration, fake admiration, contact through missions, or other private matters, they dare not speak recklessly!


    Miss Sun was still unmarried, and careless words could be deadly!


    As a result of this affair, the meal for the other Outsider geniuses turned truly joyless.


    Even if the food had no taste in their mouths, the atmosphere at the table gradually shifted. Initially, the focus was around Niu Changchun as the core, but although they didn''t exclude him now, the center of attentionpletely revolved around Tao Yu.


    Zhao Yan''s eyes nearly spun around Tao Yu, tossing aside those critical thoughts about not being able to get pregnant at the moment, and she kept fishing for hints.


    Eventually, she simply grabbed Zhang Lei and switched ces to sit by Tao Yu, even asionally helping him with his vegetables.


    Those nearby didn''t even find it strange!


    And Tao Yu, who hade to make acquaintances, had no problem mixing with others.


    Although as a corporate drone he was well aware of the superficiality behind pleasantries, it didn''t stop them from being really pleasant to hear, making the meal enjoyable.


    Plus, since they weren''t really eating their vegetables, Tao Yu took care of them all while chatting, not wanting to waste food.


    The energy-rich blood food made Tao Yu''s Qi-Blood exceptionally vigorous.


    If it weren''t for Sun Shiyu having something to attend to, he would have nned to go home and box to digest the meal.


    And just as they had all finished dining, a floating motorboatnded in the courtyard!


    What relieved Tao Yu a bit was that there was no one on the motorboat; it must have been sent remotely by Sun Shiyu using the Floating City''s signal toe pick him up.


    If she hade in person and had me riding behind her, that would have likely caused no small amount of trouble.


    "This Miss has some consideration for me, huh... or could it be that she''s justzy?" Tao Yu wondered to himself, but still greeted the somewhat numb others,


    "Sorry, folks, got an assignment, have to take off first."


    After speaking, he leaped onto the floating motorboat and swiftly departed.


    Watching Tao Yu''s retreating figure, Zhang Lei''s lips twitched as he turned to Lin Chao and said,


    "Lin brother, you must be the most familiar with Tao brother here. Who exactly is he?"


    The others around perked their ears up, too.


    "Who else could he be? An A-grade Dynamic Vision talent, our fellow Pioneer from the same batch," Lin Chao responded meticulously, but a hint of wistfulness couldn''t help appearing in his eyes as he looked up.


    At the moment the voice of Miss Sun came through the wristband, along with the content spoken, he even momentarily felt a wave of a death threat!


    A feeling of inescapable certainty of doom.


    Fortunately, it seemed the thought only flickered in her mind without turning into action...


    "Staying by his side is really exhausting, don''t know why my heart has so many dramas," Lin Chao mused with a hint of helplessness, shaking his head. The nightmares from their time in the Rainforest still haunted him.


    Well...


    Things got even more severe after today...

 Chapter 188: Chapter 169: Open and Aboveboard

    "Is this the Floating City we''re going to¡­" Tao Yu sat on the motorboat, watching as the view rapidly rose, a hint of sentiment in his eyes.


    He had only entered the Inner City for the first time not long ago, and now he was about to see the world in the Floating City¡­


    As they ascended, Tao Yu became parallel with the base of the Floating City and saw angles that were invisible from below.


    "The area under the base of the Floating City should be various factories?"


    Off to the side, he could see the surface of the base, where colossal mechanical structures were rotating, giant gears and grand pendulums seeming to represent terrifying energy changes with every movement, making click-ck sounds.


    Ordinary steel strength wouldn''t be able to withstand such immense tension; the entire city must be integrated with Yuan Force materials.


    But since he could only see the surface without a view inside, he could only specte.


    The view continued to rise, and Tao Yu saw the above scene of the Floating City for the first time.


    The Inner City was already somewhat modern, with buildings in abstract and bizarre shapes.


    However, the space above the Floating City was the epitome of the next generation scene!


    Hovering cars and simr floating motorboats shed by from time to time, along with rotating vast spheres in the void.


    Various space-style smooth curving buildings and tunnels interconnected, forming an overall structure like a M?bius strip.


    But it seemed Sun Shiyu had considered Tao Yu''s situation and didn''t brazenly parade him through the streets.


    Instead, they increased their altitude again, zooming by from the sky and finally descending towards a secluded courtyard vi nestled in the woods.


    "There aren''t many skyscrapers in the Floating City after all, but rather various courtyards; thefort level isn''t on the same level..." Tao Yu also felt somewhat moved, noting that aside from a few functional buildings in the central area and one huge sphere suspended in the air, the rest that he saw were various estates and courtyards, each spaced widely apart with plenty of private space.


    Looking at the exquisite three-story vi in front of him, Tao Yu deduced that this must be where the brother and sister lived, separate from the other family members.


    As the motorboatnded, Tao Yu saw a mature curly-haired beauty dressed in a maid''s uniform approaching him gracefully.


    Despite the maid''s uniform, she exuded a dignified air thanks to the glimpses of skin at her cor and the cinched waist, yet it also added a touch of allure.


    However, Tao Yu, having undergone trials and tribtions with a young, rich woman, easily controlled his gaze, refraining from ogling.


    "Greetings, Master Tao, I am Lalei, the head maid here. If Master Tao has any needs in the future, you may address them to me. Now, I will take Master Tao to meet the young master and miss."


    Lalei bowed slightly to the just alighted Tao Yu, speaking in a gentle tone.


    She probably looked after the two since they were young.


    Tao Yu responded politely,


    "Then I shall trouble you."


    He wouldn''t get carried away just because of her courtesy.


    Truth be told, although she was just a head maid, her status in the Floating City meant that even if she went to the Inner City, she would surely receive respectful treatment from the top people there.


    The most important thing was that Tao Yu''s Spirit Perception could feel just how strong the head maid was¡ªvery strong indeed!


    It was best not to show any hostility.


    "Master Tao''s ''Meditation Technique'' practice is quite solid, and your Spirit Perception is very strong," said Lalei using her gentle voice as she led the way.


    "Far from it," Tao Yu humbly replied.


    "I am not just being polite. When the ''Meditation Technique'' reaches a certain level, the gathering of thoughts can enhance Spirit Perception..."


    Lalei''s tone remained soft, giving Tao Yu a warm feeling inside, like the ssic girl-next-door.


    But her next words made Tao Yu''s expression freeze,


    "However, if you face someone with higher spiritual cultivation and cannot control your gaze, it may be perceived, which can sometimes seem a bit impolite. You need to practice more self-control."


    Tao Yu, walking behind, stiffly averted his gaze from focusing on the contours of her peach-shaped tailored fabric, his face turning expressionless.


    No way!


    Why has no one told me about this?


    I''ve never been taught this!


    "Master Tao need not worry, your gaze makes me feel young again; I don''t mind it," said Lalei, turning her head to cover her mouth and smile, her eyes curving into crescents as if she truly didn''t mind.


    Tao Yu''s good looks were his justice, which raised many people''s tolerance.


    "But please be more mindful around the young master and miss."


    "Thank you for the reminder," Tao Yu said stiffly, forcing a dryugh. Heh, it seemed a bitte now¡­


    Thinking about how he had behaved when alone with Sun Shiyu, where on her person hadn''t he fixated on for long periods?


    Not to mention Sun Shiyu, even Sun Shiqing who was good-looking too, he had stared at his profile and long legs.


    Darn it all!


    After that, Tao Yu recalled the first time he and Sun Shiyu tested the "Taming Technique" skill in the RV.


    At the time, as shey there, she didn''t even look at herself and just asked, "Does it look good?" It seemed like she had already given me a heads-up then...


    But why didn''t you remind me after that?


    Tao Yu felt a hint of social death.


    It''s very normal to sneak a nce at a beautiful woman on the street, not necessarily out of any lecherous thoughts.


    But having every nce noticed was just too embarrassing.


    However, even before Tao Yu could gather his thoughts, they had already arrived at the vi entrance where Larell opened the grand doors, arranged the slippers to change into and gestured for Tao Yu to please enter.


    After Tao Yu entered, she respectfully said,


    "Young Master, Miss, Master Tao is here."


    At that moment, Sun Shiyu and Sun Shiqing were both in the living room on the first floor.


    And it seemed they really liked the clothing style from Zombie World, still wearing a set of oversized cartoon T-shirts simr to thest time.


    The only difference was the cartoon pattern had changed somewhat, but what remained the same was Sun Shiyu''s cartoon pattern was still distorted.


    "Alright, you may leave."


    Sun Shiyu nodded her head, indicating that she had just been practicing the Meditation Technique.


    Upon hearing this, Larell respectfully closed the door and left the room.


    "Tao little bro''s here huh~"


    It was still Sun Shiqing who greeted him first, smiling and sitting cross-legged on the couch, waving to Tao Yu with a super charming smile.


    This made Tao Yu''s facial expression a bit rigid.


    Smart kid, I''ve peeked at you too, but you didn''t give me a heads-up, and you''ve also seen me peeking at your sister before I mastered Meditation Technique, yet you weren''t afraid I''d get my legs broken.


    Really twisted humor!


    Seeing Tao Yu''s somewhat embarrassed expression, Sun Shiqing''s smile grew even more brilliant, the corners of her mouth clearly curving into a mischievous arc.


    "Oh~, look at you, seems like you''ve realized something, why won''t you even dare to look at me? It''s not like Larell caught you peeking and reminded you, huh~"


    Her teasing, elongated tone instantly turned Tao Yu''s expression wooden.


    After reaching a certain level of social death, nothing really mattered, just bring it on, I can take it.


    "Alright."


    It was Sun Shiyu who spoke up to interrupt Sun Shiqing''s teasing.


    "You''re the older sister, you''re the boss."


    Sun Shiqing didn''t argue. She sprang up from the couch, slipped on some puppy slippers, and then turned to head upstairs.


    While walking, she still waved her hand,


    "I''m going to take a shower, it''s gonna be a long one, you two go at it."


    Hearing Sun Shiqing''s openly encouraging words, whatever grumblings Tao Yu had vanished, and he sneakily nced at Sun Shiyu again.


    She doesn''t seem to mind, could there really be a chance...


    "Larell already told you off, why''re you still peeking?"


    Sun Shiyu turned around and looked at Tao Yu with some puzzlement.


    "Sorry, sorry, I couldn''t help it..."


    "Just look openly."


    Before Tao Yu could even finish, his face stiffened at Sun Shiyu''s words.


    What does that mean?


    "Idiot, if your legs aren''t broken yet, it''s because I don''t really mind it."


    Sun Shiyu gave Tao Yu a look and then stretched, ending her meditation pose.


    The movement of stretching and pulling at her T-shirt directly made Tao Yu look, just as she said, openly and honestly.


    "Come on, let''s test your skill, see if you''ve made any progress."


    Sun Shiyu patted the space beside her on the couch,pletely indifferent to Tao Yu''s fervent gaze and even deliberately stuck out her chest a bit.


    "Alright, but my skill level has increased, I''m afraid you might not be able to handle it."


    Tao Yu warned her.


    "Who do you think I am? Looking down on me, are we..."


    Sun Shiyu was unfazed, quite confident in herself.


    Indeed, she had never been obsessed with that kind of ''reward,'' just treated it as asional rxation, and was also interested in the finesse of controlling spiritual energy during reward and punishment.


    Tao Yu silently looked at his Yuan Force which had returned to several hundred thousand after his trip to the Inner City, chose without hesitation the secondary deification of "Taming Technique," and thought, bring it on, who''s afraid of whom...


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 189: Chapter 170 Stomach Ache

    Tao Yuy on the sofa with lifeless eyes, feeling utterly despondent, as if all was lost.


    This was his first time in actualbat, so he had no idea he was this fast!


    It was ridiculously exaggerated!


    "Why did I choose the burst and assassin route, why even this is burst..."


    Tao Yu covered his face with one hand and weakly stood up. He almost didn''t stabilize himself after getting up.


    The intensity of the previous sparring was beyond belief.


    Even though he could already feel his body''s weakness, upon seeing Sun Shiyu''s disheveled hair spread across the floor as shey on her side,


    Tao Yu still couldn''t help but feel a dry mouth and swallowed. He oddly felt as if he was ready to go again, capable of fighting three hundred more rounds.


    Thebination of the second Deification Taming Technique with the second Deification riding, along with the fact that the little rich girl seemed to really have a thing for him, made a battle imminent.


    He managed to hold his own for twenty minutes, which didn''t seem too terrible. But if you count the thirteen times, then it was aplete disaster; Tao Yu would begin to doubt life itself after at most a hundred moves every time.


    Although relying on his riding and Taming Technique had won him one round, and the little rich girl was equally disheveled, both were pretty much beaten to a pulp.


    But it was clear that he had only managed to do so by cheating; it was just too exaggerated.


    Sensing that Tao Yu was staggering to his feet, Sun Shiyu, who had also juste to her senses, struggled to support herself off the ground. In that indescribable scene, shezily nced back at him,


    "This is too much, what exactly is going on with your Skill..."


    Slowly pulling down the T-shirt that had been pushed up and got stuck, she hid the suggestive image; then, she heard Tao Yu swallowing.


    She stood up displeased and pushed Tao Yu back down,


    "If we continue, you''ll injure your foundation. Are you stupid or what? Tsk, look at the deficit in your Qi-Blood, you''re such a mess. I was only under the control of your Skill for, like, fifteen minutes; you''re too much."


    "It was twenty minutes, thank you."


    Tao Yu corrected her slip of the tongue.


    This caused Sun Shiyu to give him an alluring re, which seemed to wash away some of Tao Yu''s fatigue.


    Although he could recover by eating and using Yuan Force,


    even at such a time, he couldn''t risk any exposure by acting recklessly, so he suppressed the thought of using Yuan Force to recover andy back on the sofa with a slightly vacant gaze.


    "You were a bit reckless this time. I didn''t intend for this to happen so early."


    Sun Shiyu also tapped her head, then nonchntly clung to Tao Yu as she sat down next to him, just holding onto his arm enough to make him change his expression slightly.


    "Use ''Meditation Technique'', weren''t you proficient with itst time in the car?"


    Reminded by Sun Shiyu, Tao Yu quickly utilized the Visualization Diagram to focus his thoughts.


    It was too exaggerated; after the sparring, her charm seemed to have increased. This was unscientific; not even the sage mode was effective.


    "There''s nothing embarrassing; when I was restricted by your Skill, I almost thought you were going to die. Thankfully, you spent time strengthening your body, and you did quite well at that,"


    Seeing Tao Yu sessfully using ''Meditation Technique'', Sun Shiyu became even more affectionate and her face was filled with glee.


    Her bare feet grabbed attention as they swung back and forth in front of him.


    This waspletely opposite to her usual cold demeanor and sense of distance.


    "Is it really that exaggerated?"


    "You''ve experienced it. What do you think would have happened if you had the physical limit of an ordinary person right now?"


    Sun Shiyu''s words made Tao Yu''s face change color, and the high-pressure water gun used for washing cars sprung to his mind, followed by a shiver.


    Indeed, there was a problem with the little rich girl, as he had suspected!


    "You reckless fool, you''ve disrupted my ns."


    Sun Shiyu chewed on her nails while clinging to Tao Yu''s arm, seemingly pondering something.


    "Before I get used to controlling this new form, I''ll probably have to stay at home. Take care in the Development Zone, and you and Shiqing be careful not to randomly kill any more Inner City Pioneers."


    Tao Yu''s expression stiffened at her words, and he said with a dryugh,


    "That''s not..."


    "So you''re using the female version of ''Inner Scales Armor'' because you''re a pervert?"


    At this, Tao Yu fell into embarrassed silence.


    "This..."


    "You don''t need to say you''ve only killed that one. We''ve already given a heads-up to the Inner City Pioneers; have you seen them finishing each other off?"


    Tao Yu remembered how Taff didn''t kill Qimen after defeating him; indeed, that was the influence of these two people.


    Perhaps they would be more ruthless when the "mountain was high and the Emperor far away," but considerations would indeed be many, as the range of suspects would be narrow.


    In contrast, Tao Yu himself actedwlessly without hesitation.


    The survival rate of Inner City Pioneers was not as high as that of the Outer City!


    Not only did they be more cautious about their own lives, reluctant to take excessive risks, but also due to their umted strength, under normal circumstances, they hardly ever lost members.


    So, when Tao Yu and his group first returned, the disappearance of Joseph caused quite a stir.


    Back in the mission hall, Tao Yu had also demonstrated the strength to directly defeat the Inner City Pioneers, and with the female version of the Inner Scales Armor on top of that, as well as the unusual rate at which Inner City Pioneers were losing members recently.


    As the highestbatant of the new Development Zone, Sun Shiyu naturally made her own judgments.


    She didn''t need to talk about any evidence.


    This made Tao Yu shrink his neck a bit andin,


    "I''ve only ever counterattacked passively, never took the initiative to attack them. You know what the Inner City Pioneers are like."


    "Fine, just don''t go on a killing spree. In the end, strength speaks in the Abyss. You don''t know what cards the Inner City Pioneers have up their sleeve, so it wouldn''t be fun if you flipped over," she advised.


    So, this was what Sun Shiyu cared about.


    Tao Yu couldn''t resist and kissed her, but before his lips could part from hers, she bit him back, brushing against him intensely.


    After a moment, with some confusion and aftertaste, Tao Yu said,


    "I''ll be careful. Actually, I''ve already been holding back."


    "I''ll take your word for it that you''re holding back. Here, a red envelope for you," she said.


    Sun Shiyu then rummaged through her things and tossed a maic card to Tao Yu.


    Tao Yu instinctively caught it and almost cked out when he saw it¡ªthree hundred thousand Yuan Force!


    He had run hard to the new world fragment and even picked up a Chosen One, but the total reward was only about this much!


    Grinding missions in Inner City, he had only made just enough for the Deification expenses of riding and taming.


    Yet here, the red envelope that was casually given was enough to cause Tao Yu a bit of a stomachache.


    "But that''s all I''m giving you, you know. You can''t afford my care anymore, and I don''t want you to live purely off my wealth. Stand up on your own," she said.


    "My current earnings are all made by myself," retorted Tao Yu.


    Listening to Sun Shiyu''s words, he defended himself.


    With any pride, he should have tossed the card back in her face, but in the end, Tao Yu silently pocketed the card.


    It was too much to give back...


    This gesture amused Sun Shiyu,


    "Without sedimentation and enough high-level skills, the marginal effect of Yuan Force is too strong. I can help you look for some skills, but you also need to show corresponding value."


    "Otherwise, just obediently let me pamper you in a golden house. Although I identally ended up in the new Development Zone and don''t have the pressure of arranged marriages, you''re probably someone who can''t be seen in daylight. MAX level of Dynamic Vision is just barely sufficient. You''d hardly make it as a stay-at-home son-inw, and getting killed would just be a pointless death," she teased.


    Tao Yu felt a bit heavy in his heart when he heard this. Even though they had achieved good things together, he knew the gap between them was still huge.


    As the heiress of Floating City, from Sun Shiqing''s story of how she once broke someone''s leg, it was clear that there were many who admired her.


    Look at Niu Changchun¡ªthe fact that he dared to give her the asional nce because of his talent made him feel like he''d turned into a long-distance admirer. Those from Floating City who cared about matching social status were likely even more numerous.


    Add to that her family, and they really could only sneak around underground.


    As for the marginal effect of Yuan Force and the source of high-level skills, Tao Yu also couldn''t possibly exin, even to a rich heiress like her; he had to keep it a secret at all costs.


    However, the broken fragments of the Heart of the World shouldn''t be a problem anymore, at least for the little rich girl!


    "Actually, I¡­" he began.


    "Got your hands on the Heart of the World? Unlocked body talents? But hid them?" Sun Shiyu interrupted before Tao Yu could finish, casually taming her slightly messy hair and using telekinesis to clean off some crusty strange matter while speaking nonchntly.


    "Uh¡­ yes," Tao Yu was a bit dumbfounded, but Sun Shiyu''s expression was gleeful,


    "At least you have a conscience. You''re cautious but willing to tell me. If you didn''t have body talents, you would probably be dead by now. Isn''t that obvious to guess?" she teased him, throwing him a seductive nce, causing an awkward moment for Tao Yu, Can we not bring that up? I didn''t die, did I...


    Just then, as Sun Shiqing finished her bath and was drying her hair with a towel, she came down the stairs.


    As she descended, she sniffed the air then fanned in front of her nose with a frown and asked,


    "What did you guys do? There''s a weird smell, like... did someone have an ident?"


    A surge of telekic energy erupted from Tao Yu, and Sun Shiqing was once again flung up against the ceiling.


    As time passed, the little rich girl had also grown stronger, and at a surprisingly fast rate!


    "Help me, somebody save me¡­" Sun Shiqing''s pretty face was squished against the ceiling as if stuck to ss, continuing to struggle and beg Tao Yu for help.


    And Tao Yu just minded his own business, as if in meditation; her own loose lips had angered her sister into a fury...

 Chapter 190: Chapter 171 I Wonder

    ```


    "It really is like a dream..."


    After being brought back to the ground by the suspended motorbike, Tao Yu returned home, where he could still smell lingering traces of a faint fragrance.


    This time it was real, not an illusion.


    It was both an ident and a gain.


    Yet, thinking of what the little rich girl said to him, Tao Yu also felt some pressure.


    "Her situation is definitely not normal, plus she had to take special time to suppress and adapt, which probably means she herself is facing no small trouble."


    The little rich girl didn''t borate, but Tao Yu, after all, had a broad perspective and plenty of imagination from his past life.


    In his past life, he had been through the baptism of short videos, and this time around, he attracted attention due to his talent.


    Yet, he had always maintained ample self-control.


    Even with the filter of her wealth, it couldn''t be like it is now.


    Especially the twenty minutes and thirteen times she made him exhibit signs of a psychological shadow, which adequately demonstrated her difference.


    He relied on "Taming" from the second Deification to achieve a simr effect, but what was her secret to achieving this?


    "Subus, maybe..."


    Recalling some subtle moments at the critical time, Tao Yu spected.


    People from the Floating City really are much bolder than those from both the Inner and Outer City!


    Tao Yu didn''t know whether the Suns had originally escaped from the Abyss or if they had started to experiment with itter on.


    But they certainly did something extraordinary, which even the Suns probably had difficulty covering up.


    Otherwise, Sun Shiyu wouldn''t have mentioned needing to adapt to the changes at home for a while.


    Sensing his current four hundred thousand Yuan Force, Tao Yu slowly exhaled a breath.


    "If she''s still aroundter on, there probably won''t be such a dramatic increase in gains like there has been recently."


    He found a new fragment for the Chosen One, then reaped the benefits of vines and information,pleted three quick missions in the Inner City while still rtively unknown, and secured the little rich girl''s red envelope.


    His pockets had indeed be considerably richer.


    With his talent''s second Deificationpleted, he could now choose another foundational Skill!


    "To gain more, I''ll have to explore new world fragments. Facing the unknown Abyss, enhancing fundamentals is never excessive."


    Currently, he has Deified one of the two "Stealth" skills, and next he could choose between the remaining "Stealth" + "Meditation Technique" or "Myriad Streams Breathing Technique" and "Five Forms as One" individually.


    These are his core fundamental skills.


    It''s a pity "Demonization" is too expensive, requiring a full six hundred thousand, otherwise it could have been an option.


    "One side is the mental aspect, the other is continuing to strengthen the physique. Although I would have to invest in both sooner orter, the choice is still difficult..."


    Purely for immediatebat power, "Myriad Streams Breathing Technique" is undoubted.


    Currently, the burst and umtion of his force is his strongest killing skill.


    Coupled with the one-sword flow of Shadow Control, it significantly elevates many of his upper limits.


    Plus, with "Innate Time Control" and its heavenly effects, theoretically, as long as he continues to increase his attacks to reach the kill threshold, he will be able to confront even stronger enemies.


    "However..., I''ve actually far exceeded it already."


    Tao Yu, who had not yet encountered a situation requiring intervention in original time, and recalling how "Meditation Technique" interacted with many of his skills, ultimately made a choice.


    Second Deification of "Stealth¡¤Alien" and "Meditation Technique"!


    The first, bring about further strengthening of his absorption of Shadow Force, elevating his limits even without having Deified the "Myriad Streams Breathing Technique."


    "Meditation Technique" is to continue enhancing his mental side of attacks, fortifying the spiritual output of "Fist Intention."


    The second Deification of "Stealth¡¤Alien" costs around ny thousand, and "Meditation Technique" is just over two hundred thousand. With that done, he would still have about one hundred thousand left for emergencies and daily cultivation, which is absolutely enough!


    "Outsiders speak of Yuan Force consumption in the tens and hundreds of thousands, which really is somewhat luxurious."


    Tao Yu took a deep breath and then invested without hesitation!


    The second Deification of "Stealth¡¤Alien" was standard, an enhanced version of "Stealth¡¤Python," which could also be stacked together.


    His leaping distance in shadows further increased, while the ability to amplify and gather Shadow Force speedily intensified.


    ```


    Atst, Tao Yu no longer had to keep hijacking the zombies'' Shadow Force and could even nurture and give back to it in turn. Cao Shaolin''s eyes could finally afford some time for repair, and he didn''t need to wear an eyepatch anymore.


    The Deification of Stealth was also within Tao Yu''s expectations, after all, he had already deified a skill before.


    However, as more Yuan Force was infused into the Meditation Technique, Tao Yu felt as if a bolt of lightning had suddenly struck the Visualization Diagram in his mind.


    It was as though a sh of lightning had directly hit the Visualization Diagram that had begun to outline his five sensory organs, instantly making it clearer.


    And to Tao Yu''s surprise, he gained a special perspective from the position of the Visualization Diagram!


    "What is this..."


    Tao Yu''s eyes were somewhat nk as he felt he could elevate his perspective to directly view his own existence, and this ''elevation'' seemed not so much a rise in physical height as it was an indescribable ''higher dimension''.


    "This..."


    Returning to his original perspective, Tao Yu was a bit bemused.


    Although it had been only a brief moment, Tao Yu had already felt his thoughts and spiritual power purified once again, raising his mental ceiling even higher.


    And while this anticipated improvement was manageable, the key was that Tao Yu became aware of a new sensation brought about by the Meditation Technique.


    "Blessing... well, that''s something."


    Tao Yu looked down at his hand, not in the sense of enhancing his spiritual power with an added mental attack.


    This could be achieved by Basic Combat and Fist Intent in different forms.


    Meditation Technique: Abridged, can additionally consume spirit to cause a localized copse in favor of oneself.


    A brief piece of information, yet imbued with a profound feeling.


    Tao Yu silently took out a button and flicked it without any control other than the mental expenditure.


    The button tumbled rapidly through the air, thennded steadily on the ground, standing upright.


    It soon started rolling because of the uneven surface and eventually toppled over.


    Apart from an inexplicable consumption of mental energy, Tao Yu did not exert any extra control, and the upright fall was not the result of Tao Yu''s use of telekic-like maniption.


    He did not possess mental-type skills capable of achieving such finely-tuned control effects.


    It was purely a ''natural'' change!


    Although it seemed rather insignificant, Tao Yu had already recognized the terrifying potential of the Meditation Technique after its second Deification.


    "Is this really the potential that a skill can bring about? Although it''s too advanced for me now, to the point of wastefulness, its essence is still exaggerated..."


    What had previously astonished Tao Yu was the Innate Time Control''s involvement with time.


    And Meditation Technique seemed to have lightly touched the surface of causality!


    Here I am, mainly using guns and engaging in hand-to-handbat, and you bring out this kind of thing?


    The style doesn''t match!


    "But it seems to fit the consistent characteristics of Deification, high in essence, but still requiring strength to leverage."


    Tao Yu vaguely felt that the changes in Meditation Technique might be rted to the Visualization Diagram having be his own.


    And the previous second Deification bonus of Fist Intention indirectly reflected onto the head of Meditation Technique.


    "Out with the old, in with the new, it''s time to return to the Abyss. I can''t really let the wealthy heiress hide in the golden house."


    Tao Yu''s eyes also revealed a burst of drive at this time.


    His advantages and potentialid before him, although he couldn''t catch up to the heiress in a short time, his future achievements were bound to be higher.


    If there''s going to be golden house hiding, it should be by his doing, how could he let her take the lead?


    A person with glitches like him, where''s the dignity?


    "One day, I will be the pir you can lean on..."


    While making up his mind, Tao Yu also began to sit cross-legged andmune with the will of the world. As the quarter-hour psed, he gradually began to disappear mosaic-like from inside the room.


    Abyss, here Ie again...


    ¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 191: Chapter 172: Information of the New World

    "What a big change to a living person..."


    Having just appeared from Jack''s dormitory, Tao Yu heard Jack''s startled voice.


    "Ignorant."


    Tao Yu red at Jack disapprovingly.


    At this moment, Jack, somewhat puzzled, came over to Tao Yu, his big nose sniffing something incessantly.


    "Bro, what did you do? You smell good all of a sudden."


    Tao Yu shuddered all over and pushed the big nose away sharply, continuously rubbing his arms as if he had got goosebumps.


    "Get lost, can''t you speak properly? What''s been happeningtely? Are the people I brought back settled in?"


    "They''re settled. They''ve been a big help, too. Lately, the number of people has been increasing. Survivors from outside Las Vegas have been converging this way, and we even found a South Korean country in the rainforest. That friend of yours, Panda, just brought back an Osprey Transporter..."


    Jack briefly updated Tao Yu on what had happened during the days he was away.


    It had to be said, the efficiency of Panda and the others was quite remarkable. Tao Yu had only roughly described the direction and the map, and then he let An Zhijie follow them. He hadn''t expected to see results within just a few days.


    The survivors Tao Yu brought back to the green family and the Crow Squad could also be considered ready-madebat power.


    Most crucially, the survivors other than the Chosen Ones had no need for Yuan Force.


    Aftermunicating with Jack and Panda, these people were also preparing to represent Tao Yu''s interests and integrate into the Dada Company.


    "Not bad. I''m getting ready for a long journey. Please keep an eye on things here for me. If anythinges up, I''ll contact you through tasks from the real world. You can also use the message storage service in the Task Hall; I''ll check it when I get back."


    "Going on a long journey again? Aren''t you going to that new world fragment?"


    Jack was a bit surprised; wasn''t it a newly discovered world fragment?


    "Not for now."


    The Chosen Ones had already been scooped up, and Tao Yu didn''t think such a small world would have a Heart of the World.


    Since the vine''s output was low, it inevitably indicated the monsters there were not cost-effective: there was a high number needed, severe pollution, significant side effects, they were troublesome to kill, and one had to wait on the spot for their convergence. Even with a higher density, the value was average.


    The vine was probably only marginally higher in price than the monsters'' inherent Yuan Force, if at all.


    The vine was expensive.


    The main source of ieing up would be transportation again.


    Laying out his n, the rest could be handed over to Panda and the rest; in practice, their experience was much more extensive than his own.


    In fact, choosing to travel afar, Tao Yu had his hesitations.


    Although he had a foundation for cooperation in front of Panda and the others, and enough credibility with them,


    people are not unchanging.


    So if he were away from the base for an extended period, some problems might arise.


    He had even considered ceding some of his shares because of the increased number of coborators, as the number of people increased and Panda and his group had always honored their promise not to touch their share of the shares. Surely there would be some dissatisfaction among the neers.


    But now that Jack and Park Ji-hyun were there to help keep an eye on daily activities, with Sun Shiqing able to take a lookter, and considering the foundation of their cooperation and the influence of their strength, it was possible to stabilize the situation for a little longer.


    Tao Yu knew that as the number of people joining kept increasing, he would eventually have to give up some of his shares unless he was willing to invest more energy in thepany, but for now, that wasn''t necessary...


    "The second Deification of ''Taming,'' althoughcking that sort of qualitative change, has be a bit more practical..."


    Previously in a rush, he had undergone the second Deification of ''Taming,'' which indeed introduced some practical new features.


    The main one was being able to imnt a mental seed in the tamed target by thought alone.


    Before the mental seed was eroded, it could even achieve a proactive ''suppression'' of the will, causing the imnted individual to be in a ''sleep paralysis'' state.


    Even with Sun Shiyu''s powerful mental force, it took twenty minutes to break free from this state.


    Beyond that, once the mental seed is imnted, both soothing and punishment can be exerted remotely within a certain range, although each use would consume some of the seed''s power.


    Even though the control range is limited, simr to the range of empathy in ''Riding,'' it''s possible to preset feedback mechanisms!


    For example, automatically rewarding for apleted task, or automatically initiating punishment if the task is notpleted or if hostility and dissatisfaction towards oneself arise.


    No doubt about it, the practicality has increased, but since mental seeds require thought imntation, Tao Yu couldn''t choose too many targets...


    ...


    "Right now, the people of the Crow Squad will still obey me and will naturally stick together in these unknown situations."


    Tao Yu sought out Park Ji-hyun to gain another perspective on the situation.


    It was evident that people from the Monster World were somewhat paranoid, and their personalities were more or less extreme.


    Especially now that those who hade out had undergone their metamorphosis, obtaining various different ''Demonization'' abilities, it was all the more so.


    As ''locals'' of a region, as ''kindred,'' they were naturally amunity.


    Even individualsing out of that worldter would easily join and integrate into this group.


    At present, the main leaders in this group were divided into three.


    One was Dr. Ren, who had already surrendered, along with a few remaining researchers, who had now essentially been taken over by thepany.


    Another was the ''Chosen One'' who was a medical student with sses. Although Che Xianxiu was also a ''Chosen One,'' her character was too timid and not suited to be that kind of leader.


    In contrast, the guy with sses had this potential.


    Having already ''Demonized'' into a special infectee, and being ''Chosen Ones'' who could enhance themselves with Yuan Force, indicated they would not have a low ceiling. After all, having ''Demonized'' from the outset, they could be considered to have taken a shortcut.


    Jack, who was diligently practicing martial arts step by step, couldn''t match their growth rate in the early stages.


    ```


    sses Brother''s side mainly gathered the survivors from the Green Home.


    On the other side were the remaining twenty members of Park Ji-hyun''s Crow Squad, who could be considered formal military representatives. For now, Park Ji-hyun, who also possessed the power of demonization, was still able to control the situation.


    Regardless of Park Ji-hyun''s military rank and strength, as well as having Tao Yu''s support from behind, controlling just these twenty people was rtively simple.


    Moreover, sses Brother was very grateful for the life-saving grace of Tao Yu, and then there was Jack.


    With these few people at the core, and basing it on the Chosen Ones and the natives, a simplework of connections had already formed.


    It''s not to say that thiswork was particrly strong, but it was pure and convenient, not requiring too much extra effort...


    ...


    "Brother Tao."


    On the base''s tarmac, beside an Osprey Transporter, Panda was excitedly directing people as they moved items.


    And at that moment, An Zhijie, who had been in the cockpit, climbed down to greet Tao Yu.


    "Boss, mission aplished. The ne was a bit affected when we left, but thankfully, the Osprey''s emergency capabilities are quite good."


    An Zhijie also appeared exhrated, proving his worth by sessfully piloting the aircraft, and his future treatment would undoubtedly be much better.


    Moreover, he had now sessfully undergone demonization, andbined with his flying skills, he was able to secure his ce.


    Only by having abilities of your own could you truly grasp the future.


    "Not bad, it wasn''t a waste to pull you out."


    Tao Yu was very satisfied with An Zhijie. If it wasn''t for his need to go home, they might not have been able to find the location where the plot unfolded.


    However, this was also a return favor that Tao Yu didn''t mind offering. Because he was willing to take An Zhijie home first, they stumbled upon the opportunity.


    "I''m nning to head north for a while, and it may take some time. If there''s anything, I will send out tasks from the real world to contact everyone. I''ve already asked Young Master Sun to keep an eye out, so if you run into any tough situations, you can reach out to him. But for general matters, try not to disturb him," Tao Yu reminded Panda.


    This simultaneously brought a joyous expression and a chill to Panda''s heart.


    He''d known before that Young Master Sun was very fond of Brother Tao and even Miss Sun knew him.


    But he never imagined that Brother Tao could ask Young Master Sun to keep him in mind. This level of remote acknowledgment indicated his high standing in Young Master Sun''s eyes.


    This was no wonder why an Outsider could gain such strength.


    "Got it. I definitely won''t bother Young Master Sun for no reason. And besides, things are going well for now. As long as there''s someone we can talk to, I prefer cooperation. And as more people join us, if anyone dares to act recklessly, it won''t be as simple as offending just one of us..."


    Panda grinned, knowing that while sharing the benefits would divide them, it undeniably made things more secure and safer!


    "By the way, Brother Tao, where are you heading?"


    "North, to that newly discovered world."


    Tao Yu was not keeping it a secret.


    Although now Sun Shiyu and Sun Shiqing''s frequency of investigating had decreased due to their duty to stay at the base¡ªespecially since Sun Shiyu needed to go into seclusion for a while, and Sun Shiqing probably wouldn''t go on extended trips before her recovery¡ªthe recent exploration still led them to a border that continued to a warm sea region in the far north after reaching Canada and passing through ska into the Arctic Circle.


    The barrier to that world seemed fragile, and at first nce, it appeared to be in the ancient agricultural era.


    However, there is an ind nearby called ''Peach Blossom Ind,'' which is the training ground for one of that world''s ''Five Greats,'' the Eastern Heretic. It''s just that the owner wasn''t home when they visited...


    And Tao Yu''s main goal in heading north was to acquire the Inner Power System!


    Physical strength spread through cells, activated by Qi-Blood, and not involving meridians, which made storing this raw strength extremely difficult.


    Currently, it was only after condensing Qi-Blood into a core that one could temporarily store power.


    Tao Yu estimated that after the second deification of both Myriad Streams Breathing Method and Five Forms as One, there might be an increase in storage capabilities.


    But how could the cost-effectiveness of this second deificationpare to a new, non-conflicting system like the Inner Strength System just starting out?


    "It''s just that I don''t know which era it is. They only made a quick tour beforeing back. But regardless of the era, it won''t stop me from seeking benefits. And although there are highly skilled martial artistsing and going, the actual threat to me is lower than that of technological weapons..."


    Tao Yu felt that with his current strength, he could also attempt to venture into the World of Avatar, where there would undoubtedly be something like the Heart of the World.


    But...


    The uncertainty of technological weapons was too great; being killed in an explosion would leave no room for argument.


    On the other hand, the martial world of the Metal Series, while seemingly full of masters, posed no substantial threat to him.


    Even without taking into ount the boost from his array of special abilities, just the raw strength and physique should at least match the power of seven or eightyers of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Gong.


    Including Innate Time Control, Fist Intention, Demonization, and Shadow Force, there was a slim chance that anyone in the Metal Series could stop his assassination¡ªlet''s just see how strong that three-foot wall of Qi really was...


    "Still, I can''t afford to be arrogant. Most internal damage is piercing, and my current health pool might not withstand too many hits; it''s better to stick to a cautious approach..."


    This trip was mainly to gain benefits!


    If there''s Peach Blossom Ind, it meant the Nine Yin True Scripture was there, and the Nine Yang Divine Skill was also likely within the scriptures.


    Beyond that, there was a martial art that Tao Yu found to be the most suitable for Pioneers.


    Dragon Elephant Prajna Gong!


    With sufficient time, there would be gains, and Yuan Force was just perfect for speeding up the process!


    "Dragon Elephant Prajna Gong is truly a divine skill for Pioneers, with immense value far surpassing other martial arts. The potential value is tremendous; trading a single instance of it with apany can fetch at least over a hundred thousand.


    "And if one wishes to establish a teaching institute for a steady flow of benefits, it could surpass the Wanliu Dojo.


    "Or it could be kept without reporting, taught only to those who have had a spiritual seed nted within them. There are many options..."


    ```

 Chapter 192: Chapter 173 Disturbing

    "Roar~"


    In Las Vegas, inside a newly built farm, Da Hei, restrained by arge metal frame and wrapped in iron chains, let out a pitiful roar upon seeing Tao Yu.


    The iron chains rattled on its body.


    However, Tao Yu remained unmoved. He simply leaped onto Da Hei''s back, giving it a pat to soothe it while nting a psychic seed.


    This instantly calmed the agitated Da Hei.


    "Indeed, of the three Alien Queens on the farm, you''re the best-controlled one. There''s really no way to pass on your skills? Maybe in the future, we could form an Alien army, perfect as cannon fodder."


    An Inner City Pioneer in charge of the farm, a burly man with boar-like nostrils and tusks, watched Tao Yu easily calm the Alien Queen and a hint of excitement shed in his eyes.


    Aliens could be tamed, and they were simply perfect as cannon fodder.


    High yield, dexterous, their bodies weapons, and even their death resulted in an explosion of acid blood.


    Now, because of these Aliens, even the price of Taming Techniques had gone up.


    Compared to others, however, the Alien Queen tamed by Tao Yu was still the best specimen.


    If one could control the Alien Queen, then indirectly controlling the Aliens through her would be much simpler.


    It wasn''t about the Empress directly controlling everything but rather the Pioneers using Taming Techniques under the enhancement of the Queen''s pheromones, which would definitely be far more effective than without the help of a Queen.


    "Yuan Force skills are currently being learned by the youngdy."


    Tao Yu casually responded, effectively silencing the boar-like man, who fell mutely silent.


    "Alright, this should keep it calm for a while. When I''m free, I''ll run more experiments."


    Ignoring the roaring from behind Da Hei, Tao Yu dusted off his hands and walked away.


    Once sold, he was rather principled about it.


    With Las Vegas nowrgely cleared of zombies for the sake of the base''s safety, the Alien farm was established here.


    They were also looking to use the nearby dam to irrigate some crops, selecting suitable Yuan Force crop seeds.


    To ensure they could serve as both food and a source of Yuan Force.


    "Safety in the Abysses first, but after stabilizing, it''s time to think about generating revenue. Yet, for now, the initial investment should continue. Turning a loss into a profit will take at least several years, if not over a decade," Tao Yu pondered.


    Many Yuan Force crops, like trees, had long initial growth cycles, and how to divide them was quite a delicate matter.


    But without a doubt, the base was now on the right track.


    Without any idents, turning a profit was only a matter of time.


    "I wonder how many people are still alive in the Monster World."


    Given the current environment in the Abyss, the migration of ordinary people, this world was at its limit, close to the neighboring Monster World. And these natives would be the base''s core poption andbor force.


    Add in the constantly iing Pioneers, and the future looked hopeful.


    "The little rich girl makes her money, and I make mine."


    Recalling some pleasant memories, Tao Yu nearly slipped into fantasy, but he quickly gathered his thoughts and regained hisposure.


    "It''s about time to hit the road..."


    Mounting his motorbike, he twisted the throttle and sped off toward the base.


    The journey was long, and riding a motorcycle was too tough, so of course, he''d be heading over in an RV...


    ...


    "Add two more barrels of oil, bring the repair tools too, and the snow tires¡ªyeah, the oil quality is a bit down, but as long as it works, it''s good."


    Jack loaded up Tao Yu''s RV with two barrels of oil and also included a lot of canned goods.


    Rare fruit cans were stuffed in with two boxes, and some snacks and such as well.


    An RV that would normally spell luxury was now packed like a cargo truck.


    But considering Little ck and the publicly known Cao Shaolin, it was only three people''s worth of space, which was more than enough for the spacious RV.


    "Alright, I''m just going over there for a bit¡ªyou''re acting like it''s a matter of life and death," Tao Yu said as he pushed Jack out of the RV, slightly annoyed.


    "Pah, no appreciation for good intentions," Jack retorted.


    Then he couldn''t resist adding, "You sure a kayak will do the job? Isn''t it supposed to be the sea over there? Three-foot waves without a breath of wind."


    At that moment, two kayaks along with paddles were tied to the top of the RV. These were Tao Yu''s nned means of crossing the sea.


    "Don''t worry, I''m really good at driving, and if worsees to worst, I can always retreat back to the real world for a bit, since I am a Pioneer."


    Tao Yu''s words pierced Jack''s heart, making him itch to return to his training immediately.


    With two other ''Chosen Ones'' who possessed Demonization joining in, Jack also felt an external pressure building up.


    The initial boost from Demonization was just too high.


    "Alright, go back, and don''t let those juniors overtake you, as a senior."


    In the end, Tao Yu still came down and hugged Jack, patting his back.


    "Tch, I used to mix it up at the CIA, how could I lose to a couple of kids."


    Jack returned the pat to Tao Yu, then waved his hand,


    "Have a safe trip."


    "I''ll bring you back some local specialties."


    Tao Yu waved goodbye to Jack, figuring that if he got his hands on the right Internal Cultivation Methods, he could teach them to him.


    Although Jack was of a certain age and set in his ways, as a Chosen One, anything was still possible.


    Besides, the Nine Yin True Scripture did incorporate the Muscle Changing and Bone Forging Scripture.


    After undergoing a second Deification, Tao Yu had also gained this effect, so he knew that with the right Skill as a foundation, subsequent learning would be much easier,


    Under the gazes of Panda, Jack, Park Ji-hyun, and others, Tao Yu called over Little ck to get in the car, which Little ck hesitantly drove onto the highway, heading northward¡­


    ¡­


    With the world''s end having begun less than a year ago, the highways were stillrgely passable.


    With Tao Yu''s goading, Little ck, though initially driving slowly, gradually became more proficient.


    After all, there were hardly any other vehicles on the road, with only the asional broken-down car parked on the side.


    Thanks to the RV''s truck-like height, it was quite easy to spot any obstacles ahead and perform the necessary Evasion.


    After a day of guiding Little ck through the remaining vehicle operations, as dusk began to fall, Tao Yu yawned and said,


    "Keep driving at your own pace, follow this road to its end, but don''t enter the city yet. Just stop on the outskirts, remember to turn off the engine and pull the handbrake after parking, I''m going to lie down for a while."


    With that casual reminder, Tao Yu turned toward the inside of the RV, opened the fridge, and took out a bottle of soda, chugging it down.


    Cold soda, refreshing!


    "I wonder if there''s any chance of salvaging the c factory, the world''s stock is about to expire."


    Tao Yuy on the spacious bed, but his mind involuntarily drifted to the wealthy young woman who hadin there before ¡ª truly toxic.


    "I feel like I''ve lost interest in other women¡­"


    After the encounter thatsted twenty minutes and happened thirteen times, upon his return, Tao Yu found that the previously rescued beauties now seemed quite in to him.


    He thought he might have contracted some indescribable disease.


    However, just as Tao Yu was about to use the Meditation Technique inbination with the Breathing Technique to reinforce his strength at a low rate, a boost in Spirit Perception thanks to the second Deification of the Meditation Technique gave him a slight premonition.


    "Tsk, I was just about to rest; who''s this without any foresight?"


    A bit reluctantly, he let out a yawn and opened the RV window nearby.


    A faint hostility emerged from behind, and there was more than one source.


    Probably, they specially caught up because the RV was moving slowly.


    In any case, it was bound to be trouble.


    "Just don''t wreck my car¡­"


    Tao Yu instantly transformed into a shadow and left the RV.


    With the boost from second Deification to Stealth, Tao Yu suddenly felt like a fish in water.


    Many forces of Shadow Force converged upon him from within the shadows, then stored within his own shadow.


    But after all, this was not the Monster World; he couldn''t afford to indulge in luxurious consumption of power for too long.


    After leaving the RV, he slowly materialized from behind an abandoned car on the roadside, spotting a pickup with several motorcycles in pursuit from behind.


    The pickup''s bed had a machine gun welded on it, manned by an armed militant, with another one holding an RPG beside him.


    Besides, each one on those motorcycles was fully armed.


    "Wow, quite the strong lineup, they came prepared."


    Tao Yu raised an eyebrow. A group of militants like this, given averagepetence, could easily take on Inner City Pioneers if they caught them off-guard.


    This is also why the Inner City Pioneers liked to team up; having subordinates orrades to watch each other''s backs made a world of differencepared to being alone¡­

 Chapter 193: Chapter 174 Procrastination

    "The lineup is actually not bad, but it shouldn''t be Panda and his crew..."


    Tao Yu stood behind a discarded car, watching the approaching team and seemingly feeling a bit helpless.


    Enhanced by the second Deification''s Meditation Technique, Tao Yu didn''t think any Pioneer in the new Development Zone could elude his Spirit Perception.


    And now, he could feel the hostility of the enemies.


    Armed like that, an RPG would smack you in the face, followed by a wild spray of bullets.


    If an Inner City Pioneer in the new Development Zone were alone, their chances of escape were almost nonexistent.


    But the threat to himself was truly minimal.


    In the pickup truck, there were two threats that felt a bit stronger, possibly Inner City Pioneers. Those riding motorcycles outside and the ones setting up the guns and carrying rocketunchers should be Outer City Pioneers, and he couldn''t even rule out the possibility of some natives.


    "I can''t just let you guys actually wreck my car, can I..."


    Tao Yu couldn''t be bothered to pretend anymore. As the convoy was about to pass by the discarded car, he suddenly drew two assault rifles and started firing blindly.


    The convoy''s attention was all on the sluggish RV up front, with an RPG resting on someone''s shoulder in the pickup truck''s bed.


    How could they anticipate an attack from the side!


    The kicker was the exaggerated uracy of the attack¡ªheadshot with every bullet!


    The RPG shooter on the pickup truck was the first to suffer.


    Not only was he shot in the head, but the bullet also hit the RPG''s fuse precisely, causing the rocket to explode above their own heads.


    Boom~


    The entire pickup truck reared up from the explosion and then flipped over!


    Taking advantage of the pickup''s upturn and revealing the gap on the other side, Tao Yu methodically followed the trajectory and cleaned up the armed militants on the other side of the truck, and even casually picked off the driver.


    Leaving the pickup to roll over by the roadside alongside the explosion.


    Tao Yu then leisurely pressed out the magazines of the two assault rifles and meticulously reced them with new ones.


    "If you''re not dead,e out and we can chat. You might not have to die then."


    Tao Yu satzily on the hood of the adjacent abandoned car, seemingly toozy to move.


    "Why are you attacking us?! Why! Can''t we just pass by?"


    A hysterical voice came from the other side.


    Tao Yu had shares in Dada and waspletely aware of the scale of the original convoy, so he knew it would be difficult even for Inner City Pioneers to put together a team like this.


    This was also why Tao Yu had cooperated with Panda in the beginning¡ªthe hassles of personnel matters were too much.


    So it was normal to feel heartache now that this group had been scrapped in an instant.


    "You pass by your way, I fight my fight, any objections?"


    If the other side didn''t admit their ill intentions, so be it. Tao Yu didn''t care about those things.


    I have ill intentions towards you, that''s enough!


    Such a boldly stated argument truly infuriated the two people who had tumbled with the pickup truck and scrambled to hide behind it.


    How can they be even more unreasonable than us?


    Outer City bumpkins are too rude!


    "Sir, you''ve misunderstood, we really had no ill intent. Considering that you haven''t suffered any loss, but we have suffered greatly, how about we part ways for today?"


    Another voice struggled to keep itsposure, proposing to retreat from behind the pickup truck.


    Even though it was still two against one.


    But what Temor did just now was just too outrageous!


    How much time had passed?


    Their carefully crafted battle team, which could be considered top tier in the entire base, had been obliterated in an instant!


    Could Dynamic Vision really be so impressive?


    If every one of Temor''s Dynamic Visions could do this, how could that be called a normalbat talent!


    It''s fake, it must be a disguise! He''s definitely not a Grade A Dynamic Vision holder, he must have either a higher talent level or a simrly rare type of talent!


    But by now it was toote to realize this, as in the instant of the vehicle''s explosion and rollover, their team had been wiped out. Where could they go to reason this out...


    "Oh, but now I have ill intent. I want you to die here."


    Tao Yu reloaded his magazines, and couldn''t help but curl his lip; they really were patient, not even trying a single attack while he was changing magazines. Maybe they would have seeded.


    "Brother, don''t be too ruthless."


    "Did you ever show mercy to me first? Come on, speak the truth. I''m not incapable of letting you go."


    "Alright, it was Panda. He thinks you''re getting too much of the share,"


    the person who spoke paused for a moment, seemingly having difficulty admitting it.


    Tao Yu couldn''t help but snort in derision.


    "So he sent you lot of trash?"


    Before joining forces with Panda, Tao Yu used every trick in the book to have the troublemakers from the Skull Gang admit they were sent by Panda.


    But now that someone had taken the initiative to name Panda, Tao Yu waspletely nonchnt.


    It wasn''t that he trusted Panda all that much.


    Even with the tight cooperation between them, Tao Yu could never fully trust anyone; the backstabbing partners and various real business warfare cases from his past life were lessons he had learned too well.


    What Tao Yu could be sure of, however, was that as long as their interests aligned and both parties benefited from the cooperation, their rtionship remained stable.


    Why would anyone attack now? With so many people involved, his shares couldn''t be monopolized if he gave them up, and Tao Yu, who didn''t concern himself with specific affairs, was naturally his ally. With Tao Yu''s support, Panda could remain the de facto manager.


    That didn''t even take into ount the rtionship between the rich youngdy and her brother on that side.


    Besides, even if one took a step back, having seen Tao Yu''s strength when he killed Taff, even if Panda really did impulsively decide to make a move, he wouldn''t just send these losers...


    And Tao Yu''s pointed words effectively silenced the two Inner City Pioneers.


    Panda must know something!


    No wonder, no wonder he got such great benefits!


    "Was it Frank''s family?"


    Tao Yu retorted with a question, causing the other party to pause and then the two men in the back of the pickup quickly looked ufortable.


    Damn, Frank was killed by this kid?


    That''s why Miss Sun''s handling of the matter seemed so abrupt¡ªit''s rare for her to be so ruthless!


    "Uh, no, not at all."


    Though Tao Yu''s Spirit Perception couldn''t read minds, he could still make fairly urate judgements through emotional stimuli, especially when the emotional gap was wide.


    "We... we didn''t hear anything..."


    "Right, right, we really don''t know..."


    Ignoring their hasty exnations, Tao Yu spoke again,


    "So it was about the Alien Taming Technique?"


    Once again, silence followed. But Tao Yu had already confirmed the reason.


    "Tch, I said it wasn''t likely they''de to me without any vested interest, so that''s what this is about, is it? Is it the boar guy from the farm..."


    While speaking, he sighed and hopped off the car hood.


    He began walking slowly towards the front.


    Having figured out the case, there was no need to leave himself unprepared for simr situations in the future, which meant the other party no longer had any value to him...


    "Wait, brother, listen to our exnation..."


    The voice from behind seemed to get more urgent upon hearing Tao Yu''s approaching footsteps.


    But Tao Yu could feel their malice growing rapidly.


    Sure enough, as he was about to reach the pickup, a figure swiftly pounced from above while another dashed to the side, raising the gun in his hand.


    An assassin, yet daring to approach close.


    This is suicide!


    The faces of the two Inner City Pioneers twisted with ferocity.


    What did it matter how strong he was?


    What did it matter that he had subdued Panda?


    Once you''re killed, you''re dead!


    Giving us...


    Click~


    The Pioneer diving from above missed entirely, as if he had struck a patch of ck mist.


    But the next moment, the click behind him caught his ear.


    Struggling to look back, he saw one pair of hands just released from hispanion''s neck, letting the limp body copse to the ground as if in distaste, shaking off the hands.


    "I had already agreed not to kill Inner City Pioneers carelessly, what are you guys doing? I''m going to get scoldedter¡­"


    Tao Yu sounded resigned.


    Just as the other turned and ran, Tao Yu followed with a leap through the shadows, casually flinging his wrist, his hand striking the other''s chest.


    Bang~


    The figure flew backwards like a cannonball, crashing and embedding itself into the caved-in roof of the pickup truck.


    The unrestrained force had turned his internal chest cavity into mush.


    After dealing with the matter, Tao Yu slowly drew the Warlord''s Sidearm and fired several shots into the other''s head, even blowing off the crown without a response; he was definitely dead.


    "Why bother? Now you''ve made me waste time burning this down, which is a bit excessive. I was ready to rest..."


    Propping up a motorcycle, he skillfully took off the gas cap, tearing a big hole in the tank, then started pouring out the gasoline.


    They had ridden so many bikes over, it was like self-service.


    Next, he would need to borrow a bike to catch up with Little ck''s RV. Dying bedtime would only make itter...

 Chapter 194: Chapter 175: Martial Artists?

    ```


    "...Just follow the route I described, and you can get to Las Vegas first. The zombies there have almost been cleared out, and when you get close, you should find people scrambling to escort you to the base..."


    Tao Yu poked his head out of the RV window at the height of the truck, speaking to the driver of a sturdy-looking, modified pickup beside him.


    The truck seemed to carry a family of five, and Tao Yu didn''t sense any hostility, so he took the opportunity to remind them, briefly describing the route he had taken¡ªit was rtively clear, at least.


    Because of the height of their vehicles, they hadn''t seen Little ck driving; otherwise, they probably wouldn''t have remained so calm.


    "Thank you, thank you so much," said the weather-beaten, stubble-faced driver, continuously expressing his gratitude to Tao Yu.


    "Hmm, I''ve got to be on my way, safe travels to you," Tao Yu replied.


    "I wish you safe travels as well," the driver responded.


    After parting ways, the two vehicles crossed paths and Tao Yu continued driving within Canadian territory.


    The temperature had already started to drop noticeably.


    Las Vegas has a desert environment with significant temperature differences between day and night, but even in winter, daytime temperatures aren''t too low.


    But as he drove further north into Canada, the temperature was bing distinctly colder.


    "I hope it doesn''t snow. There''s no one around here to shovel..."


    The weather in the Abyss was somewhat chaotic, so Tao Yu wasn''t certain whether it would snow ahead of him. However, considering ska is within the Arctic Circle, if the climate hadn''t warmed up in the past year and was still as it used to be, he reckoned that simply driving an RV would make it difficult to reach his destination.


    Even though he was prepared with snow tires and anti-skid chains, and the vehicle had sufficient power, after such a long time without maintenance, he had no idea what the condition of the snow on the roads would be.


    Little ck continued to drive, and Tao Yu once again picked up the map to determine the nextndmark.


    "The man just now mentioned two strange riders ahead, but due to thenguage barrier, they couldn''tmunicate. I wonder if they''re from another world. Peach Blossom Ind''s world doesn''t have a clear barrier, and the barrier in Zombie World is one-way. It''s uncertain whether the zombie virus would spread over there..."


    While flipping through the map, Tao Yu pondered in his mind.


    However, if he could encounter them, it might be good to meet up and find out the situation¡ªlike whether it had snowed on the road or to figure out what time it was in that world.


    After all, Peach Blossom Ind spans a long period of time.


    On his journey, Tao Yu hadn''t encountered any strange horse riders; perhaps he had missed them, but slowly, both sides of the highway were indeed showing umted snow.


    But the snow wasn''t thick, just a shallowyer on the road, and the sky wasn''t continuing to snow.


    "It must be due to the weather changes..."


    Tao Yu looked out at the snowscape, crossing the area alone, with only aliens and zombies forpany¡ªfeeling a sense of solitude yet also a sense of rxation.


    "The scenery is quite nice."


    However, not long after following the highway, Tao Yu caught a glimpse of smoke in the distance, along with a flicker of firelight.


    "There''re people; slow down," Tao Yu ordered Little ck. As the vehicle drew closer, his own keen eyesight made out two fine horses tethered by the trees.


    In the cooling climate, both horses snorted streams of white breath.


    Tao Yu could see a man and a woman by a fire, seemingly roasting squirrels.


    The horses carried cloth bundles and hanging swords on their backs, which strongly suggested they were from that other world.


    "But that''s not right. Isn''t it a coastal area? Did they bring their horses on a ship toe here? These don''t look like local horses," Tao Yu contemted, hesitating slightly.


    But having seen them, he decided to approach and learn more.


    "You stop here; don''t move around," Tao Yu reassured Little ck through the space, then opened the car door and stepped out.


    Opening the door let in a gust of cold wind; the outside temperature was much lower.


    The size of the RV parked here, with no real cover, had not escaped the notice of the man and woman, who now watched Tao Yu getting out of the car with some wariness.


    Both the man and the woman were dressed in tight-fitting clothes, with the woman appearing to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a melon seed-shaped face, willow-leaf eyebrows, a fairplexion, and a hint of mature charm at the corners of her eyes, making her incredibly beautiful.


    Her white, coarse cloth outfit,bined with a cinched waist, did nothing to hide her graceful figure.


    ```


    Though he had the broad back and waist of a bear, and his appearance was rough, one could still discern a hint of immaturity in his features. He was quite young, apparently not over twenty, and his brown, rugged outfit was stretched taught over his muscr frame.


    Despite both being dressed like heroines and heroes, Tao Yu didn''t feel much of a threating from the duo.


    To tell the truth, at first nce at the beauty, Tao Yu wondered if it was Huang Rong who had sneaked out of her ind abode.


    With her stunning beauty, though not surpassing that of the wealthy youngdy, she was far superior to the other beauties he hade across. The several from the house of Ao couldn''t evenpare to her in terms of facial beauty.


    Even having experienced the baptism of wealth, Tao Yu took a second look; she must be an important character, he thought, wondering if she might be the Chosen One.


    But the man beside her, he didn''t quite fit any known identity. Too young for Guo Jing, and not quite the right style for Yang Guo.


    "I''m not sure where you two hail from or how much you know about this world."


    Seeing the pair on guard, Tao Yu raised his hand in a fist-and-palm salute.


    Upon hearing Tao Yu''s words, a gleam appeared in their eyes, and the beautiful woman stepped forward to return the salute, saying,


    "I am Cheng Lixue of the Snowy Mountain Sect, and this is my fellow disciple Zhang Hao. We were originally ordered by our master to head north to Sichuan to rendezvous with our senior brother and eradicate the Skull Gang that has been rampaging in the area. However, upon leaving our mountain gate, a sudden fog enveloped us.


    After losing our way in the fog for half a day, when we emerged, we found ourselves lost and without knowledge of our whereabouts..."


    Tao Yu looked somewhat puzzled upon hearing Cheng Lixue''s words.


    In the Metal Series, the Snowy Mountain Sect only seems to have a presence in ''The Tale of the Heroic Wanderers''; the match with Peach Blossom Ind seems a bit off.


    Moreover, they didn''t arrive by way of his boat crossing the sea, but instead came upon this ce after encountering a mysterious fog just outside their gate, making the whole affair seem rather strange.


    "...Upon arriving here, we discovered odd things like horseless carriages that move on their own and at a startling pace, and we''ve evene across living corpses that feed on humans. The living people we''ve met are all from the Western Regions, speaking an iprehensiblenguage. Sir, since you know thenguage of the Central ins, could you please tell us where we are?"


    Cheng Lixue, despite her efforts to remain calm, was quite anxious at heart.


    Faced with utterly iprehensible circumstances, and having to look after a younger disciple, she had to show strength. Otherwise, she felt she might copse.


    "This ce is known as the Abyss, considered the end of all worlds. You''ve likely encountered the fall of a world and were randomly cast here."


    Tao Yu mused while also briefly exining the situation.


    She''s so beautiful, she must be a protagonist from some world, he thought. Falling into the Abyss and emerging without a scratch, she seems to be protected by fate. The possibility that she is a Chosen One cannot be dismissed, so it''s better to be honest and clear.


    However, Tao Yu also needed to gather information, so after dropping the bombshell to ensure the pair were still processing the news, he continued to inquire,


    "Do the two of you know of ''Peach Blossom Ind''?"


    As he spoke, Tao Yu directed his full attention to their expressions.


    Sure enough, both looked somewhat baffled.


    "Among the seven inds overseas, we have not heard of such a ce; it might be an obscure small ind," said Cheng Lixue gravely.


    Alright, they must have identally fallen nearby.


    Snowy Mountain Sect, Skull Gang ¨C these names do seem a bit too conventional. There used to be a Skull Gang in his previous world, but they''re long gone now.


    "Ahead lies a fragment of a world that is the territory of Peach Blossom Ind. You might find the environment there more familiar. Would you be willing to travel together? I could also tell you more about the current situation and its changes."


    Having gotten this far, Tao Yu wasn''t going to let them go without obtaining what he wanted and the journey was not a short one.


    What if they were false Chosen Ones? That would be quite the loss.


    So why not join forces for the journey?


    At the moment, these indigenous people generally seemed more trustworthy than the Pioneers. Besides, observing the couple as righteous martial artists, he wondered whether they belonged to the kind of upright sect that fought shoulder to shoulder, or if they were truly virtuous.


    In any case, he felt confident that he could suppress them in terms of strength.


    He could also eavesdrop and subtly inquire about Inner Strength.


    At the very least, during his training, he needed to understand acupuncture points and meridians, or else he might have a Divine Skill without knowing how to practice it.


    As for mental cultivation and techniques, Tao Yu was unconcerned. He felt that these two, who couldn''t impose any sense of threat, wouldn''t possess any profound martial arts and certainly couldn''tpare to those he had his eye on.


    Unsure of potential conflicts with different types of Inner Strength, Tao Yu didn''t want to waste time learning any mediocre Skills.


    Since they were going to reach the other side soon, it would be beneficial to ask for some knowledge about meridians and pressure points along the way.


    After a brief discussion, Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao decided, and Cheng Lixue made the final call to agree.


    "Thank you for the trouble, young master."


    Cheng Lixue looked Tao Yu over, noting a handsome young man simr in age to her junior brother, with a well-proportioned body and a stable stance, likely someone who''s undergone training.


    However, through her experience roaming the Martial World, she noted from features like his temple that he didn''t seem to have cultivated Inner Strength, possessing only external skills, which didn''t pose much threat. She could control the situation, so it shouldn''t be a problem...

 Chapter 195: Chapter 176 Mutual Aid

    "What kind of monster is this?"


    Seeing Little ck in the driver''s seat, Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao were both greatly startled, almost simultaneously drawing their swords with faces full of vignce.


    Little ck, in return, growled discontentedly at them.


    "Don''t worry, it''s my pet. You can think of it as a type of demonic creature from the Abyss. This one doesn''t bite, but you should be careful if you encounter others; they are very dangerous."


    Upon hearing this, both of them involuntarily swallowed hard. You don''t have to tell us it''s dangerous.


    It felt like their entire bodies were weapons.


    "Is this... the Abyss? The legendary Nine Nethend?"


    Cheng Lixue tried to remain calm, her pretty face tensed as if she was finally beginning to understand the severity of the situation.


    Although they had previously encountered drastic environmental changes and even the living dead, to be honest, there had been no real threat to them thus far.


    Canada is vast with sparse poption; they had hardly encountered a few living souls.


    Otherwise,ing across someone with malicious intent and a gun would have been trouble enough for both of them.


    "You''ll need to adapt. There are creatures here stronger and more repulsive than this beast."


    "I... understand. I would be most grateful if the young master could enlighten us further," Cheng Lixue said.


    Cheng Lixue sheathed her sword.


    "Hmm, I was just about to discuss some things with you. Get in, there''s a lot of stuff inside but still enough room."


    Tao Yu opened the door of the RV, the sight of the electric automatic door stunned both of them.


    "We''ve seen other self-moving vehicles without horses on the road, this... truly is miraculous."


    "You can think of it as the mechanisms of the Mo n. That might make it easier to understand. Do you n to keep your horses with us the whole time? We''ll have to cross the seater, and I''m not sure about the climate in the north."


    Tao Yu looked at the horses the two had led all the way, which made Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao hesitate.


    As martial artists, a horse was not only expensive but also an important means of transportation.


    Furthermore, Cheng Lixue had experience roaming the jianghu, and she hadn''t yete to fully trust Tao Yu.


    Initially, she felt confident in taking control of the situation, but after seeing Little ck''s ferocious appearance and the expressionless face of Cao Shaolin in the passenger seat, she felt a drumming in her heart.


    "Though merely external martial arts and showy moves, their strength is probably not weak. If there''s any malice on this journey..."


    Cheng Lixue was somewhat aware of her own charm. Even her fellow disciple Zhang Hao asionally looked at her with admiration.


    Her second senior brother had even tried to force himself on her because of it and was subsequently expelled from the sect after his mistake...


    Gurgle~


    Before Cheng Lixue could ponder further, the hunger in her stomach made her cheeks turn slightly red.


    They were in unfamiliar surroundings with their rations almost depleted. On the road, they had only managed to catch a few squirrels to stave off hunger. If they continued without purpose, they might end up having to ughter their horses to feed themselves.


    Thinking of this, Cheng Lixue bit her lip and made a decision.


    "We ask the young master to take us in. We are willing to offer our horses'' meat in exchange for your help."


    "There''s no need for that. I have plenty of food, and Little ck asionally catches wild boars and such. You might as well let them go. Who knows, you might have a chance to find them again when we return."


    Tao Yu seemed to have heard the rumbling of their stomachs and, seeing Cheng Lixue''s slightly flushed face, found it somewhat amusing. This female warrior was quite interesting, not strong but quite eloquent.


    "Here, these are called canned food. The food in these cans has a shelf life much longer than horse meat."


    Tao Yu threw them two cans of beef and opened one himself to snack on in front of them.


    After careful observation, overwhelmed by hunger, they mimicked his actions and tore open the cans, amazed by the ingenious design of the canned food.


    "Completely sealed metal containers? Who are these marvelous and skilled craftsmen? Mmm... so delicious."


    Cheng Lixue cautiously parted her red lips to taste a small bite and her eyes lit up; she started stuffing the food into her mouth without regard for image, getting some grease on her hands and chin.


    Zhang Hao, sitting beside her, also abandoned his caution and dug in.


    "Haha, no need to rush. There''s plenty for the road, enough tost until we reach our destination."


    Tao Yu was somewhat taken aback by their behavior.


    If I really had ill intent, would you eating like this not be dangerous?


    Such naive young folks, anyone with bad intentions could easily drug them and do as they wished.


    But he still tossed them two more cans.


    "Get on. Go wash your hands afterwards, don''t touch things with oily hands, and use chopsticks next time."


    The words of Tao Yu caused Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao to blush and fall silent. They then got into the vehicle, curiously using the RV''s water tank and, following Tao Yu''s instructions, wiped their hands with paper towels.


    "We just throw these away after using them? Isn''t that wasteful?"


    Seeing the sophisticated paper towels used just for wiping hands, they were both somewhat shocked.


    "You''ll get used to it. The Abyss doesn''t always have such conveniences, and the worst situations can be much worse than you imagine."


    Tao Yu thought about the dirty and chaotic environment of the outer city and couldn''t help shaking his head.


    Only because he possessed some skills now, otherwise, an ordinary Pioneer of the outer city wouldn''t care about such things¡ªif one could avoid defecating just anywhere, that was considered having some manners.


    Because Cheng Lixue was extremely beautiful and suspected to be a Chosen One, Tao Yu''s exchange with them became quite heartfelt. He told them his real name to avoid the awkwardness that had happened with Jack before.


    While letting Little ck continue driving, he sat on the sofa in the rest area and exined in more depth about the current situation of the Abyss, wanting them to understand what kind of circumstances they were in now.


    In their initial contact, Tao Yu found that the two of them didn''t seem to have much of their own opinions and were rather easy to fool.


    "Ah, does that mean we''ll never be able to go back?"


    Cheng Lixue paled, unable to maintain her forcibleposure anymore after hearing Tao Yu say that it was highly probable they would never find their way back home, and seemed a bit out of sorts.


    "A single grain of sand is a world unto itself; the vastness of the Abyss is far beyond what you and I can imagine. However, there still is a glimmer of hope," Tao Yu casuallyforted her.


    The Abyss held infinite possibilities, and it wouldn''t be strange if their world appeared right before their eyes the next moment.


    Clearly, Cheng Lixue wasn''t na?ve enough for her age. Hearing Tao Yu''s words, she was also aware of the cruelty of the world and couldn''t help but sigh softly.


    "Thank you, Young Master Tao. I understand," Cheng Lixue said.


    Zhang Hao, who was beside her, also couldn''t help but speak up to Tao Yu.


    "Brother Tao, you said the world we''re about to encounter is one we''ll be more familiar with. Can you borate on that?"


    Zhang Hao held a good impression of Tao Yu, who was willing to share his food with them.


    Being a junior of the Snowy Mountain Sect and on his first venture out, he suddenly encountered such an event. His senior sister was also a bit lost, and now, receiving Tao Yu''s kindness naturally made his affection for Tao Yu grow.


    Although Zhang Hao had a robust build and rough appearance, he was indeed a little younger than Tao Yu.


    "You''ve also encountered other people; the fact is, this world is very dangerous. There''s a kind of hidden weapon you don''t understand," Tao Yu said as he drew amon handgun, one of the items left by previous assants, opened the window, and fired several shots into the woods outside.


    This instantly made Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao feel a chill.


    "So fast? And it can fire repeatedly? This small device has a power not inferior to strong arrows; if someone used this during a fight, it would be impossible to defend against," they eximed.


    "The speed of this weapon is so fast, it''s almost invisible, and apart from the loud noise, it''s practically perfect," Zhang Hao added.


    It had to be said, even though Tao Yu deemed their danger level low, they were still martial artists with Inner Strength, and what ordinary people couldn''t see, they could barely make out as a blur.


    Even in their eyes, it was just a fleeting glimpse, yet they knew something had been shot out.


    This gave both of them a moment of fright.


    If it weren''t for Brother Tao''s warning, how would they deal with someone who possessed this kind of hidden weapon?


    "There are weapons with greater power and strength, and, moreover, you might not understand thenguage of this world, which is another reason why I said you will feel out of ce¡­" Tao Yu continued, then paused and smiled.


    "Although I haven''t personally been to the next world, someone has brought back some information. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be quite simr to the world you described, at least thenguage should be the same," Tao Yu exined, finally making the two feel somewhat relieved.


    Cheng Lixue was even feeling a bit hopeful internally. What if it was indeed their own world?


    They had previously asked about Peach Blossom Ind, which could be the name of a ce in that world. Although she had never heard of it, it could be a small ind she really wasn''t familiar with!


    Moreover, finding a ce to fit in and get ustomed to, even temporarily, was still good news.


    It was truly fortunate to have encountered a kind-hearted person willing to give guidance.


    Cheng Lixue was aware of the dangers of the martial world and was clear about the precarious situation they were in. If they had encountered viins, the danger could have been immense.


    Then she nced at Tao Yu again, her cheeks reddening slightly.


    A chance meeting, and there would be no such thing as kindness without a reason. The other person must have had his own intent.


    The only bargaining chip they might have at their disposal could be their appearance.


    But even though they had left their original world, her moral standards still caused her anxiety; she was a married woman after all. Should she rify this to him?


    "So, on our way there, I have a small favor to ask of the two of you," Tao Yu said, causing Cheng Lixue to look up, after which he gestured for them to speak.


    "Please proceed, Young Master Tao."


    "The thing is, I hardly have any understanding of acupoints or meridians, yet I am quite interested in these areas. So I was hoping the two of you could offer some guidance," Tao Yu stated, deliberately not mentioning anything about Internal Cultivation Methods, only acupoints and meridians.


    Hearing this, Cheng Lixue finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, smiling and responding,


    "Of course, there''s no problem at all. I can teach you. Whatever questions you have, Young Master Tao, don''t hesitate to ask¡­"


    Only reciprocal help canst. Constant, one-sided sacrifice felt too precarious. With Tao Yu''s request, she actually felt a sense of relief¡­


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 196: Chapter 177 Guidance

    The space inside this luxury RV is incrediblyrge, with a leisure hall, dining room, bedroom, and a two-level tatamiyout. The addition of two more people hardly made any impact at all.


    Little ck was driving, and Cao Shaolin was in the passenger seat.


    Worried that Zhang Hao would get bored, I found him a Tom and Jerry DVD. After briefly teaching him how to use the TV, I let him watch the cartoon in the leisure hall while snacking by himself.


    Come to think of it, for ancient people experiencing this sort of thing for the first time, watching TV dramas and movies might make them feel out of ce, while cartoons could be more easily understood in terms of resemnce to shadow puppetry.


    Zhang Hao, who had nevere across such entertainment facilities before, was instantly engrossed, so much so that he stopped eating his snacks and remarked,


    "Learning to identify acupoints and veins requires quiet. I won''t cause any disturbance."


    Seeing him like this, Tao Yu decided not to bother him further.


    At first, he had thought Zhang Hao might be the one to teach him, but now that Cheng Lixue was personally taking over, he was naturally more satisfied.


    Not to mention her more meticulous mind and richer experience, just having a beautiful woman instructing him was surely more effective than rough man like Zhang Hao could ever be.


    Cheng Lixue, dressed in a white martial arts uniform, touched the bedroom mattress, feeling its softness, and once again her face showed astonishment,


    "This world truly knows how to enjoy itself."


    "Just sit wherever you like, don''t be shy, I am the one seeking instruction from you after all," Tao Yu said with a smile to a somewhat nervous Cheng Lixue.


    Having interacted with them, it was clear that both individuals had very upright character setups, albeit a bit na?ve.


    They tried to appear savvy but instead radiated a sort of pure simplicity.


    I have to say, Cheng Lixue has good fundamentals, and there''s a mature charm about her that could easily outshine those celebrities from the Green Family. Of all the people Tao Yu had met, only the young rich woman could overshadow her¡ªwell, and Sun Shiqing if she dressed as a girl.


    The head maid Lara was also on par with her.


    "Learning to identify acupoints and veins is generally passed down directly by a master because it''s best if I lead with my Inner Strength within your body first, to give you a feel for it.


    Otherwise, if you rely solely on verbal instruction and demonstration, you''re unlikely to retain the impression," Cheng Lixue said as she sat on the edge of the bed, flicking her hair beside her ear, her cheeks blushing slightly.


    "This is very dangerous. If the teacher has any malice, they could easily cause irreversible damage. And if they deliberately mislead you about certain aspects, it could also lead to serious misunderstanding."


    "Since Heroine Cheng has made a point of stating this, I think she can bepletely trusted. Please, go ahead. I won''t me you if there''s a mistake," Tao Yu said, not worried about the damage as he had [One Proof Forever Proof], which assured his recovery from any mishaps. Naturally, his words sounded reassuring.


    However, these words of trust, when heard by Cheng Lixue, made her feel a twinge of guilt.


    She had doubted him initially.


    Moreover, with Mr. Tao being young and sessful, and handsome to boot, he surely wouldn''t be interested in an old woman past her prime like herself.


    Having mentally put down a huge weight, Cheng Lixue indicated for Tao Yu to sit cross-legged on the mattress, and she then approached and pointed at several key spots on his body,


    "Before I transfer Inner Strength into your body, I''ll point out a few crucial acupoints to you. First, the most important is the Dantian, which is the ocean of Qi¡ªhere is the Danzhong Acupoint, and here is the Huiyin Acupoint..."


    When her finger pointed to that spot, Cheng Lixue''s pretty face shed with a trace of embarrassment.


    Tao Yu, sensing a slight sweat odor from his nose, understood why it''s typically the master who teaches the disciple¡ªphysical closeness like this could indeed be seen as overly intimate.


    However, Tao Yu''s concentration, having been tested by the young rich woman, was extremely strong. Learning was the priority, and everything else could be set aside forter.


    "Remember a few key acupoints for now. I''m going to send some Inner Strength into your body. Since you''ve missed the initial period and your meridians might be somewhat blocked, you may feel some soreness or swelling. I''ll be careful with the control of my strength..."


    Cheng Lixue said in all seriousness, and then stretched out her slender hand to press against Tao Yu''s dantian qi sea, slowly infusing a bit of inner strength.


    The location where Tao Yu''s Qi and Blood Pill was formed was also here, but the Qi and Blood Pill and inner strength are two different things, so Cheng Lixue''s infusion of inner strength encountered no resistance.


    However, as soon as she cautiously attempted to infuse it, Cheng Lixue was greatly shocked.


    "How is this possible¡­"


    Originally, Cheng Lixue thought that, given Tao Yu''s age, she should be more careful in teaching him, assuming that most of his meridians would already be blocked, and that a slight flow of inner strength would be enough for him to catch the feeling.


    But the moment she began to infuse her inner strength into his qi sea, it felt like a drop of water had fallen into ake.


    Tao Yu''s dantian was indeed empty of inner strength, but it was incredibly spacious!


    Immediately after, she attempted to control the flow of inner strength and discovered the toughness of his meridians, the breadth of his meridians, were actually far beyond her own, despite her dedicated efforts in daily sitting in meditation and practicing breathing exercises.


    It waspletely unimaginable that he was not a martial artist and had not cultivated any inner strength!


    "Swordswoman Cheng?"


    Tao Yu felt Cheng Lixue''spse and politely reminded her.


    "Oh, sorry. The extent of Tao Yu''s talent is unparalleled in my experience. I train rigorously every day to nurture my meridians with inner strength, to expand the breadth of my meridians.


    "But Tao Yu is naturally far superior to me, truly what legends call an Innate Body."


    Cheng Lixue controlled the flow of True Qi along the Zhou Tian cycle, her pretty face showing a hint of emotion.


    "Oh, I have a very good physical foundation."


    Tao Yu also knew the reason; it should be the benefits brought by the second Deification of the Stance Skill as well as the talent of Fist Intent.


    "In this case, teaching will be much simpler. Moreover, if Tao Yu cultivates internal cultivation methods in the future, you can skip a lot of the grinding work of nurturing the meridians and only need to umte inner strength instead.


    And since I''ve already taught you the locations of several crucial acupoints, now I''ll let you feel the route that inner strength travels, along with the acupoints along the way..."


    Tao Yu listened carefully to the knowledge Cheng Lixue imparted, also deeply perceiving the path of her inner strength''s cirction.


    Although Tao Yu didn''t know at what level Cheng Lixue''s strength actually was, even just her strand of inner strength allowed Tao Yu to faintly feel its destructive power.


    If she really had malicious intent, suddenly surging inner strength would start to be rampant.


    In that case, he would likely be injured immediately, having to rely on his physique to tough it out, consuming physical strength and even Yuan Force for recovery.


    "Indeed, a very promising power system. If I can learn Divine Skill and then undergo Deification, who knows what level it could reach..."


    Tao Yu found himself somewhat expectant for a moment.


    Not until the inner strength reached the Huiyin Acupoint did his body, filled with robust Qi-Blood, exhibit some instinctive reactions. Coupled with the hand that was originally ced on the qi sea area, it led to an awkward moment for both parties.


    "This is a normal phenomenon, don''t mind it."


    Although feeling mentally disordered, Cheng Lixue still tried to maintainposure and continued the teaching. Tao Yu didn''t bother with other things.


    It wasn''t as if he was at a loss.


    However, this kind of hands-on teaching efficiency was actually low. It would be better if they could understand each other''s intentions...


    Tao Yu''s mind unconsciously recalled the process of heart-to-heart understanding with the young wealthydy.


    It was double the pleasure.


    But then he quickly suppressed the thought and began to focus on learning...

 Chapter 197: Chapter 178: Maritime Boundary Division

    "You''re indeed a genius..."


    Cheng Lixue looked at Tao Yu, her face showing a mix ofplex emotions.


    Whether it was regarding the memorization of meridian knowledge or the toughness of his meridians themselves, he was simply born for martial arts!


    Even though he started his enlightenment at a rtively old age, his future achievements would still be astonishing.


    In just a few days, he hadpletely mastered all the basic aspects; it felt like he could start learning the basic techniques of the Snowy Mountain Sect at any time if he so wanted.


    But thinking of the absurd things that had happened over the past few days, Cheng Lixue''s pretty face blushed and her legs twisted awkwardly, her chest heaving.


    And Tao Yu was also a bit at a loss for how to describe the Cheng Lixue he was facing now.


    In truth, Tao Yu had only ttered her a bit, and although the thought had shed through his mind, he hadn''t seriously intended to practice "Riding" like Park Ji-hyun did at the beginning.


    An upright martial heroine, ah, who''s so pretty and suspected of being the female lead¡ªjust the type you''d casually flirt with.


    Having experienced the refinement of a wealthy patroness, Tao Yu had high standards and wasn''t keen on wasting his sword-drawing speed on trivial matters when punching would do.


    Conserving energy better prepares one for a patroness''s support.


    Yet he hadn''t expected that a casual flirtation would lead to mutual understanding, the process going so smoothly that Tao Yu was a little stunned.


    During training, when his True Qi stimted her and she grabbed his hand, she couldn''t let go.


    Although after each encounter, she would regretfully say, "This was a mistake, it can''t happen again."


    Or, "Let''s pretend nothing ever happened."


    But next time it would be the same, repeating simr phrases with slightly different words.


    She would also spout all sorts of nonsense during the process, overly Sensitive.


    Digging out some stockings and such for her to put on, although she continued to say, "What kind of shameless thing is this?" she still went ahead and changed right in front of Tao Yu.


    The key was that Tao Yu''s Spirit Perception could feel that she was speaking truthfully.


    It''s just that her body was too honest, embarrassingly so.


    Tao Yu was indeed surprised and wasn''t quite sure how to describe it, especially since he hadn''t used Domestication yet!


    It was also because the RV was constantly in motion, and Zhang Hao was outside, immersed in watching cartoons; otherwise, he probably would have heard everything.


    This female warrior always felt like there was something off...


    But Tao Yu himself wasn''t at a loss, or it could be said that after enduring the patroness''s trials, anyone he still found appealing was undoubtedly impressive.


    Moreover, he had regained his self-confidence, and considered this as practice.


    So if Cheng Lixue wanted to y her role-ying games, Tao Yu was happy to apany her.


    But considering her overly Sensitive body, after Tao Yu had quickly mastered all the basic knowledge through mutual understanding, he still paused for a moment before saying,


    "Not at all, it''s all thanks to Lady Cheng''s good teaching. As for Lady Cheng''s situation, I have a Skill that might help to try."


    "A Skill? Is it like mutual understanding?"


    Cheng Lixue''s pretty face showed a trace of confusion, then a streak of embarrassment appeared.


    "Hmm, it can at least ensure that you don''t react like this with others."


    Tao Yu looked helplessly at Cheng Lixue, who was fidgeting.


    "Then, please help me, Master Tao."


    While saying so, she bowed deeply and also reached out to pull at the fabric of her chest, exposing a glimpse of the Abyss.


    This left Tao Yu speechless, looking up at the sky. The offhand tease he had made was indeed something she had earnestly done while expressing gratitude to him.


    "That was just a joke before; don''t do that with other people."


    "Hmm."


    Cheng Lixue hummed softly in agreement, nodding her head, and then Tao Yu prompted her to rx her mental defenses and imnted a Psychic Seed into her mind.


    This time it really wasn''t about controlling her or ying any kinks.


    It was mainly about using the Taming Technique to correct her bodily responses.


    Too exaggerated isn''t good; those things are okay to do to oneself, oneself can handle it.


    What kind of female warrior is this from another world? It''s quite unbelievable but indeed thrilling¡ªof course, it can''tpare with the patroness, but at least it helped to regain some confidence, avoiding doubts about life every day...


    ...


    "Thank you, Master Tao. You really solved a big problem for me."


    Feeling the effects of the Psychic Seed, Cheng Lixue''s face was full of joy, and she nced at Tao Yu with an alluring look.


    "d to hear you''re satisfied. What you taught me has been a great help too."


    Tao Yu chose to respond with utmost seriousness.


    "Those are just some basic introductory knowledge, I haven''t passed on to you the Internal Cultivation Methods, it''s nothing much."


    Cheng Lixue wore aplex and conflicted expression. If the Abyss was as it seemed, she wouldn''t be able to return to her sect in the future.


    And if by chance the Snowy Mountain Sect could expand its branches here, she wouldn''t mind teaching her sect''s martial arts to him.


    It''s just that he seemed to look down on the martial arts of the Snowy Mountain Sect a bit, leaving Cheng Lixue slightly upset.


    "Cough, Lady Cheng, recklessly practicing various conflicting Internal Cultivation Methods might lead to adverse effects, so I think being cautious is actually good."


    Tao Yu gave a dry chuckle.


    Along the way, he had also indirectly learned about their abilities and the limit of the Snowy Mountain Sect.


    To be honest,pared to the Metal Series of martial arts, they were not as good by a fair margin, possibly at the level of the Legendary Deer Sect if one had to ssify.


    As for Tao Yu himself, he knew more about the Martial Arts World from TV dramas. The two most impressive things he could remember were the Sweeping Monk''s three-foot Qi wall and Murong Bo''s seven to eight zhang long palm force.


    Besides, many Martial Artists didn''t possess strong endurance. If talking about long-distance palm strikes, someone with Inner Strength like Zhang Wuji could manage at most two hundred.

 Chapter 198: Chapter 178 Maritime Boundary_2

    ```


    In the martial arts world, thebat strength was inferior to that of the frontier wilderness, and Great Tang''s Twin Dragons, a yellow-coded world, was even lessparable to worlds like Storm and Cloud.


    However,pared to Cheng Lixue''s descriptions, it seemed far more superior.


    In any case, due to Cheng Lixue''s reaction, Tao Yu vaguely felt that the world they were in might not be a very orthodox world.


    From their conversations, it was evident that the Snowy Mountain Sect was a major sect in their world, and Cheng Lixue was the third senior sister of her sect, the future wife of the sect leader''s first senior brother, which probably was the main reason she frequently felt regret.


    And Zhang Hao was even the number one expert among the younger generation of the Snowy Mountain Sect.


    Such characters, practically representing the face of the younger generation, had strength that was disappointing to the point where they couldn''t exert force remotely and had to rely on weapons¡ªa stark contrast from the effortless prowess expected, which made Tao Yu somewhat look down on them.


    The main issue was that he had asked Cheng Lixue, and she said that it''s not impossible to practice multiple Internal Cultivation Methods. Many methods, meridians, and acupoints are utilized differently, and running different methods through different channels depends on the specific circumstances.


    But without a doubt, if the Internal Cultivation Methods learned were too chaotic, it could even lead to negative effects.


    Tao Yu thought to himself that with "One Certificate, Forever Valid" he should be fine. In the worst-case scenario, he would either actively dissipate his Inner Strength or switch methods. If there were no other options, he would certainly learn without hesitation, considering he could undergo Deification, and at worst, he would forcefully stack it on.


    However, he felt that he was about to head to Peach Blossom Ind soon and that it wasn''t worth wasting Yuan Force on the abilities of the Snowy Mountain Sect. Aside from having to Deify the skills, he would also have to spend Yuan Force on eleration.


    The early enhancements to his body were likely not very significant, so it would be a waste of Yuan Force, energy, and time.


    The cost-effectiveness of the first Deification was evidently the highest. It''s uncertain whether a second Deification of the Snowy Mountain Sect''s Karami Internal Cultivation Methods wouldpare to a single Deification of the Nine Yang caliber. He wasn''t yet that affluent with Yuan Force...


    ...


    "This, this is the world barrier..."


    Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao looked at the cliff in front of them, resembling a gaping abyss, and the turbulent sea below, and couldn''t calm down for a long time.


    Being from the Snowy Mountain Sect, neither of them had ever seen the sea.


    "Hmm, I didn''t expect that this side would be a hundred meters higher..."


    Tao Yu gazed at the world barrier in front of him, ska seemed brutally torn out, with a section forcibly erased, with even a house sheared in half, extending hundreds of meters downward.


    However, due to the presence of the world barrier, the boundary could still be distinguished rtively clearly, otherwise, it might be mistaken for a steep cliff.


    The other side of the world didn''tpletelyck a world barrier¡ªthere were no urrences of hundred-meter-high sea water pouring in, indicating that the territory adjacent to the Arctic Ocean must have some form of sea barrier.


    Otherwise, the sea levels of both worlds would join, and who knows how much of the other world would be flooded...


    Now, due to the height of this cliff, standing atop and looking out to sea provided a glimpse of inds in the distance.


    Being this high enabled a barely sufficient view¡ªa distance of at least several tens of kilometres.


    However, at least there was a direction to follow, though it was uncertain if that was Peach Blossom Ind.


    "I have a rope, so we can climb down from here; it shouldn''t be too much of a problem."


    Tao Yu''s RV was equipped with plenty of tools, and Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao, despite being from the world of martial artists and having practiced Inner Strength, had superior physical conditionspared to the average Pioneers.


    With tools to aid them, this height was not much of an issue.


    "But, but we can''t swim."


    Poor them, the Snowy Mountain Sect was ind, and the notion of crossing such a long distance to an ind barely visible in the distance was making them think twice.


    "No worries, I have two kayaks. I''ll take you in one, and Little ck can swim. It can push Zhang Hao''s kayak, so the distance shouldn''t be too big of a problem."


    Tao Yu evaluated the sea waves below and the nearby weather to make a rough estimate.


    He had a second Deification of the Riding skill, which wasn''t just for recruiting minions; managing a kayak would be straightforward.


    As for Little ck, it could swim just fine, so letting it push Zhang Hao''s kayak was a viable solution, considering Zhang Hao seemed quite robust.


    "Okay, okay then."


    Havinge this far, Cheng Lixue, though pale, nodded in agreement.


    At this moment, Zhang Hao also looked somewhat reluctantly at the RV and said,


    "Are we just leaving the car here?"


    Over the past few days, he had be quite addicted to "Tom and Jerry"¡ªthat shadow y was too entertaining, absolutely hrious.


    "Of course, hmm, when we return, I''ll have Little cke back to watch the car."


    Tao Yu thought for a moment and then made a decision.


    Little ck''s appearance was rather off-putting and likely to draw displeasure from some people, and so was Cao Shaolin¡ªboth could be perceived as some kind of sinister technique by the people of the Martial Arts World.


    It would be better to leave them behind to watch the car.


    Tao Yu drove the RV to a nearby wooded area, then got out and covered it with a tarpaulin. He left Cao Shaolin behind and gave themand to heed Little ck''s orders.


    With the current Domestication skill, imnting a mental seed was feasible, and having Little ck stay by the RV wouldn''t pose a big issue; the creature was fairly clever.


    Next, Tao Yu brought a bundle of ropes and dragged two kayaks over. It was about time to descend.


    Even though the cliff was a hundred meters high and appeared to have no detours downward, with tools at their disposal, Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao descended quite quickly.


    With Little ck''s help, Tao Yu, tied to the two kayaks, made his way down swiftly.


    ```

 Chapter 199: Chapter 178: Maritime Boundary Division_3

    The ropes were simply left where they were and not collected, followed by pushing the kayak toward the sea.


    "Do you need my help?"


    Tao Yu looked at Cheng Lixue, who was somewhat afraid of the waves because she had never seen the sea, and asked.


    "I would trouble Young Master Tao."


    Cheng Lixue didn''t try to act tough and, with a slightly blushing face, was lifted by the waist by Tao Yu and leapt into the seawater with a bit of a yelp.


    This caused her to cling onto Tao Yu like an octopus, letting him swim and ce her onto the easily capsizable kayak.


    But, after all, she was still a person of the martial world and managed to stabilize her emotions.


    On the other side, things weren''t so ''gentle'' for Zhang Hao.


    Little ck''s tail curled around, amidst his screams, half drowning him with seawater while dragging him onto another kayak.


    Since Little ck''s strength application wasn''t as precise as Tao Yu''s, the kayak directly capsized, forcing Zhang Hao to cling desperately to the kayak, with half his body submerged in the water.


    Luckily, the climate here wasn''t the pr type of ska, and the seawater temperature was above ten degrees.


    For an ordinary person, this would definitely be unbearable for an extended period, but for someone like Zhang Hao, who possessed Inner Strength, it was possible to endure for a longer time, and Little ck was also there to ensure his safety.


    The kayaks had about two days'' worth of mineral water and food, so even if it wasn''t Peach Blossom Ind or if the old Yellow viin didn''t feed them, there was a little room for error.


    Uh, moreover, for Tao Yu himself, in extreme cases, absorbing Free Energy and the power of the earth was enough to sustain daily needs. The main concern was that it might be harder for the other two.


    Sitting in the kayak, holding Cheng Lixue''s damp body, which smelled faintly of seawater, Tao Yu found it quite convenient. Having previously been blessed by wealthy women, he thought he could easily remain unmoved by others, but now he even entertained the idea of improving his [Riding] proficiency.


    But he soon suppressed the thought and said to Zhang Hao in the kayak next to him,


    "Brother Zhang, we''re setting off. You''d better try to climb onto the kayak; otherwise, I''m afraid you''ll get too cold."


    "Okay, got it."


    Zhang Hao scrambled onto the kayak andid there without daring to move. Then Little ck started pushing the kayak forward from behind.


    On this end, Tao Yu said to Cheng Lixue, still holding on to him,


    "Lady Cheng, I''ll have to trouble you to hold onto me during the trip, as I need to free my hands to paddle."


    "Oh, okay."


    Cheng Lixue, looking at Tao Yu''s handsome face with a faint blush on her cheeks, hooked one hand around his neck while the other naturally explored downward.


    This left Tao Yu, who was paddling, with a stupefied expression.


    Wait a second, you''ve misunderstood me; I really need to paddle!


    However, considering the mental strength he had imnted, which made her cold toward others but seemingly less defensive toward himself, he could only increase his paddling speed to quickly get out of sight of Zhang Hao trailing behind.


    Then, before Zhang Hao''s eyes, he sped away with his senior sister into the distance¡­


    Indeed, the speed of controlling the kayak after undergoing Deification a second time was like cutting through waves with the wind. Even with Little ck''s tail almost turning into a propeller, he couldn''t keep up.


    Halfway through their journey at sea, just after their first round, Cheng Lixue nearly slipped into the sea but was quickly scooped up by Tao Yu.


    Tao Yu even took the chance to nce back, and upon widening his view, indeed saw the Bering Strait, originally adjacent to ska, on the side.


    With exceptional eyesight, Tao Yu could see the sea level there rising hundreds of meters higher than here, like water blocked in a fish tank, asionally striking the world''s barrier.


    Crucially, beneath the world''s barrier, a waterfall, much like a dam releasing floodwater, had truly appeared, spraying out a vast amount of mist and creating a clear rainbow from afar.


    It was evident that the world''s barrier of this world had not entirely stopped the water from the other side, as it continued to pour over here, though for the moment it didn''t seem much.


    "My, if this continues, the sea levels of these two worlds will eventually even out. I wonder how much of this world will be submerged..."


    Although he felt somewhat moved inside, Tao Yu''s actions did not stop; after all, the copse wasn''t imminent, and his only concern was to get the things he wanted while he could...

 Chapter 200: Chapter 179 Peach Blossom Island

    "yue~"


    Zhang Hao carried the kayak to the beach, fell to his knees, and spat out several mouthfuls of seawater, even including a couple of strands of seaweed.


    By that time, Tao Yu and Cheng Lixue had already built a bonfire on the shore, skewering some fish over it and cing canned beef brought over in the kayaks.


    Cheng Lixue''s clothes were still somewhat damp and clung to her body in a manner that was subtly attractive. At that moment, she was close to the fire, seemingly intending to dry her clothes that way.


    And the change of clothes she had brought were also hung to dry, ced close to the mes to roast.


    Her clothes, drying as if a barrier, allowed Tao Yu on the other side to strip to his waist, simrly taking down some clothes for drying.


    "Yo, Brother Zhang, you''ve arrived. Come and warm up by the fire. Take out the clothes from your package too," Tao Yu said while sending Little ck back to watch over the vehicle before he greeted Zhang Hao.


    Zhang Hao dared not stare too much at his senior sister in her current state, feeling as if his already beautiful and pretty senior sister had grown even more radiant over the past few days, shining brightly.


    Bowing his head, he made his way to Tao Yu''s side, and then started arranging his supplies.


    One had to say that, ultimately, those with inner strength did recover fairly quickly.


    After finishing the grilled fish and canned food, Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao had also regained their strength.


    "Is this the Peach Blossom Ind Master Tao spoke of?"


    "I can''t be certain, but there are indeed many peach blossoms here. At the very least, we can ascertain this is an ind with fresh water," Tao Yu gave a minimal confirmation, ensuring their survival was possible.


    If any problems aroseter on, he would practice his boxing here while shuttling back and forth to the real world to bring over some materials.


    A hovercraft was too expensive, but a small motorboat suitable for the sea should be alright, right? Controlling its size to make sure it could be brought over was sufficient.


    And clearly, since this was the closest ind they could spot, there was indeed a high probability it was the ce the Sun siblings had found before.


    Soon enough, some people followed the cookfire smoke to their location, two mute servants.


    On seeing everyone by the fire, they started gesturing abruptly and emphatically.


    "When Shiqing first found this ce, she only discovered these mute servants as well. It wasn''t until a fisherman was found that they learned it was Peach Blossom Ind. The Pharmacist was likely not on the ind back then. It''s uncertain what the situation is now," Tao Yu thought to himself, recalling the information he had seen.


    "It seems they are mute. What ce is this exactly? Their clothes seem normal though," Cheng Lixue observed the two mute servants with surprise. However, seeing their traditional attire, she felt somewhat relieved.


    He hadn''t deceived her; this ce indeed seemed closer to the world they originated from.


    Nheless, Cheng Lixue had harbored some slight anticipation at first, hoping this world was the same as her own. Now, however, she felt a mix of fear and turmoil, caught up in internal conflict and self-usation.


    Tao Yu didn''t understand signnguage, and had no way tomunicate with them, having no idea what they were trying to convey.


    "I think they might be asking us to leave," Cheng Lixue said uncertainly.


    The title of the entric Huang was not wrongly attributed; although he had personal charm, his way of doing things was indeed controversial¡ªhis reputation in the jianghu wasn''t that good.


    But the Pharmacist himself didn''t care about these reputations, so it wasn''t the case that he would provide shelter to people who suffered shipwrecks¡ªit all depended on his mood.


    He wouldn''t ept moral coercion.


    ording to the information Shiqing had made publicst time, she hadn''t encountered the ind''s master. It was uncertain whether he was on the ind now or not.


    At any rate, these servants didn''t seem to be in charge.


    "If it was in the early days, Zhou Botong would have been here, but it''spletely unknown as to when that was. There''s also the Qimen Dunjia on the ind, which makes it easy to get lost," Tao Yu pondered.


    However, at that moment, Tao Yu''s mind grew tense as Spirit Perception detected a hint of threat, and he swiftly turned his gaze towards the interior of the ind.


    He saw a figure, tall and slender, elegant and distinguished, dressed in Ao robes with matching cloth wrapped around the head, who unknowingly had appeared under a peach tree, silently watching them¡ªthe person had a strange mask covering the face.


    If it hadn''t been for Spirit Perception alerting him, he would have not heard even the slightest rustle.


    Upon seeing Tao Yu turn his head, the figure also lightly uttered, "Eh~".


    "Interesting, he actually noticed me."


    A slightly husky voice sounded, causing Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao, who were initially focused on the mute servant, to be startled and turn around together.


    They were also people of the martial world. To have someone get so close without noticing was astonishing!


    This even made the two of them instinctively grip their weapons.


    "Don''t move rashly. This is a senior martial artist of the jianghu. Show some respect."


    Tao Yu scolded them when he saw their actions.


    At the very least, his Spirit Perception had warned him that this pharmacist from the Five Greats was definitely capable of threatening him.


    Inner Strength''s powerful armor-piercing attribute might not seem as exaggerated in terms of physical damage, but its destructive power against the human body was not the slightest bit weak.


    An attack from a master of the pharmacist''s level was something he likely couldn''t withstand.


    But...


    It wasn''t certain he could handle Tao Yu''s burst of power either...


    Tao Yu, with confidence in his heart, didn''t feel much pressure even though he had just entered this world and encountered a peerless figure of this realm. Instead, he carefully observed the person before him.


    Although wearing a mask, the graying temples and the voice indicated that it was indeed the elderly pharmacist.


    At least it was the time of Divine Sculpture, and very likely even the period of Divine Sculpture''ster years.


    If Huang Rong had already married and had children, then the current mood of the pharmacist would be much betterpared to when Mei Chaofeng and the others had just fled.


    Therefore, Tao Yu took the initiative to sp his fist and say,


    "I ask the senior to forgive us. We unfortunately drifted here after encountering a sea wave, so..."


    "Strange, this time the transdimensional traveler learned Central ins speech quite fast. Kid, put on your clothes before you speak."


    The pharmacist identified Tao Yu''s identity in one sentence, which didn''t cause Tao Yu too much panic.


    Since he had already fallen into the Abyss, the fragment of the world he was in must also have undergone some corresponding changes. The old pharmacist was known to be knowledgeable about heavens above and earth below in this era. If he had encountered extraterrestrial visitors before and had now seen the kayak, canned beef, and the clothes Tao Yu put up, jumping to conclusions would be normal.


    "Ahem, you misunderstand, senior. Although wee from beyond this realm, we are not any demon from beyond. I wonder if the senior has seen any Pioneerpanions of ours?"


    Tao Yu tried to probe a little with his response.


    It was clear that the old pharmacist was aware of visitors from the skies, but it was unknown if he knew they came from other worlds or if there were Pioneers who had made their way here.


    Such a long distance and having to cross the sea, when there were many interests to be exploited right next to the base, could there still be others traveling thousands of miles topete for business?


    However, it didn''t rule out that some neers might have been thrown close by upon entering.


    "You seem to have a good grasp of the situation at hand. Follow themter..."


    The old pharmacist seemed unwilling to behold Tao Yu shirtless any longer. With a light tap of his foot, he drifted away like a falling leaf.


    That elegant movement made Tao Yu''s face show a hint of envy.


    Lightness skills, he too must find a good one to learn!


    Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao next to him widened their eyes even more,


    "How is this possible, that there is such lightness skill in the world!"


    "Could this person have reached a divine state, bing a heavenly immortal onnd? Is this an overseas fairy ind?"


    For the two of them, who had average strength, just a casual disy from the old pharmacist was shocking, beyond what they could even conceive of in their wildest imaginations about the usages of lightness skill...


    This genuine and unfeigned ''admiration'' caused the old pharmacist, who had drifted away, to also hang a slight smile on his lips.


    He had a quirky temperament. If it were those who were sycophantic and fawning, he would have found it quite detestable.


    But with his discerning eye, he could easily judge that the two were genuinely astonished, their emotionsing from the bottom of their hearts.


    Such admiration was very pleasing to him as well...

 Chapter 201: Chapter 180: Pharmacist Huang

    "I don''t feel safe..."


    Tao Yu and his twopanions had each changed into a new set of clothes under the guidance of the deaf and mute servant. Compared to Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao, who appeared quite natural in their attire, Tao Yu, dressed as a schr, looked even more handsome and out of this world.


    However, theck of the thick feeling of a bulletproof vest left him feeling somewhat empty inside.


    "Actually, with ''Demonization'' as an emergency power, it''s not a big deal not to wear a bulletproof vest, but I''m just not used to it..."


    After some thought, Tao Yu ended up wearing the Inner Scales Armor underneath his long schr''s robe. The sense of protection around his chest and abdomen was very reassuring.


    "Anyway, the robe is quite loose; you can''t tell from the outside."


    Feeling much more at ease, Tao Yu was quite satisfied as he looked at himself in the bronze mirror.


    This room and the clothes he had changed into, whose were they? Guo Jing probably didn''t wear schr''s attire, did he?


    However, Tao Yu didn''t think too much about it; having clothes to wear was enough for him.


    After leaving the room, he also saw Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao, who had also changed their outfits.


    Cheng Lixue was still in a suit of white martial arts attire, but the fabric was of much finer quality, though it was a bit too small and closely-fitted.


    Zhang Hao, on the other hand, seemed to have changed into a coarse cloth outfit typical for a servant.


    It had to be said, the entric Huang Yaoshi seemed to have a bit of a preference for good looks when selecting people based on their appearance.


    The ancient-style attire Tao Yu wore also caught Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao''s attention.


    "Brother Tao truly has a noble air. The previous attire did not do you justice,"


    Zhang Hao said with a hint of envy in his praise.


    With his wide shoulders and burly build, he too wished for such a demeanor but s, he could not imitate it.


    "You don''t understand appreciation, let''s go."


    Tao Yu gestured to the deaf and mute servant to lead the way.


    Although the servant couldn''t hear, he understood gestures and led Tao Yu and hispanions through the woods, winding towards a pavilion.


    Walking through the Peach Blossom Forest, Tao Yu felt that the arrangement around him was somewhat profound, but with his skill in the Meditation Technique, he believed that if he concentrated, he could gradually glean the area''s pattern and find a way out.


    "I wonder what ''Qimen Dunjia'' involves and what effect it would have if learned andbined with ''Deification''..."


    Qimen Dunjia, like the Corpse Refining Art, shouldn''t conflict with various fundamentalws of one''s own abilities; learning it wouldn''t be as problematic as Cheng Lixue''s previous concerns with the Snow Mountain Heart Method.


    The question was whether Huang Yaoshi was willing to teach it or not.


    Speaking of treasures, Huang Yaoshi certainly had no shortage¡ªNine Yin True Scripture, Qimen Dunjia, Nine Flower Jade Dew Pill, and the many martial arts he created.


    Learning from Huang Yaoshi could be easy if he took a liking to you, but difficult indeed if he did not.


    Even if he didn''t want to teach, killing him wouldn''t be useful.


    As Tao Yu pondered these thoughts, they arrived at the pavilion, where Huang Yaoshi, holding the Jade Flute in his hand, stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the sea below the cliff. He seemed to be looking out towards Tianyuan, the sudden protrusion in the sky.


    "Did youe here from Tianyuan?"


    Huang Yaoshi turned around and spoke in a calm tone.


    He had already removed his mask, revealing his gaunt face.


    One could tell that Huang Yaoshi must have been a man of outstanding beauty in his youth.


    "Indeed, Senior, may I ask how long Tianyuan has been in existence?"


    While answering Huang Yaoshi''s question, Tao Yu took the opportunity to ask in return.


    "About five months, I think. ording to the descriptions of the servants, they said there was a banished immortal descending from the sky there, but since they can''t hear speech, the immortal left when they didn''t respond. I wonder if you know anything about this."


    Upon hearing this, Tao Yu realized they were likely referring to Sun Shiqing.


    With her beauty and her descent from the sky, it seemed natural for ancient people to consider her a banished immortal.


    Since the deaf and mute servants could onlymunicate through gestures, Huang Yaoshi could only have a general idea.


    "It''s not any banished immortal; just some extraordinary tricks, that''s all. You could consider her my superior,"


    Although the rtionship might properly be considered as brother-inw, Tao Yu dared not proim it recklessly.


    "Oh? Superior? Extraordinary tricks?"


    Huang Yaoshi''s eyes lit up slightly.


    "Are there such tricks that allow one to fly? Wait here for a moment."


    As he finished speaking, he once again disyed his graceful lightness skill, swiftly disappearing amid the peach blossoms.


    Even upon seeing it again, it still amazed Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao.


    A momentter, Tao Yu was somewhat dumbfounded as he watched Huang Yaoshi return, holding something in his hand, stepping on the branches.


    In Huang Yaoshi''s hand was something resembling two square, long barrels with some slots and fixed leather pouches.


    This couldn''t be the ''3D maneuver gear'', could it?


    My goodness, where on earth did ite from?


    "Is it like this?"


    Huang Yaoshi inquired.


    Tao Yu also reached out to touch the object that looked like 3D maneuver gear, feeling a slight fluctuation of Yuan Force. It was undoubtedly a Yuan Force item, requiring only about a hundred Yuan Forces to absorb.


    However, it made sense; the 3D maneuver gear defied physics with its high output power, which wouldn''t make sense if it weren''t a Yuan Force item.


    "Not quite, it''s much more advanced than this. You can start by taking a look at this."


    Tao Yu took out a handgun and ced it on the table, as it was most practical to first introduce gunnery to people of this era.


    Huang Yaoshi picked up the handgun and examined it carefully. After some study, he followed the grooves on the gun, disassembling it piece by piece like building blocks, exploring its inner workings.


    The key was that after a while, he reassembled the gun, which left Tao Yu practically staring in astonishment.


    Observing how Huang Yaoshi handled the weapon, it was clear this was his first encounter with firearms, but unexpectedly, he was able to disassemble and reassemble it simply by following the structure.

 Chapter 202: Chapter 180 Huang Yaoshi_2

    This memory and manual dexterity can be said to be extremely strong.


    Truly a master craftsman.


    "An unbelievably exquisite structure, this must be a type of hidden weapon, right? If this bronze pellet were filled with flint and gunpowder, the power of its explosion in a sealed environment might rival that of a crossbow."


    After taking out a bullet and sniffing it at the tip of his nose, the Pharmacist''s face revealed a look of shock.


    What shocked him was not the technique, for by disassembling it, he understood the principle quite well; he was shocked by the craftsmanship of all the parts, including the bronze pellet!


    "Even if I were to make it myself, I fear I couldn''t replicate it. However, the craftsmanship is too pronounced; this shouldn''t be..."


    Holding the pistol and puzzled, the Pharmacist then asked Tao Yu,


    "May I fire one to try it out? I can offer you somepensation afterward."


    "Senior, please feel free to take it. This thing isn''t valuable where Ie from. It''s produced by machinery, not the work of a grandmaster."


    Tao Yu, having a rough understanding of the Pharmacist''s temperament from the original work, didn''t make any demands.


    "Goodd, I can''t be taking advantage of the younger generation."


    The Pharmacist chuckled lightly, then took aim at a peach tree with the pistol and pulled the trigger.


    Bang~


    After firing, the Pharmacist''s expression changed subtly, and then he leaped to the peach tree, touching the bullet hole with an earnest look.


    "What kind of gunpowder is this? Its power is even greater than I estimated."


    He then picked up the cartridge case and sniffed it at the tip of his nose,


    "Saltpeter as the main ingredient? Has such great power? There''s no smell of sulfur..."


    Seeing this, Tao Yu also felt somewhat bewildered; isn''t gunpowder all the same? How would I know? As long as it works, that''s all that matters.


    Clutching the cartridge in his hand, the Pharmacist seemed to fall silent for a moment before turning back to Tao Yu and said,


    "Young friend, was your earlier detection of me due to some sort of clever trick?"


    With both Perception and such immense power, just this hidden weapon alone could pose a significant threat to most of the martial artists.


    "Uh, not exactly, I do have some confidence in my own strength."


    Tao Yu gave it some thought and decided to reveal a bit of his foundation.


    Strength is what earns respect!


    No matter how bizarre the Pharmacist''s personality might be, if one''s strength reached a level he acknowledged, it could definitely be beneficial.


    "Oh? You seem tock a foundation in Inner Strength."


    The Pharmacist was quite surprised, but then his eyes lit up,


    "Could there be another path?"


    Seeing the look of avid curiosity and eagerness in the Pharmacist''s eyes, Tao Yu felt a shiver inside, having been warned by his Spirit Perception that this individual indeed posed a real threat.


    Still, he nodded and said,


    "Indeed, there are ways such as enhancing the spirit and the flesh, body modifications, and even imnting foreign objects¡ªall methods for improvement. I mainly focus on the flesh side of things. Would the senior like to experience a demonstration?"


    Tao Yu knew the Pharmacist might be too proud to ask, so he took the initiative, hoping to tter him and perhaps gain some valuable insightster on.


    "That would be good. In addition to your previous hidden weapon, afterwards, I could teach you an ability that interests you. My knowledge is quite extensive; there is bound to be something to your liking."


    The Pharmacist typically disliked owing favors. Tao Yu''s offer to give the pistol and now volunteering a demonstration coaxed him into making a direct promise.


    This brought a slight twinkle to Tao Yu''s eyes, revealing a hint of a smile.


    Such a prideful elder was easy to please, truly a treasure of a man!


    But he didn''t immediately set forth his conditions, opting to satisfy the other party first.


    "Excellent. The system I''ve studied is called Myriad Streams Five Forms and is an extraordinary power hailing from another world. It nurtures the flesh and refines the Qi-Blood, which, in turn, spurs strength. From this strength, Gang Qi is condensed.


    When cultivated to the ultimate level, it can split metal and break stone with remarkable power," Tao Yu sped his hands together, briefly describing the progression of the system. He understood from his interactions with the curator elder brother that beyond Gang Qi, there seemed to be further paths to follow.


    However, the pinnacle of the Myriad Streams Five Forms still revolved within the realm of strength. The Myriad Streams Breathing Technique held the potential for Gang Qi, but required at least thirty-two forms to be mastered.


    "Interesting."


    "Moreover, junior also knows a method of Demonization and a Willpower Impact. Elder, please be cautious."


    Now, Tao Yu was excited about the hunt, eager to test his own conventional limits by directly challenging against the Five Unmatched without the element of surprise!


    With Inherent Time Control and the abilities of the shadow series as his backup, he wasn''t afraid of overdoing it.


    "Demonization?"


    Pharmacist Huang was slightly taken aback.


    If Tao Yu were facing Hong Qigong, he certainly wouldn''t bring up such a troublesome ability; a simple exchange of strengths would suffice.


    But since his opponent was Huang the entric, it was natural to fully leverage what he could!


    "Yes, just like this."


    With his palm slightly showing the effects of Demonization, it drew a visibly moved expression on Pharmacist Huang''s face.


    Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao eximed in low voices, astonished.


    They had never suspected that Brother Tao, who had been with them for so long, was actually a demon!


    However, as he had been goodpany along the way and was openly revealing his nature now without hiding anything, they felt rather reassured. It almost gave them a sense of being trusted.


    Cheng Lixue''s cheeks turned even redder, her lips quivering slightly as if she thought of something.


    Pharmacist Huang then said with a sly smile,


    "Young man, aren''t you afraid I''ll y demons and vanquish evil?"


    "Till now, I believe elder is not one to be confined by conventional moral conduct, and besides, this is merely an ability. I am, without a doubt, human," Tao Yu retorted, urately capturing the elder''s persona.


    This outworldly demon had discerned after a few encounters that he was not one to be bound by formalities. Huang the entric couldn''t help feeling joy in his heart, quite pleased with this realization.


    That''s just the kind of man I am!


    "Alright then, let''s see how capable you are, young man. Whether this Demonization can take a beating."


    Pharmacist Huang took a light leap backwards,nding on the railing of the gazebo with a chuckle,


    "Come on, if you can force me off this railing, consider it my loss."


    Seeing how confident Pharmacist Huang was, Tao Yu also looked amused.


    If it were an up-front confrontation without any sneak attacks, he knew he was outssed. But since you''ve set your own limitations, don''t me me for picking on an elder.


    "Elder, be careful, for my strength is considerable."


    Tao Yu sped his hands again, while Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao quickly retreated to the side to avoid getting sttered with blood.


    The seemingly immortal elder who could drift away and the young man who could turn into a demon were actually squaring off, leaving others somewhat unable to react.


    Especially Cheng Lixue, recalling how Tao Yu''s palm transformed into that demonic keratinousyer, she imagined God knows what, herplexion paling yet also flushed with an unnatural rosiness, as her legs squeezed together noticeably...

 Chapter 203 Chapter 181 Either

    A roar!


    A tiger''s roar exploded next to Huang Yaoshi''s ear, seemingly subduing all his thoughtspletely.


    Huang Yaoshi, who had been confidently standing on the railing waiting for Tao Yu to make the first move, immediately sensed trouble!


    But as one of the Five Greats, possessingbat techniques like the Billowing Ocean Melody and being among the top in terms of inner strength.


    Even being slightly distracted, he quickly gathered his thoughts and, without holding back,unched a single-handed Empty Sky Palm Strike towards Tao Yu''s demonizing ws.


    Before the two even made contact, the palm strike''s force was already rampant in the air.


    Tao Yu felt the air before his palm instantly be viscous, followed by a surge of forceing from afar.


    Having experienced the inner strength of Cheng Lixue within his own meridians, Tao Yu had felt that if Cheng Lixue were to transfer inner strength at close range with full force, it could seriously injure him, and now, even when the force came from a distance, Tao Yu felt its ravaging power!


    However, in the next moment, Tao Yu felt the change brought by Fist Intention.


    The force arriving from afar hadn''t yet entered his body when it began to wither and decay.


    Although it pressed down heavily, it was continuously dissolved by the force Tao Yu generated from afar.


    Stay tuned for updates on empire


    The remaining strength was also blocked by the concentrated force within his body.


    Huang Yaoshi, initially intimidated in spirit and regretting the subconscious palm strike heunched, was thinking how he might remedy an overly forceful blow.


    Soon after, he felt his palm strength dissipate like a y ox into the sea, disintegrating rapidly before even reaching close.


    "Eh?"


    With a glint in his eye, Huang Yaoshi realized the other party''s confidence in his own strength was not unfounded!


    Bang!


    As palm and w met, there was a crack, and the railing of the pavilion beneath Huang Yaoshi''s feet snapped. His shoes, clinging to a broken piece of the railing, floated backward for two to three zhang like a falling leaf before hended steadily.


    Meanwhile, Tao Yu staggered backward, each step leaving a crack on the granite floor, retreating a dozen steps before steadying his form.


    At the same time, his Qi-Blood roiled within his body, and he couldn''t help but feel sweetness in his mouth, spitting out a mouthful of congealed blood.


    Although the damage from the inner strength was greatly reduced, and his own physique and meridians were strong enough,


    the inner strength indeed carried a massive amount of prating damage, quite different from toughing it out, a single exchange of palms made Tao Yu feel sore all over.


    In contrast, Huang Yaoshi, who relied on his Light Body Technique, almostpletely dissipated the force, retreating gracefully.


    Nevertheless, Tao Yu''s physical condition was strong, and with One Certificate, Forever Valid, there was no major problem.


    In the past, ligaments and tendons would snap from time to time, and bones had broken countless times; inparison, this incident was merely a bit ufortable.


    "Goodd, I lost; I overdid it a bit,"


    said Huang Yaoshi, while nonchntly shaking his hand that felt numb from being strapped behind his back, then with a leap forward, he produced a porcin bottle from his bosom and poured out a fragrant pill.


    "Here, take this; don''t leave any hidden injuries," he said.


    Looking at the pill near his mouth, Tao Yu''s eyes brightened slightly ¨C a Nine Flower Jade Dew Pill?


    He really wanted to refrain from consuming it, pocket it discreetly, saving it for a more critical moment.


    But considering Huang Yaoshi''s temperament, he ultimately swallowed it. The pill dissolved upon entering his mouth, turning into a warm current that spread from his stomach to all his limbs.


    The needle-like pain throughout his body immediately subsided a lot; indeed, it was worthy of being called Divine Medicine.


    "Thank you, senior. I''m actually fine; I''m quite robust, and the conditions in the Abyss are harsh. Such injuries would be a bit of a waste of this Divine Medicine,"


    Tao Yu said, staring intently at Huang Yaoshi''s bottle, prompting Huang Yaoshi to smack him on the head, then, somewhat annoyed, handed the bottle to Tao Yu.


    "Take it. Consider itpensation for the injury I caused you,"


    said Huang Yaoshi.


    "This seems a bit too generous; actually, I''d rather learnbat techniques,"


    argued Tao Yu, clutching the porcin bottle while making his statement.


    "You make it sound as if I would go back on my word; wait here, and I''ll make you a list to choose from,"


    said Huang Yaoshi, feeling the force on the bottle and somewhat speechless. Couldn''t the guy rx his grip before making such firm statements?


    Doesn''t he at least know to keep up appearances?


    Yet Tao Yu''s behavior was somewhat pleasing to Huang Yaoshi.


    He showed no suspicion that the bottle contained poison and consumed it directly, praising the effect and taking it without hesitation.


    That''s how it should be!


    Why not ept good things when theye?


    Huang Yaoshi disliked those who were pretentious. If you liked something, you should express it straightforwardly.


    "Hehe, I''m not in a hurry, senior. We can start by discussing some information you might find interesting,"


    suggested Tao Yu, not letting Huang Yaoshi start writing immediately as if he didn''t trust him. It was better to exchange current information first.


    The best technique in Huang Yaoshi''s hands was, of course, the "Nine Yin True Scripture."


    But the "Nine Yin True Scripture" has connections to Huang Yaoshi''s deceased wife, and since he himself never practiced it, the difficulty was significant.


    Fortunately, there was backup from the Ancient Tomb sect, so Tao Yu wasn''t under much pressure. If he could get it, great; if not, he''d settle for the next best...


    ...


    "The grasnds have fallen into chaos?"


    Having fiddled with the handgun for quite a while, Huang Yaoshi''s expression became grave upon hearing that Tao Yu talked of mass production capabilities and even stronger firepower.


    However, precisely because of this, the exchanges that followed were much smoother, allowing Tao Yu to learn about the origin of the Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear and thetest developments.


    As for the timeline, it seemed that the Divine Sculpture had just begun, with Yang Guo already received by Huang Yaoshi and sent to Zhongnan Mountain.

 Chapter 204 Chapter 181 Either_2

    Jin had already perished, yet the grasnds to the north still watched with rapacious eyes, as Guo Jing presided over the situation in Xiangyang from his seat.


    But suddenly, the tense situation in the north ceased, the grasnd armies retreated overnight, and then more and more refugees started arriving from the north, speaking of some man-eating giants that had appeared on the grasnds.


    The descriptions were as exaggerated as they could possibly be.


    Some said they were as tall as houses, others imed they were higher than city walls, and there were even those who said they were taller than mountains, with the smallest being around three to four meters.


    Because the information was too chaotic, the imperial court could only settle these refugees as best as possible, while also reinforcing the defenses of Xiangyang.


    This three-dimensional maneuver gear, however, was brought over by a group of foreigners who had fled from the north; it''s just that there was somemunication barrier, as the other party seemed to be speaking Japanese.


    "This device is different from your guns; it seems to have some sort of mysterious power as well, I can''t replicate it exactly to achieve the same effect,"


    Huang Yaoshi spoke somewhat wistfully, his expression also grown somewhat grave.


    "I originally thought that these outsiders'' words were mostly exaggerations; how could there be giants over ten meters tall in this world, let alone fifty meters. But considering the situation on your end, it seems not impossible. Young friend, do you know if those firearms and cannons of yours can be transported over inrge quantities?"


    It must be said, Huang Yaoshi truly had exceptional foresight.


    Once he inferred through Tao Yu that the rumors about the giants might be true, he too began to think of countermeasures.


    "With the sea in between, I''m afraid it''s difficult..."


    Tao Yu also roughly understood the situation.


    It must be that the world of the Titans hade into contact with this side, perhaps the barrier''s power of this world was mostly used to hold back the sea and did not block the entrance of the Titans, or it didn''t block them entirely.


    This led to the Titans beginning to ravage the grasnds.


    "ording to the situation with ''Demonization'', it is highly likely that the Titans lose that powerful regenerative ability once they leave their world. So, theoretically, we can now use a zerg-rush tactic to encircle and y them, but the losses..."


    Tao Yu pondered the current circumstance within his heart.


    Although he had only watched the first two seasons of that Titan anime, when it ended poorly, he caught the finale through short videos as well. There should be some Founding Titan that could control the Pure Titans.


    It seemed to be that person called Ymir, always somewhere sheltering the Titans? Giving them the power of regeneration?


    However, given the size and number of the Titans, the defeat in the grasnds was likely only a matter of time.


    If there were only Pure Titans, then once the grasnd armies overcame their fear and found a pattern, they might indeed be able to resist by sheer numbers, for example, by using chains and specifically crafting some des for slicing legs.


    But in the army of Pure Titans, mixed with Aberrants, the blow to morale was too great.


    The presence of some small, agile Titans on the other hand,pleted the lineup.


    Given the current scale of Xiangyang City, resisting ordinary Titans would probably be quite difficult. Only further north might the Yellow River serve as a natural barrier to provide some dy, and together with this long strategic depth, even to this day, there has been no contact with the Titans...


    "Ah, even if we could transport, how much could we bring? Distant waters won''t quench the immediate thirst,"


    Huang Yaoshi also sighed, looking at the pistol in his hands in silence.


    "Maybe using existing materials to make some crude cannons could pose a threat to those clumsy Titans,"


    Tao Yu casually suggested. In fact, if the Titanscked that regenerative ability, crude cannons could indeed be an effective weapon against them.


    But topletely stop them would likely be difficult.


    The best method would still be to find that Founding Titan.


    Tao Yu wasn''t much covetous of the Titans'' power; after undergoing ''Demonization'', he felt that such bodily transformations should not be too messy.


    But if there was a way to obtain the power of the Intelligent Titan, Tao Yu thought it could probably be sold at a good price.


    "You make a good point. I n to make a trip to Xiangyang. Looking at your situation, it seems you don''t have a boat either; do you need to travel together?"


    Because Huang Yaoshi found them pleasing, and since both Tao Yu and Cheng Lixue were quite good-looking, Huang Yaoshi appeared very amiable.


    "It would be wonderful if you could take us along,"


    Tao Yu bowed his hands in thanks...


    ...


    "Indeed, a prodigy granted by heaven..."


    Pharmacist Huang withdrew his palm that had been pressed against Tao Yu''s body, and a hint of shock appeared on his face.


    He had taken many disciples over the years, and although their talents were all decent, he had seen geniuses.


    But until now, he had never found anyone whose innate meridians were so tough.


    "Jing''er has practiced diligently every day without a single day of ck, but his meridians are not much tougher than yours to this day. You only need to find a suitable set of internal cultivation methods to umte inner strength, and within a few years, your inner strength could rival the top experts in the martial world, on par with the likes of Quanzhen''s seven sons..."


    At this moment, Pharmacist Huang felt a surge of affection for talent and then, as if he thought of something, he sighed and said,


    "How about I exchange the promise I made to you earlier for a set of internal cultivation methods?" Explore hidden tales at empire


    "Thank you for your generous affection, senior. However, I have learned from Lady Cheng that inner strength can potentially sh. You said that I have high talent, so I want to learn the first-rate martial arts in the world," Tao Yu said with a self-assured tone.


    If it had been someone without the capability, such an attitude might have led Pharmacist Huang to p them directly.


    But Tao Yu was not only highly talented, but his strength was also considerable. Overwhelmed by his spirit, Pharmacist Huang subconsciously did not hold back and took a full-blown Empty Sky Palm Strike, which even caused a numbness in his own palm.


    Furthermore, Tao Yu''s character had always been to his taste; this kind of arrogance was something Pharmacist Huang actually admired.


    "The martial arts of the world are vast as smoke, but there are only three that can truly be called top-tier internal cultivation methods," Pharmacist Huang began.


    Hearing Pharmacist Huang speak, Tao Yu knew it was time for ''the joy of teaching,'' and he quickly followed up at just the right moment,


    "Oh? And which three would those be?"


    "First and foremost is the innate skill cultivated by the invincible Wang Chongyang back in his day. This skill is upright and bnced, emphasizing umtion and persistence, growing stronger as one practices, and it would suit you best."


    Upon hearing this, Tao Yu had a moment of realization. The senior was truly experienced.


    He had originally thought of the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Nine Yin True Scripture, and then to search for the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill. If possible, he might even consider the Muscle Change ssic and some Shaolin secret techniques, or even head to the Ming Cult for the Great Shift of Qiankun.


    He had somehow overlooked this other martial art that was a divine skill back in the day!


    Now that he heard this, it did indeed seem very suitable for him.


    The Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill also involved umtion, but it focused more on the physical body and strength, whereas the innate skill was presumably mainly about inner strength.


    Or perhaps it was possible to practice both?


    "Secondly, there is the Nine Yin True Scripture, which we seized back in the day. It is indeed a supreme martial art as well," Pharmacist Huang continued.


    At this point, Pharmacist Huang appeared somewhat sorrowful, presumably reminded of his deceased wife, and despite holding the Nine Yin True Scripture for many years, he had indeed never cultivated any of the martial arts from it.


    "Thirdly, there is the Muscle Change ssic from Shaolin Temple, which has been secluded for many years. Despite Shaolin''s seclusion over the years, their foundation should not be underestimated. These three are the top foundational martial arts of the world. I only have the Nine Yin True Scripture, so perhaps..."


    The offer came so unexpectedly smooth that Tao Yu was caught off guard for a moment.


    Given Pharmacist Huang''s attachment to his deceased wife, he would never easily impart the Nine Yin True Scripture, although his daughter and son-inw practiced it, he himself had always refrained from it.


    Tao Yu had been intent on obtaining the Nine Yin True Scripture, but he had truly felt that it would be too difficult to obtain from Pharmacist Huang.


    His main focus had been on the Ancient Tomb School, and then the Nine Yang Divine Skill of Shaolin Temple.


    He thought that acquiring these two and undergoing demonization once, coupled with the eleration of his hundred thousand Yuan Force afterwards, and havingpleted the umtion, he should be able to seek out King Golden Wheel or the Ming Cult to resolve things more smoothly.


    But now, without much effort, and just preparing to simply build a rtionship and be familiar with Pharmacist Huang, he suddenly offered Tao Yu the Nine Yin True Scripture?


    This was somewhat unexpected.


    However, Tao Yu was not one to shy away from challenges, and although he knew there had to be some catch, he said boldly,


    "Since it is a top-tier martial art rmended by you, senior, of course, I would like to have it..."

 Chapter 205 Chapter 182 Nine Yin True Scripture

    Atop a three-tiered wooden sailing ship, Tao Yu sat in the cabin, his expression unavoidably drifting into a daze.


    Looking at the Nine Yin True Scripture in front of him, he genuinely felt a bit dizzy.


    It''s really just given to myself?


    It seemed too simple...


    Tao Yu was not without means to obtain the Nine Yin True Scripture, but Zhongnan Mountain was vast, and searching for it would definitely require a lot of effort.


    Moreover, from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang coastlines, it would take traversing three provinces to reach Zhongnan Mountain!


    Whether it''s Zhongnan Mountain or Mount Shaoshi, both are actually north of Xiangyang, within the sphere of influence of the grasnd powers.


    It''s just that the grasnds themselves don''t have arge poption, adopting a sort of subcontracting system. Coupled with the fact that Qiu Chuji had some connections with Genghis Khan back in the day, and Shaolin Temple had sealed itself off from the outside world, so for the time being, these two major forces hadn''t been too greatly affected.


    Without cars, relying solely on horses, traveling day and night, it would still take at least a month or more, plus the time spent searching for ancient tombs. Tao Yu''s original n was simply to find the Nine Yin True Scripture and then go home to report his safety.


    But it was given to me right at the start?


    This...


    Slightly caught Tao Yu off guard.


    The most important thing was, Huang Rong made no demands!


    "Is this just acting on a whim... All I can say is worthy of being Huang the entric..."


    Tao Yu sighed in his heart and eventually reached out to open the Nine Yin True Scripture.


    "If someone helps me, I''ll help others in return. When the timees, I''ll lend a hand too. After all, that Titan thing is indeed troublesome."


    However, after flipping open the cover, Tao Yu stared at the contents inside for a long time without speaking.


    Really can''t understand anything...


    ...


    "You can''t understand it? How could that be, didn''t you say you''ve begun to recognize the meridians and you understand the acupoints very well?"


    Huang Rong, with a smile at the corners of his mouth, feigned curiosity as he repeated what Tao Yu had confidently said earlier while looking at him approaching for advice.


    This directly almost made Tao Yu die of embarrassment on the spot.


    He then also remembered that the ck Wind Twin Demons had the Nine Yin True Scripture for so many years with little progress because it involved a lot of Daoist knowledge. It wasn''t something that could be easily mastered just by recognizing meridians and discerning acupoints!


    In Divine Sculpture, Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl managed to learn part of the techniques from the ancient tomb because Yang Guo had studied at the Quanzhen Sect and was specifically crammed with relevant content.


    A few days ago I was still a meridian neophyte, and for Daoism, I could only recite "The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao." how could I possibly self-study the Nine Yin True Scripture!


    And yet my initial n was quite perfect.


    Tao Yu imagined himself traversing mountains and rivers, arriving at Zhongnan Mountain after much hardship, then relying on the Corpse Refining Art to search for the dragon vein and locate the tomb of the living dead. After two months he would have finally found the Nine Yin True Scripture, then to find he couldn''t understand it...


    "Probably, I would get so furious that I would catch a third-generation disciple from Quanzhen Sect to trante it for me."


    Tao Yu simted the mental journey.


    As for whether the person tranting would employ the methods Huang Rong used to trick Ouyang Feng?


    If it''s a trap, so be it. I''m not afraid of side effects; I''ll just reverse-practice the Nine Yin if I have to.


    Regardless of whether it drives me mad, the real question is... just how strong is it?


    ...


    "Master, what is the meaning of ''gathering the Five Elements''?"


    Tao Yu sat in front of Huang Rong like a good baby, asking about some of the parts he did not understand.


    This old man is quite arrogant, wanting to take a disciple but unwilling to speak up directly, always wanting me to beg him. Does he really think I won''t ask?


    Dream on!


    Fortunately, Huang Rong wasn''t particr about worldly etiquette, and Tao Yu found it quitefortable dealing with him.


    Strange temper aside, the man has real ability!


    And teaching the Nine Yin was in earnest, to teach such martial arts upon meeting, even taking a disciple was indeed naturally appropriate. Tao Yu acknowledged this mentor-disciple connection.


    "Wood Spirit of the East, Metal Soul of the West, Fire God of the South, Water Essence of the North, and Earth Intention at the Center."


    "And what about the ''Four Symbols of Unity''?"


    "Hide the eyes'' divinity, gather the ears'' rhythm, regte the breathing through the nose, seal the energy in the tongue."


    "And then..."


    Half a month of life upon the water passed in the blink of an eye, Peach Blossom Ind was located in the coastal area of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, connected to the Yangtze River.


    To reach Xiangyang by water was actually faster, avoiding manyplications on the road.


    As he was about to disembark, Huang Rong stood on the deck with a weary face and silently put on that bizarre mask again, concealing his heavy dark circles.


    Tao Yupletely yed the old man, enduring Huang Pharmacist for an entire half month.


    But it must be said, Huang Pharmacist was indeed very learned and talented. Even though he himself did not practice the Nine Yin True Scripture, he could provide perfect answers to all of Tao Yu''s questions every time.


    For this reason, by the time they disembarked, Tao Yu had sessfully cultivated the first thread of pure inner strength of the Nine Yin True Scripture, gathering it in his dantian!


    [Northern Dipper]: A foundational method within the Nine Yin True Scripture for cultivating superior skills, using the human body as a Daoist repository to tap potential and condense pure inner strength.


    This was the internal cultivation method of the Nine Yin True Scripture, and also considered the foundational method of the Nine Yin True Scripture, and yet just for this step, with the enhancement of the twice deified stance skill and the help of the twice deified talent "Fist Intent," Tao Yu had to endure the old man for half a month just to barely make a start!


    This was the first time it took him so long to grasp a skill!


    "Master, it''s done!"


    "Rascal! What''s done now?"


    Huang Pharmacist, suffering from severeck of sleep, seemed very irritable.


    But he quickly froze, then immediately grabbed Tao Yu''s wrist, and with a light prod, felt the rebound of that thread of pure inner strength from Tao Yu.


    Since he intended to test and understand, Huang Pharmacist naturally drew back to avoid injuring his precious disciple.


    "Good, good, good, your master''s hard work these days has not been in vain."


    Even with a character as entric as his, owning such a fine disciple made Huang Pharmacist beam with joy, although it was not visible behind his mask.


    Standing beside them, Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao both showed clear envy.


    They hadn''t expected that Young Master Tao, relying on his talent, would be a disciple of this earthly immortal overnight and even be taught a divine skill.


    As members of a martial arts sect, they naturally knew that the secrets of cultivation should be asked about sparingly, so besides offering their congrattions, they dared not inquire further.


    "Thank you, Master. Without your guidance, even ten times the amount of time wouldn''t have allowed me to understand it, let alone get started."


    Tao Yu''s gratitude was genuine and heartfelt.


    "Hmph, just don''te to torture me at night anymore. Let''s go, get off the boat. I haven''t informed them. We''ll find an inn to rest first. Don''t disturb me anymore, we''ll look around town after a good rest to see what''s happened recently, and then we''ll go see them..."


    "Alright..."


    As Tao Yu followed Huang Pharmacist off the boat, walking down the nk, he noticed Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao, who had been adrift at sea for half a month and were now unustomed to being back onnd, and felt a bit helpless.


    These two fellows really were a bit embarrassing. They were the facade figures of their Snowy Mountain Sect. What kind of weakling world is this?


    Thinking of the odd aspects of Cheng Lixue, the heroine, Tao Yu felt a wave of dizziness. It couldn''t be one of those strange, racy worlds, could it? Thinking about it, it actually seemed quite possible.


    "Miss Cheng, are you alright?"


    Ignoring Zhang Hao, who was crouched on the dock vomiting into the water, Tao Yu steadied Cheng Lixue''s plump body and asked.


    "I''m fine, thank you, Young Master Tao."


    Cheng Lixue looked at Tao Yu''s handsome face. The paleness from seasickness on her face gave way to a blush, and the masculine scent from his nose cleared her head considerably.


    She then turned her head away, not daring to look any longer.


    After all, even when on the boat, she had secretly sneaked into Tao Yu''s room and covered her mouth the whole time.


    But in front of others, she still had to y her role.


    Tao Yu naturally let her be.


    In fact, it was quite thrilling...


    "That''s good, let''s go."


    "Okay."


    Cheng Lixue, not giving any more thought to anything else, simply followed Tao Yu and Huang Pharmacist.


    Zhang Hao, who had vomited half of his insides out, hurriedly finished and then chased after them with his sword and belongings in tow...


    ...


    Arriving at the inn, because of the half month of travel by boat and carriage, the other three all wanted to rest well.


    However, Tao Yu was full of energy as he sat at the bedside, taking a slow breath.


    "Before, I always thought that the Nine Yin True Scripture would be some kind of cold and sinister inner strength, but I never expected it to be the most authentic foundational method of Taoism..."


    Tao Yu let out a slow sigh.


    If it weren''t for my master, it would have been impossible for me to learn it so quickly. Now, let''s see what the limits of this method are!


    Deification!

 Chapter 206 Chapter 183 Cooperation for Mutual Benefit

    [Northern Dipper??]: To begin with, taking the stars as the repository for the Dao, one can draw a strand of Big Dipper star power to temper one''s inner strength, discarding the dross and selecting the essence, what remains is the True Qi.


    When Tao Yu saw the result of his Deification process, he was utterly astonished.


    Although at this time he had only the first strand of Big Dipper inner strength, thepletion of Skill Deification still made him feel the qualitative change in that sliver of inner strength.


    It had be more profound, more refined!


    The inner strength that was initially refined through the Big Dipper had already far exceeded the mixed inner strength of Cheng Lixue.


    But now, that strand of inner strength had undergonepression once again!


    Tao Yu felt that the second Deification of the Basic Breathing Method had drawn in a strand of Free Energy filled with starlight, distinct from the rest.


    Even though it was daytime, and he was clearly indoors, by the high-level perspective of the second Deification of the Meditation Technique, Tao Yu could vaguely sense the starlight emitted by the seven dim celestial bodies in the infinite void.


    Difficult to harness, yet stubbornly, they surged into his body, tempering that already extremely pure strand of inner strength, transforming it into an even more durable form, bing True Qi!


    "Is this what Cultivation feels like..."


    Tao Yu was a bit dazed.


    Although calling it Cultivation might be an exaggeration, it had indeed caused a qualitative change in his inner strength!


    [Northern Dipper], a top-grade Daoist Internal Cultivation Method, had revealed its miraculous side!


    "elerate for me!"


    Now that the Skill had appeared, Tao Yu didn''t skimp on the use of his Yuan Force.


    With the enhancement from Yuan Force, the dim starlight that was indiscernible before, suddenly sparkled and the Big Dipper star power was drawn into his body at ten, a hundred times the usual rate!


    "As expected of a high-tier product that costs five thousand to Deify, the expense for Yuan Force eleration is frighteningly high, but it''s worth it."


    After a brief test, Tao Yu opened his eyes in excitement, looked at his arm, and saw that it was fine!


    Before Deification, [Northern Dipper] used oneself as the repository, and the birth of inner strength mainly relied on one''s own energy.


    Surely, one would need to eat like a Titan to satisfy that kind of elerated demand.


    But now, after Deification, at least during training, he could greatly make use of the high-level Big Dipper star power!


    Although there was still a burden on the body, the degree was smallerpared to the Breathing Technique or even the Meditation Technique, and with his current vast umtion of Qi-Blood, he wouldn''t need to eat while training.


    Just arge meal after finishing should suffice.


    With that being the case, what''s there to hesitate about?


    "A hundredfold eleration for an hour would cost about a thousand Yuan Force, but at least I don''t need to eat extra now, and before my meridians are fully saturated and begin expanding, it''s all within the prime window for True Qi improvement!"


    This hundred thousand Yuan Force I have was saved up for eleration¡ªinject it into me thoroughly!


    During prime window, a hundredfold eleration is definitely worth it!


    Once the prime window passes, or when there''s not much Yuan Force left, then I can go back to tenfold eleration to improve cost-effectiveness, as long as I ensure there''s always Yuan Force avable to maintain eleration!


    ...


    "Slow down, no one ispeting with you."


    Huang Rong, seeing the disarray of a full table and the server urging the kitchen to speed up¡ªas the threerge pots could hardly keep up with his disciple''s eating speed¡ªfelt a chill in his heart.


    He really did take a demon as a disciple...


    Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao beside him swallowed hard, unable to believe that a person''s stomach could hold so much.


    While Tao Yu stuffed half a roast chicken into his mouth, crunching and swallowing bones in a few bites, and wiped the grease from his lips, he began to speak,


    "Master, I''ve already briefly exined to you about Pioneers, and we Pioneers who mingle in the Abyss have the ability to use Yuan Force for eleration. I got carried away with the new Internal Cultivation Methods and elerated a bit too quickly just now."


    Tao Yu was always the amiable sort, happy to return good intentions twofold, and equally keen on returning malice in kind.


    Although Huang Rong took him as a disciple for his talent and taught him the Nine Yin True Scripture as well as offering long-winded exnations, it inspired Tao Yu to repay kindness with kindness.


    Being naturally inclined to treat Chosen Ones and some key plot characters with sincerity, using candor as his ultimate move.


    Thus, he naturally shared some information about the Abyss with Huang Rong.


    "I see, we umte inner strength during daily cultivation through our regr diet, since you''ve elerated, you''ll need more replenishment. But to consume so much at once, your earlier consumption must have been terrifying, and your physical strength exceeds my initial estimates..."


    Huang Rong got the point immediately, his face showing surprise.


    "You''ve already experienced it, Master. I took one of your Empty Sky Palm Strikes without dying; I''m as sturdy as an ox."


    Tao Yu grinned andughed.


    "Oh? I thought it was some kind of demonized ability of yours, but it turned out to be all normal cultivation methods?"


    Huang Yaoshi then realized he had made a mistake. The opponent''s strange method of dissolving internal strength from a distance was quite surprising to him.


    However, he was a proud man, and as a master, he was too proud to lower his face and ask his disciple for the details of the technique. He had always assumed it was the result of that demonized ability.


    "The power of your Empty Sky Palm Strike was so strong before, Master, that I almost used all my energy in defense, and my reaction to you was more of passive recoil. How about you feel it again, just a little?"


    Tao Yu tentatively asked.


    "Alright,e on, I''ll control my strength."


    Huang Yaoshi stretched out his palm, and Tao Yu, knowing his capability, also reached out to touch his palm.


    He then felt that after his vigor was input, it was like facing wave after wave of surging seas, quickly losing momentum.


    Even so, a red spot appeared on Huang Yaoshi''s palm.


    "What a tyrannical ability, its destructive power is even above inner strength, but it seems tock umtion and bes weak subsequently, and itcks versatility."


    Huang Yaoshi admired, looking at his own palm. He had actually heard Tao Yu mention it once before, but because of the demonization during that exchange, he had made some misjudgments. This time he really felt the intricacies of that kind of vigor.


    "Indeed, my disciple strength in this area is already not weak, but I still can''t umte it for long. I usually aim for a one-hit kill, and I also have a special Swallowing Essence Skill when eating."


    "Seems like vigor consumes more of the Qi-Blood, indeed requiring special replenishment. Otherwise, even without the eleration you mentioned with Yuan Force, the body will suffer."


    Huang Yaoshi nodded his head. Inner strength values longevity and is more about preserving health; the older it gets, the more valuable it bes.


    On the contrary, once Qi-Blood begins to wane, strength will also plummet rapidly.


    "If Master wishes to learn, I can teach you. It''s possible that my meridians are so resilient because I''ve practiced this method."


    Tao Yu was not one to hoard his treasures, causing Cheng Lixue and Zhang Hao beside him to be very tempted.


    "I will pass, I''m old and my Qi-Blood is already declining. I can''t withstand such strain."


    Huang Yaoshi may not have any memorable unique skills, but he is arguably the most learned of his time.


    He could already see the strengths and weaknesses of this ability, which was not suitable for someone of his advanced age.


    His character speaks for itself, having not learned the Nine Yin True Scripture for so many years, he could naturally let go of martial arts that focused on vigor.


    "However, in this eventful time, if possible, I hope you can pass on this method."


    Huang Yaoshi chose his words carefully, not intending to force Tao Yu to do anything.


    Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself. He himself disliked moral coercion. When he was wrongfully used of killing the Jiangnan Five Freaks, he admitted it on the spot - It was I who killed them!


    So, he also did not force Tao Yu to do anything.


    And Tao Yu immediately understood what he meant.


    The reason he made this journey across the sea was simply because, based on his own understanding, he believed the rumors about the Giants were true!


    If the situation deteriorated to this point, then any action that could enhance thebat effectiveness of their side was eptable.


    For the moment, it seemed that vigor and inner strengthplemented each other. In terms of killing enemies and head-on confrontations, vigor also had its own characteristics.


    "Of course, there''s no problem. My older martial sister and her husband are in Xiangyang. I can first pass it on to them. If they think someone is trustworthy, then they can also teach ording to their own needs. Just for entry-level, this is much simpler than inner strength..."


    Having said this, Tao Yu stuffed the remaining half of the chicken into his mouth, and then a new round of food was brought out from the kitchen.


    "That would be good..."


    Huang Yaoshi smiled faintly, the dark circles under his eyes seeming to fade a bit.


    He was naturally not fond of noise, and he found his home too noisy even after the birth of his daughter Guo Fu, which prompted him to leave.


    Guo Jing and Huang Rong only met Yang Guo when they came out looking for him.


    But times had changed, and the formidable steppe armies that once made the court bow their heads in defeat were now in hasty retreat. Yet it still seemed insufficient to stop the southward advance of those Titans.


    His son-inw, with his stubborn nature, would definitively insist on defending this ce to hisst breath.


    However, just then, a gentle voice came from the entrance of the tavern,


    "Father, you came without saying a word to us. If it wasn''t for a Beggar''s Sect disciple''s report, I would have had no idea you were here~"


    A beautiful woman with enchanting looks and a graceful figure walked in through the door.


    She wore a light purple silk robe with a few patches ced inconspicuously on it, a golden hoop secured her hair, and gold bracelets adorned her wrists.


    Just in terms of appearance, she was on a par with Cheng Lixue, but she exuded an elegant nobility beyond Cheng Lixue''s simplicity, dazzlingly beautiful...


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