Besides Li Xiu, the other two were strong individuals who had survived a fierce battle to the end.
One was Wu Gang from the Second Middle School, possessing powerful qi and blood, astonishing defense, and a talent for close-quarters combat, earning him the nickname "Iron Wall.
" The other was Mo Yu, the "Shadow Assassin" from the Fifth Middle School, a girl with unpredictable movements, incredible speed, and ruthless dagger skills.
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The three stood in a triangle, wary of each other
. Wu Gang bore several wounds and was panting heavily. Mo Yu's breathing was also somewhat disordered, but her eyes remained sharp.
Only Li Xiu, aside from slightly disheveled clothes, maintained steady breathing; the chaotic battle hadn't drained him much of his strength.
The final battle begins!
"Take care of this slippery fellow first, don't let him get away with it!"
Wu Gang roared, charging towards Li Xiu like a bull, his fists swinging with immense force.
Mo Yu was taken aback, then her figure blurred, as if merging into light, silently stabbing at Li Xiu's ribs from the flank.
The two of them involuntarily joined forces against Li Xiu.
Slippery fellow, huh? Li Xiu smiled silently upon hearing this term. Although his previous tactic had conserved his energy, it had also earned him dislike.
After all, most people could accept losing, but they couldn't tolerate being taken advantage of by the weak.
Since that's the case, then let them lose convincingly!
A glint flashed in Li Xiu's eyes. Facing the two's attack, his body made two unnatural right-angle changes of direction in a short span of time, narrowly avoiding Wu Gang's heavy punch and Mo Yu's dagger at the same time.
At the same time, his right hand clenched into a claw, lightning-fast, and grabbed at Mo Yu's wrist holding the dagger, his fingertips containing the fourth layer of hidden force.
Mo Yu was shocked and quickly withdrew her hand, changing her move to slash at Li Xiu's wrist with her dagger.
Li Xiu, however, used the momentum to spin around, unleashing a whip-like kick that whistled through the air, aiming for Wu Gang's knee.
Wu Gang lowered his stance, bracing himself for the kick, while simultaneously throwing a punch at Li Xiu
's chest. Li Xiu neither dodged nor evaded, his left hand forming a palm to meet Wu Gang's fist. At the moment of contact, his hand muscles and blood surged, three layers of hidden force overlapping, like surging waves.
Wu Gang felt the force of the punch vanish like a mud ox sinking into the sea, and a rotating pulling force caused his body to involuntarily lean forward.
Li Xiu used the momentum to sidestep, his right elbow striking Wu Gang's ribs like a cannonball!
"Thump!" A heavy thud. Wu Gang groaned, his face paling, staggering backward, a sharp pain shooting through his ribs, his breath becoming ragged.
Seeing the opportunity, Mo Yu's dagger transformed into three cold stars, aiming straight for Li Xiu's back.
As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Li Xiu, sensing the wind and pinpointing his location, lunged forward. Just before hitting the ground, he braced himself with one hand, his legs twisting backward like scissors, aiming straight for Mo Yu's lower body!
Mo Yu hurriedly leaped to dodge. However, Li Xiu, using the force of his hand bracing against the ground, sprang up like a spring, faster than Mo Yu!
In an instant, he closed in, his palm striking Mo Yu's hastily blocking arm.
"Snap!" A crisp sound rang out. Mo Yu felt a strange, vibrating force penetrate her arm, instantly leaving it numb and powerless, the dagger clattering to the ground.
Li Xiu's fingertips had already gripped her throat, eliminating her from the competition.
On the other side, Wu Gang struggled to attack again, but the sharp pain in his ribs distorted his movements.
After dealing with Mo Yu, Li Xiu turned to look at Wu Gang, his eyes calm.
Wu Gang, panting heavily, looked at the composed Li Xiu, then at the eliminated Mo Yu, and finally gave a bitter smile, raising his hand: "I concede."
"The match is over! Champion—Li Xiu from Guanshan No. 1 Middle School!" the referee announced loudly, his voice amplified throughout the arena.
Applause and cheers erupted like a tsunami! The Guanshan No. 1 Middle School area was particularly enthusiastic, and Li Xiu smiled.
On the high platform, another round of praise followed, not for Li Xiu, but for Wang Xing.
"Lord Wang Xing has keen insight; Li Xiu indeed won!"
"I've heard that warriors on the battlefield can judge an enemy's strength based on the slightest clues; Lord Wang Xing is such a person!"
"That's right, Lord Wang Xing made an accurate judgment with just one glance; it's definitely a skill honed through blood and iron. The Federation is fortunate!"
Wang Xing smiled gently, feeling very pleased. The people from this small place were generally weaker, but they were much more tactful.
A grand award ceremony was held on the central main arena. The top three ascended the podium to receive their medals and certificates.
Surrounded by the crowd, Wang Xing personally presented the champion, Li Xiu, with a symbolic trophy and a gold-embossed award certificate.
With an impeccable, gentle smile, he patted Li Xiu on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Excellent. Solid foundation, commendable adaptability. The path of martial arts is long; I hope you will remain humble and continue your efforts. In the future, you may find your place on the starry battlefield."
Li Xiu accepted the trophy and certificate with both hands, using the Breath Concealment Technique to regulate his qi and blood. A flush of excitement rose on his face, his eyes bright, and he exclaimed, "Thank you for your encouragement, Lord Wang Xing! I will definitely work even harder! My... my dream is to become a powerful martial artist and serve the Federation!
Once I become a martial artist, I will definitely... I will definitely strive to join your ranks!" His tone was sincere, filled with nervousness and admiration.
Hearing this, Wang Xing's smile deepened.
He was already used to the worship and willingness to serve such grassroots geniuses, and felt nothing for them. But now, under the watchful eyes of everyone, this perfectly aligned with his persona of recruiting talent and emphasizing education.
He nodded, his tone becoming even more amiable: "Ambitious! The doors of the Federation Army are always open to ambitious young people. Cultivate diligently, and I look forward to seeing your name on a higher stage."
A few polite words, yet they ignited the passion of countless youths below, their gazes towards Li Xiu filled with envy.
To be casually remembered by someone like Wang Xing might be a rare opportunity in the future.
After the award ceremony, Li Xiu stepped down from the stage, the excitement on his face gradually subsiding, his eyes regaining their composure.
He glanced at the number on the award certificate: ten thousand star stones.
This included 2,000 star stones sponsored by Huanyu Technology Company and 8,000 star stones personally awarded by Mr. Wang Xing.
A full ten thousand star stones!
Li Xiu's heart skipped a beat. He had expected many rewards, but never this many!
He was now truly excited, and his breath-containment technique almost couldn't suppress the surging blood and qi.
For him, this was an unimaginable fortune!
These star stones were enough to support him in completing a significant portion of the acupoint openings in the game, and even to purchase some resources he had never dared to dream of before!
"With the opening of major acupoints and the purchase of new dungeons, my strength will leap forward, and I might even quickly enter the ranks of first-grade martial artists!"
Li Xiu took several deep breaths to suppress his excitement.
"This joint examination is even more prestigious now, and some martial arts organizations and universities will definitely send invitations. I can even get some funding then!"
The inter-school evaluation concluded, and the hoverbus smoothly returned to Guanshan No. 1 Middle School. Outside the window, the industrial gray tones of the interstellar era were visible, with occasional glimpses of abandoned buildings still entwined with green vines.
Inside the carriage, there were whispers of weary excitement; some were reviewing their battles, some were exchanging insights, and many more were meditating with their eyes closed.
Li Xiu leaned against the window, eyes closed, breathing deeply, as if he too was meditating.
Virtual Skynet. In his pure white personal space, he sat cross-legged, facing Xinghuan floating in mid-air.
"You performed well today, but there were a few flaws, which I've marked for you," Xinghuan said, immediately reviewing the battle.
"...Can't we take a break first?" Li Xiu muttered, "Besides, I can't show my true strength."
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"Okay, I thought reviewing the battle meant resting," Xinghuan said calmly. "But we can talk about something else today, like choosing a martial arts organization later."
Li Xiu thought for a moment and asked, "Martial arts organizations will definitely come looking for you before the college entrance exam. Where do you think would be more suitable?"
Xing Huan's eyes flickered, as if she were retrieving data. After a moment, she spoke, her words clear and logical:
"The top ten universities in the Federation are the first choice. They are top-tier educational institutions that can provide you with the best mentors, facilities, and connections. The second choice is the Deep Space Martial Hall."
"Deep Space Martial Hall?" Li Xiu had naturally heard of the name, but he didn't know much about it.
"It doesn't conflict with the Top Ten. The Top Ten are schools, while the Deep Space Martial Hall is a martial arts organization. Many students from prestigious schools join during their studies and officially become members after graduation."
Xing Huan extended her slender white fingers: "It has three advantages:
"First, compatibility.
It doesn't require years of service and absolute obedience like the military, nor is it as loosely organized as the Martial Arts Association. Joining the Deep Space Martial Hall won't affect your continued studies at school."
"Second, slightly less dangerous.
The military faces the front lines of void erosion and alien invasion, with a very high casualty rate.
The Deep Space Martial Hall also has its own pioneering teams on the front lines, but you can choose when to participate. They have a complete training system and won't treat newcomers as expendable resources."
"Third, clear career advancement path.
The Deep Space Martial Hall controls many resource stars and alien material channels in the Federation's peripheral star regions. Moreover, their internal promotions are often based solely on performance."
Li Xiu remained silent, digesting this information.
"What about the military? Completely ruled out? They're the strongest, aren't they?"
"The military is indeed the best whetstone and the fastest path to promotion... provided you can survive."
Xing Huan paused, then added meaningfully, "Besides, entering the military requires multiple physical scans, psychological assessments, and daily monitoring. Are you confident you can keep your strength and star mark from being exposed?"
Li Xiu didn't ask any further questions. He knew Xing Huan was right.
"What about the Martial Arts Association?"
"More suitable for those who want to become famous, participate in commercial leagues, or open their own martial arts school." Xing Huan succinctly summarized, "You're not suitable."
Li Xiu nodded, keeping these things in mind.
"So, let's wait for the invitations from the top ten admissions offices, and then consider the Deep Space Martial Hall. The military... as a backup option, but we'll try to avoid them."
He paused: "Are there any exclusivity requirements between martial arts organizations?"
"Very few. Especially between the top ten and the Deep Space Martial Hall, they've always had a cooperative relationship. Some prestigious schools even proactively recommend outstanding students to join the Deep Space Martial Hall's pioneering team as practical combat credits."
Xing Huan tilted his head slightly: "Planning things in advance and thinking them through early will prevent you from being caught off guard later."
Li Xiu nodded in agreement.
——————
The bus drove into the campus, and everyone filed out. Class teacher Liu Qing gave a brief summary and announced that training would proceed as normal.
Li Xiu's first place in the inter-school assessment had earned him some fame, but thanks to Wang Xing's kindness, he hadn't encountered any trouble yet.
After school, Li Xiu took the award certificate and went to the Federal Bank in the central district.
His martial arts student status, coupled with the official certification of first place in the district-level inter-school assessment, made the redemption process exceptionally smooth.
The teller's smile was genuine; she even proactively asked if he needed to schedule a larger exchange of star stones.
Li Xiu only withdrew one thousand. It wasn't that he didn't want to withdraw more, but rather that no one would run around carrying ten thousand star stones.
The one thousand star stones were sealed in a heavy, silver, radiation-proof box the size of a suitcase. He pulled the box away from the bank and turned into a sparsely populated alley.
Inside the alley, Li Xiu leaned against the wall and said in a low voice, "Is no one around?"
A moment later, Xinghuan sent a positive message: "No, it's safe around here."
Without hesitation, Li Xiu communicated with the game through his mind, transferring the one thousand star stones into the game. The energy within the star stones seemed to be drawn away, rapidly dissipating and turning into a pile of worthless stones.
On the panel, the star stone balance jumped from 363 to 1363.
Xinghuan's virtual projection was projected directly from her bracelet, hovering in mid-air in the alley. This time, it wasn't in the Skynet space, but appeared in the real world as a holographic image.
Her black hair fluttered slightly in the night breeze, and silver light scanned Li Xiu's hands and the grayed-out star stone remnants.
The atmosphere was somewhat silent.
Li Xiu looked up at her.
Xing Huan spoke, "Is this how you refine those crude star stones?"
She used a statement of fact.
Li Xiu didn't speak. He had been avoiding discussing this topic with Xing Huan, and Xing Huan had tactfully refrained from asking, but he knew he couldn't hide the fact that he had spent money on in-game purchases.
"You've never bought any enhancement agents, never purchased any nutrient solutions, and you're reluctant to use any of the physical recovery plans I devised for you. Even the weapons were arranged by me."
Her speech quickened, data streams swirling rapidly in her eyes as she concluded, "But you have a strange way of consuming star stones, not any known cultivation method. Li Xiu, can I know what that is?"
Li Xiu looked at the small figure floating in mid-air, shimmering slightly, and remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he reached out and patted the air, "If you're a brother, don't ask."
It was that same perfunctory response again. Xing Huan glared at him, "Li Xiu, don't I deserve your trust by now?"
"Of course I trust you, but you have to give me some personal space, right?" Li Xiu interrupted her, his tone calm.
He couldn't possibly reveal the game to anyone. This isn't about trust; caution is paramount.
Xinghuan opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
After a moment, she turned her head away: "My good intentions have been taken for granted. Do you think I wanted to ask? I'm protecting you."
She turned back to Li Xiu, her tone much more serious: "As a senior high school student majoring in martial arts, the amount of star stones you consume each month is finite.
But you never buy enhancement agents, weapons, or nutrient solutions, and you haven't even had a basic cell activity test done.
Your physical data is recorded in the school's system, in my system, and there's a third set of real data. How long do you think you can keep this a secret?"
Faced with Xinghuan's question, Li Xiu could only remain silent.
Xinghuan continued, "If anyone were to carefully examine your spending records and resource usage, they would immediately discover a huge hole. Anomalies related to star stones often lead to considerable trouble."
The alley was extremely quiet. The occasional hum of a hovercar could be heard in the distance, while nearby, only Li Xiu's breathing could be heard.
"Do you have a way to solve this?" Li Xiu asked, as this was indeed a problem.
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Xing Huan was silent for a few seconds: "I can't conceal your information. You don't have that high a level of authority; it would only arouse suspicion... I'll help you create a disguised usage record."
"Purchase a certain proportion of basic nutrient solution, general-purpose cell activator, and a few consumable cultivation aids every week.
You don't need to actually buy them; I will create reasonable records at the system level. The black market circulation of these supplies is chaotic, and tracing their origins is difficult. If someone checks, and the data matches, they won't investigate further."
Li Xiu looked at her: "Thank you."
Xing Huan didn't avoid his gaze; her silver-blue eyes were calm and unwavering.
"Li Xiu, I understand your feelings. But you and I are now in the same boat."
She paused, her voice very soft: "I hope you trust me." Under the moonlight, the edges of that petite projection shimmered slightly.
"Of course," Li Xiu said, "I trust you completely! But there are some things you're better off not knowing; it's to protect us."
"You're worried about my data being leaked?" Xing Huan looked at him.
Li Xiu shrugged: "If you can do whatever you want in Skynet, then there won't be any absolute forbidden zones or constitutional restrictions, right?"
He didn't believe in absolute defense, not even Skynet.
"...Okay." Xing Huan lowered his eyes, the projection slowly fading, leaving Li Xiu alone in the alley again.
He leaned against the wall, looking up at the old streetlamp, tiny flying insects circling in its halo.
After a moment, he whispered, "Thanks... I'll get you out of there sometime."
But Xing Huan had already fallen silent; it was unclear whether he heard him.
——————
Li Xiu walked home happily. His concealment of Xing Huan didn't affect their relationship; currently, they still had a considerable foundation for cooperation.
So, the next step was how to quickly digest these ten thousand star stones. Whether it was breaking through his cultivation level, practicing skills, or purchasing new dungeons, it would allow Li Xiu's strength to leap forward.
However, when he returned home, he sensed something was amiss. A dark-colored shuttle was parked outside.
He forced himself to push open the old door of the repair shop, but froze on the threshold.
Four people stood inside.
Not ordinary customers.
They wore identical dark gray combat uniforms, with an oppressive insignia embroidered on their chests: a star ring and a sword—the symbol of the Ancestral Star Investigation Team.
Each of them exuded a powerful, restrained aura, like four silent mountains, making the small repair shop feel suffocating.
In the corner of the shop, Li Tian's figure appeared particularly hunched. He wore his faded work clothes, his hands smeared with machine oil, and his face showed unease and tension.
Hearing the door open, he looked up and saw Li Xiu. A fleeting, unreadable emotion flashed in his eyes—was it worry? A warning? Or a urge to leave quickly?
In that instant, Li Xiu's blood almost froze.
Had he been exposed?
Had his theft of the crude star stones been exposed? Or…had his adoptive father's identity been revealed?
No, if he were exposed, Xinghuan would have warned him. The fact that he hasn't spoken means everything is fine!
A flurry of thoughts exploded in his mind, but his body reacted faster, maintaining his posture as he pushed open the door, a look of surprise and curiosity on his face.
"A guest?"
The next moment, Xinghuan's message directly appeared in his consciousness, calm and normal, easing Li Xiu's tense heart.
[Don't panic. Routine check by the Ancestral Star Investigation Team. The target is neither you nor Li Tian.]
[The reason is that your name was removed from the suspicious list. Wang Xing couldn't find anything unusual, but he didn't give up and ordered his subordinate investigation teams to expand the scope. Your father's repair shop is naturally within the investigation scope.]
[Current threat level: Low. Just maintain normal behavior.]
It's a routine check! A huge weight lifted from Li Xiu's heart, but his face remained calm.
He cautiously maintained his concealment technique, looking at the leader of the four people.
The man was in his early thirties, with a stern face and a faint old scar at the corner of his left eye. When his gaze swept over Li Xiu, he felt as if he had been grazed by a cold blade.
"You're Li Xiu? We're from the Zuxing Investigation Team, here to gather some information. Don't be nervous," the scarred man said, his voice not loud, but carrying the authority of someone accustomed to being in a superior position.
"Yes, that's me," Li Xiu straightened up slightly. "I'm a senior martial arts student from Guanshan No. 1 High School. I just returned from the district joint school assessment today."
The scarred man's gaze lingered on him for a few seconds, the invisible pressure feeling almost tangible, as if trying to see right through him.
"The joint school assessment?" The younger team member next to the scarred man seemed interested. "How did you do?"
A hint of pride appeared on Li Xiu's face at the opportune moment. "By sheer luck... I got first place. During the award ceremony, Lord Wang Xing personally offered a few words of encouragement."
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the room subtly shifted.
The scarred man raised an eyebrow. A student encouraged by Wang Xing? Although they were well aware of the true value of this encouragement, at least procedurally, this young man had some interaction with Lord Wang Xing.
The young team member wanted to ask something more, but the scarred man raised his hand to stop him. He gave Li Xiu one last look, nodded, and his tone softened slightly: "Good, keep up the good work. Lord Wang Xing has always valued talent at the grassroots level; don't let him down."
"Yes! Definitely!" Li Xiu puffed out his chest, his eyes bright, a picture of youthful enthusiasm.
The scarred man said no more, waved his hand, and the four filed out.
After they boarded the matte black hover shuttle, it silently rose and instantly disappeared into the gray sky.
The shop fell silent again.
Li Xiu closed the door and turned around. Li Tian had returned to his usual silent demeanor, squatting beside a dismantled old engine, wiping the grease from his hands with cotton gauze, and asking without looking up, "First place in the assessment?"
"Yeah." Li Xiu walked over, squatted down as well, and picked up another wrench to help. "Just lucky."
"Luck is also a skill." Li Tian still didn't look up, his hands paused for a moment, and his voice was very low: "Those people just now... it was just routine, don't take it to heart."
"I know." Li Xiu looked at his adoptive father's calloused and oil-stained hands, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he didn't ask anything more.
The two silently tidied up the pile of messy parts, as usual.
Night had fallen.
Li Xiu finished practicing his swordsmanship, but instead of rushing into his cultivation game, he lay on his small bed, staring motionlessly at the peeling old paint on the ceiling, lost in thought.
Outside the window, the ever-burning neon lights cast dappled, indifferent shadows on the ceiling through the thin curtains. What if those people weren't just conducting a routine check
today, but were really after me? Would I have the strength to resist?
Once this thought surfaced, it was like a persistent, intractable disease. He recalled the suffocating feeling the scarred man had given him. Xing Huan had told him that he was a fourth-rank martial artist, just a squad leader, while the Wang Xing they spoke of was a fifth-rank, and possessed a mecha. What did a fifth-rank martial artist mean? Li Xiu didn't know the exact power gap, but he knew he hadn't even reached the first rank yet. That wasn't just a difference in level; it was the difference between a person and a mountain. What if one day Wang Xing really becomes suspicious, or the investigation team gets impatient and starts indiscriminately arresting and interrogating relevant personnel? Could Li Xiu withstand the Federation's special interrogations? What about his adoptive father, Li Tian? Could he withstand it? Li Xiu took a deep breath, gently rubbing his right hand, which had calluses from practicing with a sword. [Detailed combat strength assessment of the investigation team has been generated.] Xing Huan's voice rang out at the right moment, simultaneously projecting concise data at the edge of his vision: [Wang Xing] Fifth-grade martial artist. Equipped with a specially made mecha [Shadowless Strike]... Overall threat level: Far exceeding the current individual's response limit. [Investigation Team] Approximately 12 fourth-grade martial artists... Approximately 40 third-grade martial artists... Equipped with: Standard military exoskeletons, energy weapons, tactical vehicles. Overall combat strength: Capable of overwhelming any unofficial armed force on this planet. Xinghuan offered her advice: "Li Xiu, with your current strength, any one of those people on the list could wipe you out in 0.5 seconds. I suggest you stay away from anything that might pique their interest, continue your disguise, and accelerate your growth." Li Xiu stared at the cold numbers and evaluations, remaining silent for a long time. Neon lights flickered outside the window, but the room was deathly quiet. After a long while, he spoke, his voice soft: "Who would want to provoke these people? The problem is, they've come to us... Without any investigation results, will these people leave this planet?" Xinghuan seemed to be assessing the situation, speaking after two seconds: "I think it's highly unlikely." Li Xiu took a deep breath: "Then... what do you think of the Evil God? The Evil God of the [Crimson Feast]?" Xinghuan's projection suddenly solidified beside him. She hovered in mid-air, her eyes wide, staring at Li Xiu as if seeing him for the first time. "What did you say?" Xinghuan's actions were becoming increasingly human, but Li Xiu didn't look at her, still staring at the dappled light and shadow on the ceiling. "I mean," he said, emphasizing each word, "do you think the results of this investigation on the Evil God are enough to satisfy him?" Xinghuan didn't know how to reply. After a long silence, she asked softly, "Li Xiu, are you serious?" Li Xiu finally turned to look at her, his eyes calm, a calmness that was frightening. "I can't deal with these people, but since the Evil God is called a god, shouldn't I be able to hold my own against them?" "I will fully cooperate with you." Xinghuan was as decisive as ever. Li Xiu nodded: "Retrieve the information on [Crimson Feast] for me." Xinghuan's projection flickered slightly: "Data retrieved." Then, countless light screens unfolded in front of Li Xiu. [File Number: XJ-06-Crimson Feast] The Crimson Feast, a Federation-recognized S-class high-risk anomaly organization, worships an indescribable void entity and calls itself... the Crimson Lord! This organization is active in multiple star systems of the Federation, recruiting members under the guise of spiritual sublimation and bloodline awakening. Its actual purpose is to create conditions for the descent of the Void Evil God through ritual sacrifices. The Crimson Feast employs a cellular organizational structure, with each division operating independently and unaware of the others. Each division is headed by a [Guide], under whom are several [Firebearers] who carry out specific tasks. At the bottom are the [Guides] and the [Sacrifices]. "Sacrifices? What are sacrifices?" Li Xiu frowned, instinctively sensing something was amiss. Xinghuan waved her small hand and pulled over another light screen. [Three Essential Elements of Descent] "According to documents seized during numerous Federation extermination operations, for the Crimson Feast to complete a full descent of an evil god, the following three conditions must be met simultaneously: First, a coordinate anchor point. The void is vast and boundless, and the evil god cannot accurately pinpoint its exact location in the real world. Therefore, an anchor point is needed, which is a human individual with a special mental constitution. Through multiple ritual modifications, their mental sea resonates continuously with the void, becoming a beacon guiding the evil god's descent into this world. Anchor point characteristics: When the mental sea's mutation rate reaches 70% or higher, dark red blood lines will appear on the recipient's forehead, radiating outwards. When the mutation rate reaches 90% or higher, the blood lines will cover the entire body, and the recipient's consciousness will be completely annihilated, becoming a pure living coordinate. This is the so-called sacrifice." "The second condition is an energy core. Tearing apart the boundary between reality and the void requires enormous energy. Ordinary energy sources won't work; it must be a high-purity, high-density energy crystal, such as the energy core of a main warship's main engine, or the reserve energy of a large city's energy center. Third, blood sacrifice. The void beings crave the mental fluctuations of death, such as fear, pain, and despair, which are their favorite food. A sufficient number of deaths is an invitation to attract the attention of the evil god. The number of sacrifices required varies depending on the scale of the descent. The more painful the death, the stronger the mental fluctuations, and the better the invitation effect." Li Xiu was shocked after reading this. He originally only wanted to fool Wang Xing away, but now it seems that this cult has committed many evils. If he can eliminate it with the help of the Ancestral Star Investigation Team, it will be a good deed. "So, what is their combat strength?" Li Xiu continued to ask. "The identity of the [Guide] is very mysterious. He possesses the power of the evil god, which distorts my observations, but I know the [Firebearer] nearby." Xing Huan continued to provide information: [Firebearer] Chen Jiu. His apparent identity is a scrap metal recycler in the old district. He has appeared multiple times near known ritual sites, his communication records contain numerous unusual terms, and the source of his funds is suspicious. [The Firebearer] Lin Nanfeng. His public identity is the head of the mecha project department at the Guanshan branch of the Huanyu Group. He underwent a week-long investigation by the Zuxing Investigation Team half a month ago, but was released due to insufficient evidence. "Lin Nanfeng? The project manager of the Huanyu Group?" Li Xiu exclaimed in shock, "Jiang Wan's husband? Lin Xia's father? Is he a cult member?"
Xinghuan nodded. "According to my information, he's been conducting secret experiments using the modification technology provided by the Crimson Feast, developing human mental power to adapt to mechs."
"Why didn't you mention this before?"
"Some things are better left unknown. This is to protect us." Xinghuan casually returned Li Xiu's words.
Li Xiu remained silent. This Skynet was still holding a grudge and being petty.
Seeing Li Xiu's silence, Xing Huan unusually explained, "I don't want you to get involved in cult matters, that's why I've blocked these things."
"Logically speaking, someone of Lin Nanfeng's status shouldn't need to join a cult, right?" Li Xiu asked.
Xing Huan assessed for a moment and gave his judgment: "Lin Nanfeng lacks personal martial arts talent, and piloting a mecha requires sufficient mental strength to match, so he wants to use the knowledge of the cult to modify his mind."
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"So he's not genuinely serving the cult?"
"Subjectively speaking, that's true, but once you join a cult, there's no turning back. He's been collecting people for human experimentation for a long time." Xing Huan pulled up more detailed information.
[Lin Nanfeng's Private Laboratory]
Location: Underground of Warehouse No. 17, Abandoned Industrial Park, East District.
Suspicious Signs: Thermal imaging shows abnormal heat sources and signs of life underground, suggesting the presence of long-term detainees.
"Human experimentation... No wonder a big corporation executive would personally go to the Lost Zone; it turns out he was buying people. Damn it!" Li Xiu nodded; everything made sense.
He'd overheard the Black Rat Gang mentioning special goods in the Lost Zone—they were probably doing dirty work.
"So what's their actual combat strength? And such a large cult can't just have two people, right?"
"Ye Jiu is a third-grade martial artist, Lin Nantian is a first-grade martial artist, and with his mecha, he has the combat strength of a high-level second-grade.
The 'Fire Relayer' is already a leader; if Lin Nantian didn't have the ability to conduct sacrificial experiments, he wouldn't have become the 'Fire Relayer.' The rest are just 'Subjects.'" Xing Huan sent dozens more messages about 'Subjects,' including Li Xiu's old classmate, Wang Ming.
Xing Huan added, "But I must remind you, the combat strength of a cultist isn't determined by themselves, but by the monsters from other areas they summon."
Li Xiu nodded, recalling the terrifying destructive power of those two second-grade monsters that descended near the black market.
"Can you find out the exact time or location of their ritual?"
Xinghuan shook his head. "The cultists are very cautious; they'll avoid the city's surveillance cameras. Also, the power of the evil god distorts reality. I lack too much information."
Li Xiu pondered. Even Xinghuan couldn't provide all the information involved with the evil god.
However, based on the conditions for the evil god's descent, finding the [sacrifice], the [energy core], or the person used as a blood sacrifice would reveal the details of the descent.
"The information is too rudimentary. If I pass this information to Wang Xing, will he believe it?"
"He won't believe it entirely. But given his personality, he'll verify it." Xinghuan paused. "Once verified, he'll take action. This is a golden opportunity for him to build his reputation. Personally thwarting the evil god's descent plan would be enough to elevate him within the family." Li Xiu nodded
.
"Then let's wait a bit," he said. "You try to gather as much information as possible, ideally estimating the time and location of the evil god's descent. Also, I'll find an opportunity to test Wang Ming."
Xinghuan responded, the projection disappeared, and Li Xiu lay on the bed, starting his cultivation game!
Dealing with both the investigation team and the evil god was important, but improving his own strength was even more crucial.
In the cave at his birthplace, Li Xiu sat cross-legged, circulated his cultivation technique several times, and then began to consume the Meridian Opening Pill.
Not seizing the opportunity to improve his strength would be a waste of the ten thousand star stones he had just received. The arrival of the Ancestral Star Investigation Team had instilled in him a sense of urgency to enhance his power.
The pill entered his stomach.
A familiar warm current rose from his dantian, slowly advancing along his meridians, this time targeting the eighth acupoint, Jingqu.
The pain arrived as expected, as if countless fine needles were repeatedly piercing the inner walls of his blood vessels.
Li Xiu gritted his teeth, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead, but he didn't stop. Instead, he mobilized all his qi and blood, coordinating with the medicinal power to break through that stubborn barrier.
A quarter of an hour… two quarters of an hour… the acupoint was successfully opened under the powerful medicinal force!
The instant the eighth acupoint, Jingqu, was opened, Li Xiu felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration surge through his body.
It was as if a previously silted-up riverbed had been suddenly widened, and his surging blood and qi, as if freed from shackles, flowed powerfully throughout his body!
All eight acupoints within his body resonated!
The previously faint spiritual energy deep within his dantian finally began to take shape, no longer just a few wisps of mist, but a swirling, pale purple vortex slowly rotating in the center of his dantian.
Li Xiu opened his eyes and brought up his attribute panel:
[Li Xiu (Lightning Spirit Root)]
[Realm: (Meridian Opening: 8/361)]
...…
His cultivation had advanced further, and his blood and qi had also increased by a full ten points. Adding to his previous foundation, his current blood and qi value had reached 97 points, nearly ten times that of an average adult!
"Just three more points, and I can try to condense a blood and qi seed and step into the first-grade martial artist realm. Then my strength will leap forward!" Li Xiu clenched his fist, the power within his body roaring and surging.
"And this is just martial arts cultivation; the improvement in immortal cultivation should be even greater. Senior Sister Xuan Su's request for me to open ten major acupoints before going to see her is definitely not without reason..."
Li Xiu was increasingly looking forward to the subsequent improvements. He brought up the skill panel and directly purchased the skill [Lightning Pattern Blade], which he had hesitated about for a long time!
[Lightning Pattern Blade]
Requirements: Open five skill acupoints
Effect: Cover the weapon surface with lightning energy in a special pattern, making attacks inflict continuous lightning damage and a slight paralysis effect.
A flash of silver light, and a new stream of information flooded into his mind. It was the method of condensing lightning patterns. Complex strands of lightning energy twisted and repeated in Li Xiu's mind.
He drew out his practice bamboo sword, closed his eyes, and concentrated.
In the vortex of his dantian, the wisp of light purple spiritual energy was slowly drawn out, transformed into lightning energy with higher attack power, and then flowed along the meridians of his arm to his palm, and then injected into the blade through his five fingers.
All of this seemed instinctive. Li Xiu controlled the lightning energy to slowly travel along the blade, and a faintly glowing purple pattern slowly took shape on the blade.
Li Xiu opened his eyes and swung his sword.
"Swoosh—!"
The sound of the blade cutting through the air was now accompanied by a subtle crackling of electricity, unlike before. He lightly slashed at a boulder in the mountains.
"Bang!"
The stone shattered, the broken edge charred black, faintly emitting wisps of smoke.
The power had increased by at least fifty percent!
More importantly, the effect of the lightning imbued the strikes with additional penetration and paralysis, making it particularly effective against defensive opponents…including mechanical creations, of course.
However, Li Xiu looked at the charred bamboo sword in his hand and gave a wry smile.
This bamboo sword was carved from old bamboo, exceptionally tough and strong, no less so than an ordinary iron sword. Li Xiu had always used it to practice his swordsmanship, but unexpectedly, a new skill he acquired today destroyed it.
"Even in the game, I need to find a weapon..."