Chapter 23: A Unique Sense of Relaxation

Zhou Zhengde sighed and continued speaking at length in the video:

“The situation is indeed quite bad, Mu Liang, you may not realize how serious the problem is.”

“The attack you carried out on the 49th floor successfully attracted the attention of the 13th Institute.”

“We really didn’t expect that Wen Heisen, the number three figure in the Blackfire Gang, would actually be a psionicist, and a D-level psionicist with enhanced physical abilities.”

“We never expected that you could seriously injure him so easily. One of his eyes was ruined. The blade you stabbed into his eye damaged some of his nerves, making it impossible for him to hide his injury… This helped a lot!”

“Now the higher-ups are paying great attention to the Blackfire Gang, and the allied forces that are trying to eliminate the Blackfire Gang have intensified their efforts. The person in charge of the thirteenth garrison at Fortress No. 76 has been given a direct warning by the governor.”

“You have no idea how much fun I had as a guest speaker at this meeting! It was so satisfying!”

“Thank you, my dear comrade-in-arms!”

“However, the thirteen leaders stationed at Fortress No. 76, who had already abandoned the Blackfire Gang, have just sent down a D-level psychic and an E-level psychic, and they have already entered the Blackfire Gang’s territory.”

“There are at least two D-level psionicists and one E-level psionicist in the lower city. The E-level one is relatively weak.”

“They’re here to arrest you. The Blackfire Gang will also follow their orders. We also have people from the Thirteenth Bureau around here.”

“You don’t actually need to fight alone, Mu Liang. We have a common enemy and a common goal. I know you may mind that the core members of the Blackfire Gang are likely to survive, but that’s the unspoken rule of the Fortress. They say the Fortress needs these gangs… Although I also despise this, it is indeed the truth.”

Zhou Zhengde sighed, his eyes filled with helplessness:

“Anyway, you should come back first; it’ll be safer for you to come back.”

“I had them send you a simple text exchange. If you don’t want to come back, you can send me a message.”

“We can discuss how to proceed in detail. I don’t mind letting your will temporarily guide our cooperation, because you are truly… more powerful than I expected.”

“Remember to write down the gift you gave me last time in the text message exchange, so that I can be sure that it’s you on the other end of the text message exchange, and then I can feel at ease paying that high final payment to them.”

Chirp!

The simple holographic player stopped working and resumed its green fluorescent flashing state.

Wang Jixuan’s expression was somewhat indescribable.

Thirteen more psionicists have been dispatched to capture him, so even the thirteenth level of the fortress is no longer safe…

He quickly searched the middle-aged man’s arms and found a small, square box with a screen and a simple nine-key keyboard on the front.

Based on Mu Liang’s memory, Wang Jixuan quickly understood the operating principle of this thing and sent a message to Zhou Zhengde.

【02: After burning, take with rice water.】

’02’ represents the network ID of the text chat device.

【01: Wow! They’re so fast! They truly are the most elite mercenary squad in the lower city!】

Wang Jixuan: Why does this writing seem to make sounds?

He could almost picture Zhou Zhengde’s exaggerated yet perfunctory facial expression.

Wang Jixuan gave a simple reply.

【02: No need to pay the final payment later.】

【01: Why? What happened?】

【02: They were ambushed by the Blackfire Gang.】

Wang Jixuan raised his hand and rubbed his temples.

Fortunately, only those bald monks in the cultivation world have the precept of not lying; those who cultivate the Tao do not care about such things.

【01: Are you alright, Mu Liang? I’m a little worried about your situation. I think we can talk about it carefully. This thing has plenty of battery.】

【02: How did you find out about me?】

Wang Jixuan thought for a moment and then added a question mark.

【01: It’s very simple. Mu Liang, you exchanged other gang coins for Happy Coins in too short a time and too frequently. The Happy City gang had already tracked your movements yesterday. They contacted me, and I provided them with supplies to suppress the situation. Happy City is the gang that sells the most intelligence among the seven gangs.】

Wang Jixuan secretly felt a sense of relief.

It would be really troublesome without Transfiguration.

However, the Transformation Technique is a high-level technique that can only be practiced by those at the Nascent Soul stage, so it’s too early for that.

【01: I can help you. We’re on the same side, and we’ve even fought together. What is it that you don’t trust me about?】

【02: Thanks, but I still prefer to solve problems myself.】

【01: No, no, no, that’s too risky. Your value is immeasurable. We should be more cautious. The Blackfire Gang has a new D-rank psionicist. I remember mentioning this. Didn’t you see the recording I gave you?】

【02: Read. Sitting idly by and waiting for death will only lead to your own demise; breaking through the clouds and battling the winds will fight for survival.】

Zhou Zhengde hasn’t sent any messages for quite some time.

Wang Jixuan, on the other hand, was not in a hurry at all. He was thinking about what to do next, whether to advance or retreat, and he had to make a decision now.

Go ahead and quickly create a simple magical artifact to kill the Blackfire Gang BOSS and that Wen Heisen, and capture Wen Heisen’s soul.

This inevitably involves certain risks.

He retreated to the thirteenth level to cultivate for several months, waiting until his energy was replenished and he was fully prepared.

But this also carries risks. He could get himself trapped and would have to rely on Zhou Zhengde’s power, inevitably becoming subject to others’ control. He might become Zhou Zhengde’s retainer… which would be extremely uncomfortable.

Wang Jixuan heard his senior uncle’s voice beside him. His senior uncle seemed to be advising him to make more preparations, but after hesitating for a few moments, he decided to follow his heart.

Then choose the third option!

Advance and retreat simultaneously.

I’ll ask Zhou Zhengde for help to a limited extent, make a disguise mask to conceal my identity, and then try to infiltrate the 49th floor to investigate the Black Fire Gang’s BOSS and the psionicists. I won’t act rashly until I find a suitable opportunity, and I’ll repay Zhou Zhengde’s favor later.

Wang Jixuan thought for a moment and sent a message to Zhou Zhengde.

【02: I need your favor.】

【01: Great! Excellent! How many mopping-up troops do you need? Or, I can just ask my grandpa to mobilize the defense forces!】

【02: No need. Just help me get an identity, preferably one that can change my appearance. I want to infiltrate the 49th floor.】

【01: Is that all? (_)】

Wang Jixuan leaned back, frowning as he looked at the character emoticon.

How did you type this?

It’s actually quite interesting.

A moment later, the box vibrated slightly, and a line of small text appeared on the screen.

【01: I’ll give you an answer in an hour. I need to help you design a new identity, one with a suitable reason to leave Midtown and join the Downtown gang. I also need to find someone you can trust to take you to the 49th floor… I hope that after this, we can have an open and honest conversation. I feel like I’m almost your underling now!】

【02: We can treat each other as equals. Brother Zhou.】

【01: Wait for my message. Try your best to protect yourself. I want to know about the miracle that happened to you. I will send someone to find you as soon as possible. Can you agree on a meeting place?】

【02: Nighthawk’s headshot.】

【01: The perfect junction.】

The characters no longer pop up on the screen of the square box.

Wang Jixuan breathed a sigh of relief and put the item into his inner pocket.

He doesn’t want to make friends.

The latest novels are first published on 69shuba!

Cultivators at the Golden Core stage have a lifespan of 300 to 500 years, those at the Nascent Soul stage have a lifespan of 800 to 1,000 years, and those at the Mahayana stage can live for 5,000 to 6,000 to 7,000 years, while the lifespan of mortals is rarely more than 70 years.

If a close friend or mortal acquaintance passes away, one’s Dao heart will also be disturbed.

“There’s still a little trouble here.”

Wang Jixuan glanced at the five mercenaries and pondered for a moment.

We need to figure out how to refine our equipment later, so it’s better to prepare more Joy Coins… Their equipment looks pretty good.

“I’m sorry.”

…

The next day.

The cleaning staff member who came to clean the room was visibly taken aback when he saw four men and one woman covered by blankets on the bed, but then, as if it were nothing unusual, he rang the service bell.

Huh? There’s a lot of blood on the ground?

“Ah! Dead… well, it’s not a big deal.”

The waiter frowned and complained a few times before turning around to call a few helpers.

She hates cleaning up bloodstains.

…

at the same time.

The location where Nighthawk got his headshot was in a corner of that low-rise building complex.

Wang Jixuan sat in the mezzanine created by the overlapping roofs, maintaining a posture of embracing one’s inner self, with a bullet placed in his palm.

He did not enter a meditative state.

If one has insights after entering a meditative state, one will enter a state of enlightenment, easily losing perception of the outside world and immersing oneself in the Great Dao.

Wang Jixuan was not lacking in cultivation insights; he was simply using this posture to accelerate the circulation of his internal energy and increase his speed of absorbing spiritual energy.

After several battles, his spiritual senses have improved significantly, and he can now cover a range of more than ten meters around him.

Once one reaches the Great Perfection of Qi Refining and enters the Gathering Spirit Realm, spiritual perception can transform into spiritual consciousness. As cultivation level increases, the range that spiritual consciousness can directly probe also continuously expands.

More importantly…

There are no formations or barriers in this world!

Once he achieves spiritual enlightenment, his enemies will have nowhere to hide, and evil will meet its nemesis!

Woohoo—

The roar of motorcycle engines rose from the main road in the distance. A motorcycle with its high beams off slowly entered this slum neighborhood.

More than a dozen motorcycles were parked on the main road, gathered under a few streetlights.

Wang Jixuan hid under the eaves of a nearby building, watching the situation on the main road.

Under the streetlights, a dozen or so young women dressed in sexy and revealing outfits chatted and laughed while keeping watch. They carried submachine guns, wore belts, and most of them had their hair dyed in bright colors.

Wang Jixuan recognized the Silver Party symbol tattooed on the women’s shoulders.

Were they keeping watch for the motorcycle in front?

The person in front… sure enough, she had already gone to where Night Hawk had blown her head off.

The Silver Party erected a huge billboard there, depicting a headless sniper and a bunch of graffiti; the Silver Party spared no expense in using the city’s most precious electricity, shining several spotlights on the billboard.

Wang Jixuan chose this place as the rendezvous point because the landmark was easy to find and the surrounding environment was very suitable for a lone person to hide.

The female motorcyclist, who had arrived at the rendezvous point, drove slowly and kept circling around.

Upon hearing the low rumble of an engine, people in various buildings quickly closed their doors and windows.

Wang Jixuan stroked his chin, deep in thought.

It would be a lie to say he’s not worried that this is a trap.

A sphere floats on the female motorcyclist’s shoulder; it’s an expensive reconnaissance and strike drone, the source of her confidence to act alone.

She rode her bike around the neighborhood seven or eight times before finally stopping. She supported the motorcycle with her long, shapely legs encased in leather pants, and a few mumbled words came from behind her black helmet, seemingly saying something like, “Isn’t he here?”

She tilted her head and called out, “Big Boss?”

Wang Jixuan remained inactive.

The female motorcyclist sighed dejectedly, her upright posture slumping down.

She raised her hand to pat her lower back, and at that moment, a faint “spare tire” appeared around her lower abdomen, which was usually hidden by her tight leather pants and short leather jacket.

Master Wang took a closer look.

“Dr. Wei?”

The female motorcyclist instantly turned her head, straightened up, inhaled, and gracefully removed her helmet, revealing her newly permed and dyed long, wavy hair cascading down.