Chapter 63: Assets Surge, Return To Running
The palm only briefly touched the stone pillar, and then without any change occurring, Lu Rang withdrew his hand. Those unaware might think he suddenly remembered something midway and terminated it.
Meng Xi looked at him with great anticipation: “Did it work?”
“Mm!” Lu Rang nodded.
Yuan Zhu: “？？！”
It worked just like that? It looked completely unchanged. Even the sensitive skin’s [Immortal Scripture] was too lazy to warn, really not giving the ‘Pipe Wrench Sword Immortal’ any face.
Mai Lili, curious throughout, timidly asked: “Did you feel anything?”
Although she had no intention of becoming a Sword Immortal, she had beautiful expectations for reinforcing herself. Thus, she paid extra attention to Lu Rang, who was at a similar level to her.
“I…” Lu Rang frowned, carefully sensing the [Blessing of the Sword] that the stone pillar had applied to him.
This was a quite obvious permanent state, just like a person mastering underwater breathing. It seemed unchanged, but it was indeed vastly different.
He suddenly extended his index finger, simultaneously drawing spirit and physical strength, condensing and maintaining a thin membrane-like force field on the surface of the first two knuckles, forming faint sharpness on the seemingly rounded fingertip surface.
Sizzle!
He bent his knees and squatted, dragging his index finger across the floor, leaving a stain-like scratch on the smooth marble floor tiles. Then Lu Rang canceled the [Sword Qi], gently wiping the sword mark again with his fingertip skin, quickly cleaning the floor spotless, brand new, without leaving any dirt.
The atmosphere at the scene instantly fell into a mysterious embarrassment.
Meng Xiyue gently clapped, encouraging: “Don’t be discouraged. Your condensed ‘Sword Qi’ couldn’t break through the floor tiles’ hardness, so naturally it left no scratch. Just refine Sword Qi day and night, diligently without slacking, and there will naturally be rewards.”
After downing a bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Lu Rang’s mindset recovered a bit. After all, it was only 400 points, can’t demand too much: “Then how should I sacrifice the sword?”
Meng Xiyue: “This is simple. You’re in the newbie period now, just need to slightly perceive pain to bless [Sword Qi] onto the flying sword. Since you selected this pipe wrench, after going home, use a blade to cut open your finger, touch the pipe wrench with the wound, smear blood inch by inch, and carefully savor the changes in pain and Sword Qi, imagine the sharp blade cutting the finger leaving pain, bless all these intangible things onto the pipe wrench. Don’t fear pain, don’t fear injury or excessive blood loss. In [Mao Mao King]’s specialty zone, there are Blood Tomatoes and Blood Bodhis for exchange. You’re really fortunate.”
Yuan Zhu nodded in agreement. [Mao Mao King]’s supplies update came just in time. As long as there are continuous ‘Blood Tomatoes’ to repair injuries, Lu Rang really has a chance to soar.
Looking at the last Blood Bodhi in his hand, then down at the pipe wrench, Sword Cultivator Lu Rang firmed his resolve: “I understand! Then everyone, I’ll return first. Next time, I absolutely won’t drag everyone down again.”
“Goodbye! I should go too.” Meng Xiyue waved farewell, then looked at Yuan Zhu, Mai Lili and others, “What about you all? Any ideas?”
Mai Lili gathered courage: “I decide to listen to the captain, focus on this set of uniform to cultivate a Power Seed, then sign an Anti-Law with [Mao Mao King], and accept the captain’s guidance.”
The same-age girl who seemed the least present and timidly afraid of trouble all the way, surprisingly wasn’t as mediocre as she appeared, actually finding the optimal solution from countless options in one go.
In mixing around [Mao Mao King’s Happy Home], what’s most important? Of course, positioning and Hugging the Thigh!
As long as you make an Anti-Law with [Mao Mao King], from then on you’re the beloved daughter of [Happy Home].
Look at the other teammates: lone wolf Butcher Murderer, Knowledge School Head Robber Group, Law System anti-fraud prompt expert, kill-matt Pipe Wrench Sword Immortal, full of rebellious spirit Mimi King… Not one trusts [Mao Mao King], how can they get the boss’s favor?
Next mission, when encountering crisis again, who do you say the captain will protect first? Of course, family. As long as following [Mao Mao King], the captain directly evolves into ‘tutor + Protection’, won’t maintain and care for this one and only sapling everywhere?
Otherwise, after one mission, only [Mao Mao King]’s Believer died. Where does that leave my big Mao Mao’s face?
Meng Xiyue sincerely praised: “Little sister, you’ve got wide connections!”
Before leaving, Zhou Chu still didn’t forget to remind: “Even after signing the [Anti-Law], remember, power should be held in your own hands. Don’t overly trust [Mao Mao King], becoming the other’s puppet appendage. Instead, seize the power granted by the Anti-Law as your own as much as possible, try to cut ties with the Anti-Law Demon God, ultimately escape [Mao Mao King]’s shackles, gain freedom and monopolize the power. For specific operations, you can try believing in [Pale Great Law]…”
“Hey! You’re so bold, can you not talk about these heaven-defying topics inside [Happy Home]? I’m really afraid of being implicated by you.” Meng Xiyue thought this sister was really brave, didn’t know how to write ‘death’ at all.
Zhou Chu calmly replied: “This is my way of life!”
Yuan Zhu instantly understood. The ‘Law Clause’ this sister set for herself was probably to speak directly, dare to act and take responsibility, never lie, upright and incorruptible?
No wonder she dares to confront the captain, with a stubborn dumbass ‘anti-fraud assistant’ vibe clashing against heaven, earth, and Mao Mao King. Turns out this is her persona, she’s practicing the Law. As long as she clashes (upholds justice in her heart), she can steadily Get Stronger. Isn’t this better than Lu Rang self-harming every day?!
Meng Xiyue looked at Yuan Zhu: “What about you?”
“I’ll browse the exchange list a bit more, research and compare common Supernatural Systems.”
“Then take your time. Anyway, with coins, you can return anytime. Right, my golden arm!” Meng Xiyue didn’t forget Yuan Zhu’s promise of fair division with big scales. That fool Lu Rang suddenly gained Supernatural Powers, excitedly forgetting everything, even forgetting the money before going home. She wasn’t silly.
Mai Lili, who was about to leave, also stopped, with a pitiful expression, expectantly looking at Yuan Zhu, her eyes full of ‘tycoon, reward!’.
Even the always daring Justice Partner Zhou Chu had an ‘I want one too’ look, quietly watching him.
“Divide it, divide it, one arm each, pick your own. Zhou Chu, you break them off.” Yuan Zhu stepped aside, revealing the Golden Bodhisattva standing at attention behind him.
Appearance party Meng Xiyue spoke first: “Dragon claw, I want this arm of the dragon!”
Mai Lili picked the thickest-looking beast arm. Zhou Chu casually selected the most normal, most human-like arm.
After the three took three golden arms, they didn’t linger, returning to their respective rooms. The hall was left with only Yuan Zhu, examining the space stone pillar.
On the right side of the stone pillar, a transparent cylindrical hollow tube was embedded.
He reached out to touch it, learning it was a charging teleportation device. [Mao Mao King] only needed to fill this cylindrical tube to lock onto the [Nightmare Bubble Layer] and launch a ‘Bubble World’ invasion teleport.
If [Mao Mao King] didn’t recharge, teammates like Yuan Zhu could similarly inject collected supplies (Skeleton Demon Cocoon, Mummy Palm, Blood Bodhi), or points, or ‘Polluting Energy’ accumulated from their own cultivation. As long as the cylinder was filled, they could similarly launch a ‘Space Teleport’.
The stone pillar stood right there, and with coins, they could return to [Happy Home] anytime.
In other words, even if [Mao Mao King] didn’t work, as long as Yuan Zhu saved enough energy, he could autonomously shuttle to new Bubble Worlds. Or Pinduoduo with teammates, group up for private jobs.
“This [Happy Home]’s atmosphere is really relaxed.”
Yuan Zhu sighed. Even the space teleport device was placed so unguardedly for viewing and use. It seemed [Mao Mao King] really didn’t constrain people. This part-time job at [Happy Home] could continue.
Working king Yuan Zhu decided to take on another new job!
At this time, he noticed his points weren’t the 400 the captain mentioned, but a full 2000! Among them, the captain gave him 800 points, and the extra 400 points were related to his spy Mouse in Vajra Temple.
Not only did he see the changes in Vajra Temple through the ‘Mouse’s perspective. The captain who provided the Mouse similarly saw through the Mouse’s eyes the scenes of Buddha Tomato suppressing Buddha Corpse Ghost and sealing [Youquan].
Thus, he doubled Yuan Zhu’s guaranteed salary, as a reward for this intelligence.
As for the remaining 1200 points, they weren’t much related to [Happy Home], but feedback from Space of Gods. Perhaps some of his actions in the Bubble World triggered the reward mechanism, earning this bonus.
2000 points wasn’t a small amount, enough to stack 5 Sword Cultivators. But he hadn’t decided on the Supernatural Path for his human identity yet, so he’d set this money aside for now. No rush to return after deciding.
“Little Spicy Stick, continue recording information and intelligence.”
“Snake Snake understands!”
Out of curiosity, he specifically searched for [Basic Mechanics Model. Newton God Palm], then found related information.
“Knowledge School, man-made Magic Net, Du Ling Star inert Mechanics Magic Net…”
Du Ling Planet, with the fall and invasion of ‘Crystal Wall Universe Plane Fragment’, once briefly experienced a wave of Magic Power resurgence.
When the Magic Power tide was rising, the Crystal Wall system’s native immigrants also realized their survival universe had changed, with universe rules and Magic System completely failing.
Those top-of-the-food-chain pháp sưs hoped to create a ‘new Magic Net’ covering the entire Plane Fragment, constraining Magic Power loss and dissipation, ultimately relying on [Magic Net] for Magic Power internal cycle, while reactivating the failed ‘Spell Slot System’.
But unfortunately, the Magic Power tide collapsed at lightspeed.
In less than a hundred years, Du Ling, this seemingly ordinary zero-magic planet, after stimulation instantly went into demonic chaos, numerous Pollution Sources erupted, Outer Universes invaded one after another… Crystal Wall Universe’s immigrants were terrified: Aren’t we transmigrated to another universe’s [Abyss]?
Although Crystal Wall Universe’s ‘man-made Magic Net’ failed, this knowledge technology was completely preserved and passed down. Later, studied by insightful locals of Du Ling, ultimately joining hands with Crystal Wall Universe’s pháp sưs to create the even more suitable for Du Ling native babies’ physique [New. Classic Mechanics Inert Magic Net].
That is the origin of today’s [Knowledge School].
[Mechanics Magic Net] isn’t the Magic Universe’s ‘Magic Net’, no magic elements, no spells.
Du Ling Planet’s scholars only referenced the [Magic Net]’s structure, while also desiring with human bodies, like Otherworld pháp sưs, to master various spells. Thus, they jointly developed the native [Mechanics Magic Net].
Replacing ‘Magic Power’ with ‘knowledge + wisdom’, replacing ‘0-ring Spell Model’ with the most basic ‘Classic Mechanics Model’, similarly developing a high-dimensional storage structure like ‘Spell Slots’, and using the portable ‘Skull Server’ to substitute ‘Spellbook’, they could pre-store ‘Mechanics Models’, and release them through [Head] activation…
After all, using the head to hold knowledge and release knowledge is very common sense.
And this is why Meng Xiyue appeared so clean. She herself hadn’t suffered any pollution, but used the ‘Skull Server’ in her backpack as casting medium, indirectly storing knowledge and constructing models, then activating and releasing at critical moments, one palm exploding the Filthy Bone-polluted Grandma Yu.
Yuan Zhu was quite interested in [Mechanics Magic Net], but the entry basics required massive Du Ling native Knowledge Reserve. And not ordinary high school knowledge, but Supernatural Knowledge gradually accessible after university.
This kind of [Supernatural Knowledge] that stimulates spirit and Spirituality, producing soul-level mutations, is qualified as a clean energy substitute for Magic Power.
In fact, after Yuan Zhu’s preliminary and crude understanding of [Knowledge School], he thought ‘Supernatural Knowledge’ itself was also a subtle Mental Pollution. Just that the pollution characteristics weren’t so obvious and intense.
The more Supernatural Knowledge learned, the more profoundly it shapes a scholar’s soul, twisting their Cognition. And this ‘twist’ carries corresponding Supernatural Powers.
Buddhism can absorb and fuse believers’ souls through brainwashing, resonance, etc., to Grow Stronger their own soul. Knowledge School, through learning and mastering Supernatural Knowledge, absorbs ‘knowledge’ as nutrient, similarly Growing Stronger the soul.
“I’m still not wise enough, can’t even meet the entry standard.”
Game Sprite: “Boss don’t panic, you just haven’t had the chance to contact this Supernatural Knowledge. Now with my assistance, your learning ability surpasses ordinary people. Photographic memory, analogy learning, as long as you have ‘Spirituality’, inspiration sparks nonstop, I can provide corresponding computing power to realize your dreams. You and I join hands, double swords combined, bound to become Du Ling World’s top scientific researcher!”
“Really?”
Game Sprite: “Absolutely true! [Great Desolation Immortal Scripture] is a professional spy tool for undercover Strange Universes, with super strong scientific analysis ability. Cultivation is just an auxiliary means. Essentially, it’s cultivating ‘users (spies)’ to continuously Get Stronger, to better collect Otherworld data intelligence, preparing for future cross-universe invasions. So, you and I are destined to become great scientists! This ‘Knowledge School’ seems to have no threshold, we can dual-cultivate it in the future, marked.”
After brushing the exchange list for a full hour, moving all recordable information into the [Immortal Scripture Database]. Then, Yuan Zhu tried exchanging the ‘Skeleton Demon Cocoons’ he collected in the Bubble World, finding 1 point per cocoon.
Ridiculously cheap price, while exchange price was 5 points per cocoon.
“…”
So he decisively gave up exchanging, instant 5x appreciation, 500% return!
“Right!” He suddenly remembered an item, suspected culprit of him being pulled into [Happy Home], that metal token always kept close.
Taking out the [Night Watch Division]’s token, the originally Dark Gold material now mottled copper-green. The front ‘Night Watch Division’ three seal script characters also distorted beyond recognition, hard to discern.
When Yuan Zhu brought the copper badge in front of the stone pillar, he got feedback: Metal debris with minor Space Attribute, internal Energy Cycle system twisted and damaged by external force, value greatly reduced. Material itself exchangeable for 700 points.
“So I was pulled into [Happy Home] really because of this token? Space Attribute metal, perhaps used by the other side to locate Running? Space of Gods’ coins similarly contain similar metal substances. Is [Night Watch Division] in Du Ling Star’s Present World, or in [Spirit Layer] or [Bubble Layer]?”
Returning to the bedroom full of doubts, he lifted the Golden Bodhisattva, activated Shadow Uniform to split black threads, wrapping and climbing onto one of the Bodhisattva’s fingers, then repeatedly bending left and right until breaking metal fatigue, snapping off and tearing down this finger.
Although overnight rich, he wasn’t foolish enough to directly exchange a whole Golden Bodhisattva. In fact, Gold in ‘Space of Gods’ was also a hard currency.
Not only [Mao Mao King, Space of Gods] long-term recycles, even in Bubble Worlds, Gold has always been recognized equivalent currency since ancient times.
One golden finger enough for him to splurge a while. If not enough, he could come back for more.
“Return!”
Dizziness gradually faded, brightness around Yuan Zhu suddenly dimmed, air also became turbid. Drip, drip, water dripping sounds entered his ears.
He then realized he was back in the Toilet. Eh? Where’s my toilet! He looked around left and right, finding himself locked in the innermost toilet stall, a room specially for storing mops and buckets.
