Chapter 24 - 34-39

Chapter 34: Overwhelming Display of Power

The Fly No. 1's fist collided with Orion's helmet forcefully, emitting a loud bang. However, to Fly No. 1's surprise, nothing happened; Orion stood unmoved, and the helmet remained intact. Fly No. 1's face contorted in pain, realizing not only did his fist fail to cause any damage, but he also felt pain himself.

"Ughh... de...defense artifact?" Fly No. 1 stammered. He was certain that previously it was just a normal helmet, but now it seemed to be a defense artifact. How?

"Rookie mistake – always deliver a decisive blow," Orion remarked. "Now, it's my turn."

Clenching its right fist, Orion unleashed an uppercut that struck Fly No. 1's jaw strongly. Orion's punch sent Fly No. 1 airborne for a second before he lost consciousness and slumped to the ground.

While Fly No. 1's punch had enough strength to shatter Orion's helmet, unfortunately for him, Orion had inscribed its entire body with O# inscriptions. These inscriptions, powered by LQ stored at several places in its body, enhanced its defense, strength, speed, durability, quietness, stealthiness, lightning, and more. The inscriptions are concealed within Orion, making them invisible from the outside.

Previously, after developing the O# inscriptions, Orion only got the chance to inscribe simple inscriptions in its body. Orion plans to replace some of its body parts with better materials unique to this world, then add more complex O# inscriptions with more significant effects.

Orion may be the only one to utilize inscriptions in this manner, as cultivators cannot inscribe inscriptions on their own bodies. The Qi flow within the inscription would disrupt the Qi flow in a cultivator's body, potentially damaging their meridians and dantian. Furthermore, when activating the inscriptions on the body, it is a painful experience for cultivators. However, as a robot, Orion faces no such challenges. Other than Orion, there are also cultivators known as puppet controller and zombie controller who employ inscriptions for body strengthening. However, they do not use these inscriptions on their own bodies; instead, they apply them to puppets and zombies. These cultivators utilize puppets and zombies as weapons for combat.

By activating the inscriptions in its body, Orion effortlessly defended against the punch of a 4th stage Qi Condensation realm cultivator. Subsequently, Orion activated the inscription in its right arm, strengthening the punch and delivering a powerful blow that easily defeated Fly No. 1.

"Next," Orion declared.

"Don't get too cocky, you dog. He's just trash and got careless," Chen Rongwei remarked.

"Second Young Master Chen, let me handle this. It seems that this bastard has been hiding his strength, but don't worry; I won't be careless," another of Chen Rongwei's followers, a 5th stage Qi Condensation cultivator, offered.

"Don't disappoint me," Chen Rongwei replied.

The follower swiftly retrieved a Grade-1 sword from his storage ring and charged towards Orion. The sword emitted a radiant light, indicating his serious intent from the beginning. He utilized his combat technique right away.

"Come, Fly No. 2," Orion beckoned.

"Eaaa!!!" Fly No. 2 closing in quickly towards Orion.

Orion had learned many combat techniques and movement skills from various books, scrolls, and direct observations. During a previous city tour with Liu Jian and Wang Lingxin, they witnessed a competition among cultivators, providing Orion with valuable insights. Now, it was time to put theory into practice and test its skills against these flies.

Fly No. 2's attack was fierce; he stabbed towards Orion's helmet, trying to pierce it. Orion shifted its head to the right, dodging the attack closely. Fly No. 2 continued with a left horizontal strike, attempting to behead Orion. Forced to duck to avoid it, Orion evaded the strike. Fly No. 2 then pressed on with a diagonal attack to the bottom right. Orion twisted its body to the right and leaned back slightly, barely avoiding the attack. Fly No. 2 finished the sequence with a straight left kick, attempting to send Orion back and create some distance. However, Orion crossed both of its arms in front of its chest and blocked the kick. Despite Fly No. 2 exerting all his strength in the kick, Orion easily blocked it, standing firm like an immovable mountain. Unsuccessful in pushing Orion, Fly No. 2 utilized the kick's force to propel himself backward, creating distance. All of Fly No. 2's assaults unfolded in just a few breaths.

"What a slippery bastard," Fly No. 2 muttered, frustrated because Orion managed to dodge his relentless assault.

Fly No. 2 held the sword in front of him, its glow intensifying as a brisk wind began to swirl around. With a resounding roar, he declared, "Take this, Whirling Gale Thrust!"

In a swift and determined dash, he closed the distance towards Orion with remarkable speed, leaving an afterimage in his wake. The sword aimed to stab Orion, and the wind rotated around the blade, creating sharp vortexes at its tip. The impressive momentum of his attack left thick dust billowing in his trail.

Despite Fly No. 2's rapid movements, Orion effortlessly captured his momentum using its optical sensors. Calm and unmoving, Orion awaited the incoming ferocious attack.

From the perspective of mortal onlookers watching from afar, the spectacle left them awed and impressed. It seemed as though the armored figure facing the attack was frozen in place, perhaps too terrified to make a move. The anticipation in the air heightened as Fly No. 2 got closer to Orion. To their surprise, the armored man brazenly extended his index and middle fingers against the sword attack. What a madman, they thought.

Clang! A resounding metal sound reverberated.

Orion stopped Fly No. 2's stabbing attack, clamping the sword between its index and middle fingers, tightly holding it near the blade's tip, the spiraling wind vortex around the sword also got dispelled.

"What?!!!" Onlookers were stunned. The armored man had stopped the sword attack with just his fingers, and now the two stood frozen in place.

Fly No. 2's face turned ugly, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. Despite exerting all his strength, he couldn't retrieve his sword; it felt as if the sword were stuck in a big boulder rather than held by the armored man's fingers. He was surprised, questioning why his attack could be easily caught by the armored man's fingers.

Damm it, does his gauntlet also a defense artifact? Why can't my attack cut it? What Grade is it? Wait, don't tell me all of his armor is a defense artifact? How did ordinary armor suddenly turn into a defense artifact? And why don't I see any inscriptions on it? Fly No. 2 internally puzzled, feeling the Qi fluctuation from Orion's arms.

"Urgh...." Fly No. 2 groaned. His right hand trembled as he struggled to free the sword.

"Is that the best you've got? Well, that was trash," Orion taunted.

Orion twisted its fingers, breaking the sword held between them. Orion then hurled the broken sword tip toward Fly No. 2's left foot, nailing it firmly to the ground.

"AAHHHHH!!!" Fly No. 2 screamed in pain, witnessing his broken sword tip stab his foot and anchor him to the ground.

"Shut your..." Orion launched a high kick, aimed at Fly No. 2's head, the strike executed with precision. "...mouth."

Fly No. 2 was sent flying to the side, rolling on the ground a few times before losing consciousness. Blood oozed from his left foot, where the broken sword tip still remained firmly embedded in the ground.

"Whoaa..." the onlookers exclaimed, overwhelmed by the dominating display of power from the armored man.

Chen Rongwei grew angrier as he witnessed his lackey getting beaten. His subordinate, rather than defeating Orion, ended up thoroughly defeated instead in just a few moves.

Orion turned toward Chen Rongwei and his follower, standing straight as a ramrod and holding both of its arms behind its back. "Next," Orion declared confidently, exuding the demeanor of a high-level cultivator looking down on a bunch of ants.

"Who are you exactly?!" Chen Rongwei demanded angrily, his frustration evident.

"I already told you, I am Orion," replied Orion nonchalantly.

"Tch, how dare you cause trouble in this city?" Chen Rongwei retorted.

"What trouble? I am just defending myself. You guys are the ones causing a ruckus," Orion asserted.

Chen Rongwei's anger grew, but an uncomfortable feeling began to gnaw at him. The seemingly ordinary mortal turned out to be remarkably strong, and the armor he had dismissed as ordinary now seemed like it could be a defense artifact. Chen Rongwei wondered if Orion had a significant background to possess such armor. Should he back off? But Orion had already insulted him in public, and he couldn't let it slide.

"Second Young Master Chen, there's no need for more talk. Let's all attack and beat that dog together," one of Chen Rongwei's followers suggested.

"Second Young Master Chen, he's just alone, and we definitely can overwhelm and defeat that dog," another follower chimed in.

"All of you attack together, use everything you have!" commanded Chen Rongwei.

"Yes, Second Young Master Chen," responded the remaining follower.

Chen Rongwei didn't plan to make a move himself, still feeling uneasy about the armored man named Orion. Instead, he decided to send his followers to test the waters.

The four remaining followers drew their weapons from their storage rings, the weapons glowing as they attacked. Charging at the same time, they utilized their movement techniques, their advance accompanied by loud shouts. Two of them took the middle position, while the other two positioned themselves at the edges. Their plan was simple: the two in the middle would overwhelm Orion together, while the other two would flank Orion from both sides simultaneously. Confident in their strategy, they believed they could defeat Orion.

Whoooshh...

But to their surprise, Orion suddenly charged towards them at an even faster speed, heading straight for the two in the middle. Startled by Orion's sudden move, they launched their attacks. Orion deftly ducked its body while simultaneously preparing a punch with both arms. Evading their attacks, Orion immediately counterattacked with a powerful punch aimed at the two.

"Take this, Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4!" Orion declared confidently.

"Guahh!" Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4 were punched strongly in their guts, experiencing excruciating pain. They spat blood, feeling the wrenching pain as they were knocked back, sent flying by Orion's powerful punch.

The other two, initially planning to flank Orion, found themselves behind Orion due to his sudden charge. Seizing the opportunity, they launched their attacks, aiming at Orion's exposed back.

"Fire Edge Slash!"

"Misty Thrust!"

After sending Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4 flying, Orion sensed the approaching presence of Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 from behind by detecting their radio signals. In response, Orion jumped forward, placing both palms on the ground, thrusting and using the force to propel its body forward and upwards in a forward roll, narrowly evading the attacks from Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6. Simultaneously, Orion's body soared through the air as it closed in on the bodies of Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4, who had crashed loudly to the ground. Groaning from the impact, their ordeal was far from over as Orion descended upon them, delivering powerful palm strikes to their faces, the sheer force burying their heads into the ground. Orion didn't stop there; it activated the electroshock weapons on both of its palms, electrocuting Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4. Blood flowed from Fly No. 3 and Fly No. 4's mouths and noses, their unconscious bodies convulsing and crackling with a buzzing sound from the electroshock weapons.

"Ba...bastard," stammered Fly No. 5, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Careful! This dog is very strong," warned Fly No. 6.

In just a short moment after they began their attack, their two other companions, who are 4th and 5th stage Qi Condensation realm cultivators, were quickly defeated. Now, only the two of them remained. They became wary and scared, questioning how strong the armored man actually was. As 5th stage Qi Condensation realm cultivators, both Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 felt fear, wondering if they had perhaps offended someone they should never have.

Orion stood and turned towards Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6. "Next."

Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 were consumed by fear, as if Orion had just announced their death sentence. They broke into a cold sweat.

"Are you not coming? Then I will," Orion declared after waiting for Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 to make a move.

Without hesitation, Orion dashed towards them.

"Quick, block him!" Fly No. 6 shouted.

"Heaaa!" Fly No. 5 exclaimed.

Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 prepared to defend against Orion's attack, expecting to block, parry, or dodge. However, to their surprise, Orion thrust both its palms forward, launching small, sharp projectiles that swiftly flew toward them. The unexpected attack caught them off guard as the projectiles hit their chests, delivering a shocking jolt of electricity.

"GYAAAAA!!!!" Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6 screamed in pain.

Orion continued closing in on them. The projectile-based electroshock weapons were connected to cables, conducting electricity from Orion's palms to their chests. Numb and paralyzed, they watched in horror as Orion approached, rendering them helpless. With precision, Orion landed a powerful punch on Fly No. 5 and Fly No. 6's chins, sending them crashing backward and into unconsciousness.

The onlookers watched from the side, speechless; no one made a sound, impressed by the battle. After the dust settled, Fly No. 1 to Fly No. 6 lay motionless on the ground, unconscious and looking pitiful. The armored man stood, his clothes still looking clean and tidy, as if he had not just been involved in a fight. The situation was quiet; only the sound of the wind blowing and carrying dried leaves on the ground, dancing, could be heard.

"All the flies are now down, only the shit is left. Now, what are you gonna do, Mr. Shit?" Orion broke the silence.

"?!" the onlookers exclaimed.

Chapter 35: Even Mortals Can Reach the Void

"Bastard!" Chen Rongwei exclaimed, his face contorted into an ugly expression as a bead of sweat rolled down his cheek.

All of his followers had been defeated, and now he found himself insulted. However, he was in a difficult situation where he couldn't advance or retreat. He desperately wanted to beat up Orion, but Orion's strength proved insurmountable. Even facing four of his followers, Orion emerged victorious. Chen Rongwei lacked confidence in dealing with this powerful adversary. Yet, letting Orion go would tarnish his reputation, especially since he was the one who initiated this incident. Running away was not an option; he refused to retreat with his tail tucked between his legs.

Orion and Chen Rongwei stood facing each other, motionless and silent. Chen Rongwei was uncertain about what to do, standing still with a complicated mix of emotions. Orion, on the other hand, remained calm, waiting for something to happen—or, more precisely, for someone hidden nearby to make a move. Chen Rongwei, who was at the 9th stage of the Qi Condensation realm, is nothing compared to this hidden individual at the 4th stage of the Foundation Establishment realm that hide not far from him.

A gentle wind swooshed, carrying dried leaves that danced between the two.

Onlookers began to whisper quietly among themselves, and Chen Rongwei noticed that they seemed to talk about him in a contemptuous manner. The respect and fear they previously showed him had transformed into disdain.

"Damn it!" Chen Rongwei muttered, "Bastard, you dare to go against me?! My Chen family won't let you go, you bastard!" Chen Rongwei growled.

As expected of an arrogant young master, immediately using his background against others, Orion thought internally. However, Orion already had a plan on how to deal with this troublesome and arrogant young master.

Gritting his teeth, Chen Rongwei retrieved a sword from his storage ring. The sword glowed brightly as he prepared to launch an attack against Orion.

Sigh... still don't want to make a move? Orion pondered internally.

"Take this, you bastard!" Chen Rongwei declared, a swirling wind enveloping him as his sword gleamed brightly. Prepared to unleash his renowned family sword technique, he shouted, "Crimson Serpent Sword Style!"

Suddenly, a stronger wind swirled around Orion, and the ground beneath it cracked slightly. A faint cyan glow emanated from Orion, shocking the onlookers. The sudden appearance of a significant Qi pressure from Orion suffocated the spectators.

Orion had activated the inscription in its body, powering it with LQ-3. While fighting against Chen Rongwei's followers, Orion had only used LQ-0 to activate the inscription. Now, Orion decided to use LQ-3, making the inscription glow brightly and slightly visible from the outside. This drew parallels to a previous experience in Luo Fengwei's workshop, where Orion unknowingly scared Luo Fengwei while testing the inscription on the sword.

Orion aimed to intimidate and deter Chen Rongwei and the Chen family, despite the risk of drawing more attention. However, Orion concluded that they wouldn't dare to be rash.

Onlookers struggled to breathe, some collapsing to the ground, panting and gasping. Chen Rongwei, closest to Orion, sweated profusely. His combat technique dispelled as he lost focus, he gasped for breath and his body trembling in fear. Unknowingly, he even peed himself. Despite this, he still held his sword, pointing it towards Orion, albeit shaking. Tears and snot flowed, making his face even uglier.

"So... so strong!" Liu Jian exclaimed, his heart beating faster due to the tremendous Qi pressure from Orion.

Is this his real strength? Hua Meiying wondered internally. Oh no, I hope I didn't offend Mr. Orion by trying to seduce him previously. Hua Meiying thought internally as she adjusted her hair that got messed up by the wind.

The one who caused it all stood with both arms crossed behind its back, its clothes fluttering wildly in the intense wind.

Finally decided to make a move? Orion pondered internally.

Then, a figure appeared out of nowhere in front of Chen Rongwei, standing close and shielding him from the Qi pressure.

"Senior, please calm yourself. My name is Chen Liang, and I apologize on behalf of my second young master. Please forgive him if he has offended you, Senior. Show some mercy on him," Chen Liang bowed, cold sweat visible on his forehead.

Orion had discerned Chen Liang's presence through a meticulous analysis of data from its multi-band phased array antenna. During this thorough examination, Orion effortlessly mapped the locations of cultivators in its vicinity, even those attempting to conceal themselves. Three cultivators seemed to be hiding nearby, with one of them being Chen Liang.

It became evident that Chen Liang had been discreetly shadowing Chen Rongwei, always lurking nearby—a likely secret guard. Similarly, another individual discreetly followed Liu Jian, presumably acting as his secret guard. The last person had been tailing Orion for the past few days, consistently maintaining a careful distance. This hidden individual followed Orion's city tours and visits to Luo Fengwei's workshop. In the Liu family estate, this cultivator always stayed in the same building located at the back of the property. Orion concluded that this follower must be affiliated with the Liu family, assigned to either spy on or guard Orion, or perhaps both.

With Chen Liang's appearance and his shielding of Chen Rongwei from the intense Qi pressure, Chen Rongwei found it easier to breathe. He dropped his sword and then slumped to the ground.

"Hmm... I'm certain you've seen how your second young master insulted me, haven't you? And do you expect me to just forgive him?" Orion tried to maintain an air of anger while simultaneously activating the inscription, producing tremendous Qi pressure.

"... senior, it's indeed our second young master's fault. He is still young and inexperienced; please, senior, show some mercy. Our Chen family patriarch will visit your esteemed self personally to apologize," Chen Liang said, having already relayed the news to the Chen family using a communication talisman.

"Well, there is no need to escalate it, and there is no need for your patriarch to apologize. I will forget about what happened, but make sure to discipline him properly so he will stop causing problems," Orion responded. Orion deactivated the inscriptions in its body; the inscription dimmed, and the Qi pressure disappeared.

"Thank you very much for your mercy, senior," Chen Liang bowed deeply, smiling.

"Chen Liang! Why did you just show up?" Chen Rongwei finally spoke after normalizing his breathing and calming himself. "Quick, beat this bastard for me! Break all his bones, then ki..." Before Chen Rongwei could finish his sentence, someone hit the back of his head, rendering him unconscious.

Damn this stupid kid! I just begged for your life, why must you open your stupid mouth? Do you want to be killed that badly? Chen Liang thought internally, frustrated. When Chen Rongwei started blabbering, Chen Liang immediately moved towards Chen Rongwei's back and hit him, knocking him unconscious.

Chen Liang had been assigned as Chen Rongwei's secret guard for a few years. His role was to hide and protect in secret. Chen Rongwei loved to cause trouble, but people would be scared by his Chen family background, and not many dared to stand up against him. Chen Liang mostly had to follow Chen Rongwei around, clean up his mess, and ensure his safety. However, this time, Chen Rongwei had made a big problem. He offended a monster called Orion. If Chen Rongwei couldn't grasp Orion's strength, Chen Liang understood clearly that Orion was a very dangerous and strong individual. The Qi pressure emanated was even stronger than their Chen family patriarch's. Now, Chen Rongwei had offended such a person and even ordered him to attack this formidable individual. If Chen Rongwei were not a young master, Chen Liang would have beaten him himself for his stupidity.

"Mr. Orion, please forgive him. He didn't mean it and doesn't know what he's talking about, so..." Chen Liang pleaded.

"It's fine. Get lost immediately, and better don't make any more trouble with me, otherwise..." Orion cut Chen Liang off. Orion activated its inscriptions again, powering them with LQ-3 briefly. Strong Qi pressure and a thick, strong wind emanated from Orion again for a short time.

Chen Liang cupped his trembling hands, wet with cold sweat, and bowed deeply towards Orion. He immediately grabbed Chen Rongwei and jumped towards a distance, quickly disappearing from view. Meanwhile, Fly No. 1 to Fly No. 6 still lay on the ground unconscious, and Orion didn't care about them.

Taking reference from cultivation novels from Earth, Orion takes a different approach when dealing with arrogant young masters compared to the usual approach taken by the protagonist, who tends to beat up or even kill the arrogant young master. This often leads to escalating problems and the protagonist will end up running all over the place, getting involved in many life-and-death situations, and solely relying on luck or plot armor to survive. Orion is not interested and doesn't have time for such things.

The onlookers who had collapsed to the ground immediately stood up, breathing sighs of relief. They thought, Such a scary person, while looking towards Orion.

"Mr. Orion... are you okay?" Liu Jian jogged towards Orion, a beaming smile of joy on his face. He was incredibly impressed with the fight, completely blown away to discover that his savior was such a strong cultivator.

His eyes lit up with admiration, and his heart raced with excitement as Orion had unknowingly become his idol—a source of inspiration and admiration. "That was really awesome, Mr. Orion! The way you defeated them easily, and the strong Qi pressure that made Chen Rongwei look terrible," he expressed his admiration for Orion.

"It's not a big deal at all," Orion replied, both arms crossed behind its back, standing calmly.

Damn, he's so cool. I wonder if I can become like him? Should I imitate him? Liu Jian wondered internally, filled with excitement, impressed by Orion's effortless victory, intimidating presence, eloquent speech, and heroic aura.

Orion and Liu Jian walked toward Hua Meiying's direction. Liu Jian continued to speak with excitement, and Orion listened quietly from the side. The onlookers started to disperse, but they still talked and discussed the incident. It wouldn't take long for the news to spread in the city, causing a sensation among the residents. The news also caught the attention of all factions in the city, and they started gathering information about Orion.

"Mr. Orion, that was an impressive display of power," Hua Meiying said, no longer using a playful and seductive tone. "And also, please forgive me if I was being rude towards you previously, Mr. Orion." She bowed respectfully.

"It's fine, don't think too much about it," Orion replied.

"Mr. Orion, you are so kind... and also, thank you for teaching that Chen Rongwei a lesson. He's been causing lots of headaches for me," Hua Meiying expressed, feeling satisfaction at seeing Chen Rongwei in a miserable state.

"That guy deserved it, but unfortunately, there are a lot of those kinds of guys in the world, so you better be careful, Ms. Hua if meeting such persons," Orion remarked.

"Thank you for your advice, Mr. Orion," Hua Meiying replied, her expression reflecting a touch of sadness. "Some people are blessed with good backgrounds and talents, but they aren't serious about their cultivation; and only like to cause trouble. And then there are people like me, an ordinary person with an ordinary background and talents, struggling on the path of cultivation." Hua Meiying expressed her challenges in securing resources for cultivation, pondering why individuals like Chen Rongwei, who have abundant resources, choose to play around instead of taking cultivation seriously.

"Everyone has their own path to tread; there is no need to be concerned or compare with others. Just focus on your own path, advance steadily with a firm heart fueled by ambitions. Even mortals can go beyond the sky and reach the space (void)," Orion advised, thinking about the ordinary humans on Earth who could achieve significant feats.

A resounding boom echoed inside Hua Meiying and Liu Jian's heads. In a brief moment, they experienced a sudden flash of epiphany. The occurrence was so fleeting that they didn't fully understand what had happened. It felt as if the clouds in their minds had cleared a little, the bottleneck in their cultivation lessened, and they sensed that their cultivation paths would be smoother.

"... My own path..." Liu Jian muttered.

"... Even mortals can reach the void..." Hua Meiying reflected.

Orion's seemingly casual remark had a profound impact on Liu Jian and Hua Meiying.

Chapter 36: Chen Family

Hua Meiying closed her eyes, reminiscing about all the hardships she had experienced. The wind gently blew, causing her hair to flutter. Hua Meiying felt the refreshing and relaxing breeze caressing her skin, as if it carried away all her worries and pain to a distant place. When she reopened her eyes, a sense of serenity washed over her. She felt relaxed and refreshed, her heart now tranquil.

"Thank you very much for your guidance, Senior. I, Hua Meiying, will never forget your kindness. I will definitely repay it," Hua Meiying said, bowing deeply and cupping both arms.

What? It's just a simple piece of advice; why is she making such a big deal out of it? And who are you calling senior? Orion thought internally.

"Then I will excuse myself. By the way, Mr. Orion, if fate allows and we can meet again in the future, and you wish for a private performance from me, I'm always ready for it," Hua Meiying said, smiling. "Oh yeah, young Master Liu, if you still don't know what gift to give your junior sister, why not choose something that you think will look good if she wears it?" she suggested with a wink. She then walked away, casting a final glance and a smile before disappearing among the crowd.

The news about Chen Rongwei became a hot topic in the city. Little did anyone know, the next day would bring another surprising piece of information: Hua Meiying, the famous zither performer from the Midnight Orchid Manor, had left the city and returned to the Melodic Harmony Sect, leaving her fans saddened. However, at this moment, they were still happily gossiping about Chen Rongwei, unaware of the impending news about Hua Meiying's departure.

Orion and Liu Jian watched as Hua Meiying disappeared.

"Mr. Orion, should we return?" Liu Jian asked.

"Yeah, let's go," Orion replied.

"Is it true, Mr. Orion, that mortals can reach the void?" Liu Jian asked.

"Of course they can," Orion responded. They left the scene, continuing to walk and talk, making their way to the Liu family estate.

Only Fly No. 1 to Fly No. 6 remained unconscious on the ground, and some onlookers lingered nearby, gossiping about the events.

In the Chen family estate, a body crashed into a wooden wall, slamming loudly, then penetrated the wall and ended up crashing on the ground outside the building. The body lay motionless, blood oozing from the mouth and nose, bearing the signs of a severe beating—swollen eyes, a broken nose. Despite the battered appearance, the body still breathed. The identity of the body was none other than Chen Rongwei. Horrified servants who witnessed the scene scurried away, refusing to get involved.

Previously, after Chen Liang brought Chen Rongwei back to the Chen family estate, long after regaining consciousness, Chen Rongwei was brought to the main hall. Consumed by anger and stress, he screamed, cursed, and wreaked havoc, smashing objects in the hall. Chen Liang tried to reason with him but ended up being attacked and beaten.

"You trash! How dare you disobey my orders! Why did you bring me back instead of attacking Orion? And how dare you hit me you bastard!" Chen Rongwei yelled, delivering kicks to the bloodied body of Chen Liang on the floor.

Regardless of Chen Rongwei's behavior, he was still the second young master of the Chen family. Chen Liang swallowed his anger and endured the beating. Despite saving Chen Rongwei, he received blame and beating.

Not long after, Chen Rongxin, the elder brother of Chen Rongwei, entered the main hall. He was 33 years old and at the 6th stage of the Foundation Establishment realm. Following behind was Chen Weinmin, the first elder of the Chen family, a cultivator at the 7th stage of the Golden Core realm.

Observing the chaotic scene, Chen Rongxin maintained a blank expression. Chen Rongwei, noticing his older brother's arrival, delivered one last kick to Chen Liang before approaching Chen Rongxin.

"Brother, you must avenge me! Someone has offended me in the city, and he dared to insult me. Please teach that bastard a lesson," pleaded Chen Rongwei.

Chen Rongxin, with an empty expression, listened to Chen Rongwei's version of the incident. After Chen Rongwei finished, he said, "Chen Liang, get up and meet the physician to get yourself treated," Chen Rongxin instructed.

"Tchh..." Chen Rongwei, who watched from the side, expressed his displeasure with a disapproving sound.

Chen Liang struggled to stand, then cupped both arms and bowed. "Thank you... young master," Chen Liang limped out of the main hall.

"Brother, just ignore that trash Chen Liang. More importantly, that bastard Orion is looking down on our Chen family. We must punish him," said Chen Rongwei.

Smack!

Suddenly, a resounding slap echoed through the main hall as Chen Rongxin silenced his younger brother's narration with a slap to the cheek.

"Brother, what are you doing? Why did you suddenly slap me?" questioned Chen Rongwei, disbelief on his face as he touched his cheek, which was burning with pain.

Chen Rongxin remained silent and instead replied with a punch to Chen Rongwei's gut. The punch was so strong that Chen Rongwei bent backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He crouched on the ground, holding his abdomen in intense pain.

"Bro...brother, why?" Chen Rongwei asked.

Chen Rongxin grabbed Chen Rongwei's neck with his left hand and lifted him. "My brother, oh my brother, my stupid little brother... I let you do what you want and have fun, and when you were fooling around and causing troubles, I kept quiet about it. But do you know what kind of trouble you've created this time? Do you know about the person called Orion that you want me to punish?" Chen Rongxin sneered.

Chen Rongwei gritted his teeth after being called stupid. "Orion? Cough, cough..." he coughed due to being choked, also enduring the pain in his abdomen. "That bastard is just trash," Chen Rongwei managed to say.

"If he is a trash, then what are you? Worse than trash?" Chen Rongxin asked as he delivered a series of non-stop punches to Chen Rongwei's face.

"Guah... Argh... Please stop... Gaahh... Brother, please... Stop... What did I do wrong... Arghhh... Elder Weinmin... Guagh... Please help... Arh... My brother has become mad... Guaghh," Chen Rongwei pleaded, his face battered, blood dripping to the ground.

Chen Weinmin watched calmly with cold eyes.

Chen Rongxin released his grip on Chen Rongwei's neck, and his body fell to the ground, grunting in pain. "Ugh... Brother... W... Why..." Chen Rongwei muttered.

"Orion is not someone that you should offend; he is not just a mere guest of the Liu family. He also has a close relationship with Mr. Luo Fengwei, and it seems that Mr. Luo greatly respects Orion. Moreover, don't you realize it yourself? Such an individual wearing a full-body armor that is a defense artifact shows that he is not a nobody; he has some background. Can't you feel his tremendous Qi pressure? Do you think such a thing can be achieved by a trash? Now, do you understand it, you stupid? You have invited trouble to our family. What if he decided to eliminate our Chen family because of you offending him?" Chen Rongxin demanded.

Chen Rongxin had already obtained some information about Orion and understood that Orion was not just a simple individual. Although he still didn't know about Orion's cultivation level, from the information, he concluded that Orion was at least at the late stage of the Golden Core realm. It was challenging to determine Orion's cultivation because he didn't emit a unique Qi fluctuation that could be used to detect cultivation realm. However, based on the Qi pressure emitted by Orion, such tremendous pressure usually could only be emitted by a late-stage Golden Core realm cultivator. There were only a few Golden Core realm cultivators in the Chen family. If Orion was a late-stage Golden Core realm cultivator or higher and decided to seek trouble with the Chen family, they would suffer. All of this was caused by his stupid little brother. Chen Rongxin was really angered this time.

"But...but... I thought... that he was just a mortal trash... cough," Chen Rongwei struggled to stand.

"Hmphh, you are the trash!" Chen Rongxin sneered.

"Cough... do you think you can beat me up like this? Father will punish you!" Chen Rongwei exclaimed.

"Do you think Father will care about a trash like you?" Chen Rongxin delivered a kick that sent Chen Rongwei's body flying and crashing into the wall and outside.

Chen Rongxin stood watching coldly through the damaged wall where his brother's body had been thrown.

"So, what should we do with this?" Chen Weinmin asked.

"Sigh... We should try to mend our relationship with that armored person called Orion and should not antagonize him further," replied Chen Rongxin.

"Well, it's good that you know. It's better to inform the patriarch about this," Chen Weinmin suggested.

"Yes, there is no other choice," agreed Chen Rongxin.

Chen Rongxin is currently being groomed to become the next patriarch. Given his age and a sufficiently advanced cultivation base, he has started to manage family affairs, oversee smaller matters, and receive assistance from the elders. At present, the patriarch is in seclusion, immersed in closed-door cultivation, and prefers not to be disturbed unless it's a matter of urgency. However, with Chen Rongwei having offended someone powerful and potentially caused significant trouble, Chen Rongxin decides to inform his father about it. Alone, Chen Rongxin walks towards the inner Chen family estate. Meanwhile, Chen Weinmin remains occupied with other matters. Chen Rongxin navigates through a secret underground passage to meet his father, Chen Xianlong, the patriarch of the Chen family, currently at the 6th stage of the Golden Core realm.

Drip... drip... drip...

In the underground passage, the sound of dripping water echoed. Chen Rongxin arrived in front of a room closed with a simple wooden door. He cupped both arms and bowed.

"Father," Chen Rongxin greeted.

A voice replied from behind the door, "Mmm... What is it? Did something happen?" Chen Xianlong inquired.

"Father, it's like this," Chen Rongxin explained the incident between Orion and Chen Rongwei.

"I see," Chen Xianlong said, "What do you think about this?"

"Father, I believe we should meet with this person called Orion and bring gifts—an apology gift and a meeting gift. Establishing a connection with such an individual could be beneficial. However, if he refuses, we should, at the very least, work to mend our relationship and avoid making him an enemy," Chen Rongxin suggested.

"Hmm... Stay away from him for now. Observe from a distance and gather more information before making further decisions," Chen Xianlong advised.

"I'll do as Father says," Chen Rongxin affirmed.

"Even if all of this was caused by Rongwei, that person has tarnished our Chen family's reputation. It would be good if we could befriend him, but if not...." Chen Xianlong's voice carried a slight Qi pressure as it emanated from behind the door. "If it's possible to eliminate him, then do so. If not, we will endure it for now. You may go," Chen Xianlong concluded.

"Yes, Father," Chen Rongxin bowed and then left.

In one of the guesthouses in the Liu family estate, Orion sat at a table with Wang Lingxin, who had finished her dinner and was now enjoying tea.

"We will be leaving this city the day after tomorrow. Is there something you still want to do in this city?" Orion inquired.

"Oh, we will be leaving the city? Are we heading to Fengxian?" Wang Lingxin asked while sipping her tea.

"That's right. We will be joining the Liu family caravan. If there's something you still want to do or a place you want to visit in this city, you can do it tomorrow," Orion explained.

"Hmm... Master, will we be returning to this city in the future?" Wang Lingxin queried.

"The distance between Yanjing and Fengxian is rather far. Maybe we can return here once in a while."

"Will you accompany me tomorrow?" Wang Lingxin asked.

"Of course," Orion assured.

Wang Lingxin then shared her plans for the next day: visiting Granny Mei, who had helped her when she ran away from her uncle's house; taking a look at her former house; visiting her parents' graveyard and exploring several places that held nostalgic and important childhood memories.

"Sure, let's do it tomorrow," Orion said.

"Yay, thank you, Master. By the way, Master, can you make another animation movie for me?" Wang Lingxin requested.

"Of course, but as I've told you before, you must get a good score on the test first. You need to study harder. If you achieve a good score during the test next month, then I will make another animation movie for you," Orion stated. The test is aligned with the curriculum and teaching plan formulated for Wang Lingxin.

"Eehhh..." Wang Lingxin protested.

"It's getting late. Brush your teeth and go to bed," Orion instructed.

Reluctantly, Wang Lingxin brushed her teeth and settled into bed, covering herself with a blanket.

"Do you want to watch Cinderella or should I continue the Snow White story?" Orion asked.

"Master, continue the Snow White story," Wang Lingxin replied.

"Very well," Orion said.

Thus, Orion continued the Snow White story from where they had left off the previous night, unaware that the Chen family had set their eyes on Orion. Still, it all remained within Orion's calculations, and Orion previous show of deterrence had restrained the Chen family.

Chapter 37: Mr. Little Tiger, the Boss Cat

In the guest house where Orion was staying, an SO-1 drone hovered inside the room. On its underside, there was a hardpoint for a small storage pod. Suddenly, a gold coin appeared and fell below the small storage pod. Orion extended its right hand and caught the falling golden coin. Orion had made some modifications to the drone, attaching a small storage pod beneath it that contained a storage ring which Orion acquired through the auction. The storage ring operated using the same method that Orion used; it was connected to a cable. By utilizing the electricity from the drone's battery, constantly replenished by the ambient Qi in the surroundings, the storage ring could be operated, as the electricity contained traces of Qi.

After finishing the modification, Orion tested it. Orion controlled the drone to hover in front of it and then activated the storage ring to release a gold coin stored in it.

Success! Now all the SO-1 drones have been modified and can use the storage ring. These drones are no longer only able to scout or surveil but also to attack; it will be very useful, Orion thought internally.

Orion took out the storage pod from the drone and stored the drone in one of the storage rings on its fingers. The storage ring couldn't store another storage ring, so the storage pod had to be carried normally. However, it was small, and Orion easily stored it in the compartment in its chest.

Orion has once again increased its combat power by adding an attack capability to the drone. Although it can only drop the payload stored in the low-quality storage ring with a capacity of 1 m cubic, and the accuracy is not great, it is still better than nothing. There is also the possibility of adding inscriptions to the drone, but Orion prefers not to add any inscriptions to the SO-1 drone. This is because inscriptions emit Qi fluctuations, making the drone easily detectable by cultivators. For surveillance drones, Orion prefers not to use inscriptions. However, for other types of drones, Orion may decide to add inscriptions in the future.

I wonder if I can store myself in the storage ring, Orion contemplated internally.

Only non-living beings can be stored in the storage ring, and Orion, being a robot, should theoretically be able to be stored in it. Orion can store the drone and even the Lander inside the storage ring, but storing itself poses a risk. The ring can only be controlled from the outside, and if Orion is inside, it would be rendered disabled.

From Orion's understanding, based on experiments and knowledge from books and scrolls, the space inside the storage ring is a separate realm where time seems to freeze. The clock stored in the storage ring doesn't move at all, and there is a clear time difference when retrieved — a stark contrast between the frozen time within and the continuous flow outside. Also, when a burning candle stored in the storage ring, the candle doesn't decrease, and the fire remains lit. Later, Orion plans to let the Lander control the storage ring, including the intricate task of potentially storing Orion itself. Even though the Lander's AI is simpler than Orion's, it should be sufficient to operate the storage ring and handle any potential issues.

It won't be long for the sun to rise. Orion glanced at Wang Lingxin, who was still sleeping, and decided to retrieve books and scrolls about cooking. Orion began reading while patiently waiting for Wang Lingxin to wake up. Recognizing the necessity of cooking, especially considering Wang Lingxin's hearty appetite, Orion concluded that acquiring culinary skills would be beneficial.

Hmm... everything is similar to Chinese food from Earth. It won't be hard to learn about it, Orion thought. Orion already had information in its database about Earth's culinary arts and Orion planned to utilize it, though it lacked practical experience. Should I introduce other kinds of cuisine from Earth? Orion pondered.

Spending about an hour flipping through many books and scrolls, Orion easily stored the information inside, simultaneously multitasking by allocating some of its AI to learn and analyze the vast amount of culinary knowledge. Not long after, Wang Lingxin woke up. After both of them prepared for the day, Orion and Wang Lingxin left the guest house, as there were many things to do that day. They headed towards the residential area on the east side of the city.

Orion and Wang Lingxin began their journey by visiting Wang Lingxin's old house, the place where she grew up and once lived with her parents. When she was 5 years old, her father, a mortal martial artist, was tragically killed by a spirit beast in the forest while searching for spiritual herbs. Not long after, when Wang Lingxin was 7 years old, her mother succumbed to illness. Since then, she had been living with her uncle's family, and her childhood home was sold by her uncle. Now, Wang Lingxin gazed at the small, simple wooden house that now belonged to other people from a distance, wearing a rather sad expression. It might be the last time she sees the home where she grew up and created beautiful memories with her parents.

Observing Wang Lingxin's melancholy, Orion tried to console her. "If you want, I can make a video of it, and you can still watch your house again from the tablet," Orion offered.

A smile appeared on Wang Lingxin's face. "That's a great idea, Master! Can you record a video of my house?" she asked, remembering that her master is so skilled that he can create something called video and pictures – a kind of magic that captures the world's scenes and scenery.

"Of course, that's easy," Orion replied.

Thus, Orion started recording the house and its surroundings using its high-quality optical camera from various angles, understanding the importance of preserving these memories for Wang Lingxin.

"Done, shall we go to the next place?" Orion asked.

"Yes, let's go. I will lead the way," Wang Lingxin said enthusiastically.

Thus, they continued their journey, visiting several places. Wang Lingxin asked Orion to record many things while explaining about them at the same time. They visited the small playground not far from her former house, as well as many shops she used to visit with her parents. She shared stories of how she would pretend to cry so her parents would buy her candy. Wang Lingxin asked Orion to record the store and the store owners while explaining about them. For example, Uncle A was a playboy who loved to tease young female customers, and if his wife discovered it, he would get a smack to the head. Nestled in a quiet corner not far from her former house is Grandpa B's humble meat bun stall. Grandpa B, a weathered but kind elderly man who doesn't like to talk much, is known for his delectable meat buns. There was also a kind aunt who ran a candied fruit vendor where Wang Lingxin usually got free candied fruit. Many other store clerks and their stories were recorded by Orion as they toured the neighborhood around Wang Lingxin's old house.

"Master, do you see that orange cat? The one with lots of scars on his body?" Wang Lingxin asked as they walked.

"What about him?" Orion inquired, looking at the cat. The cat in this world is no different from those from Earth. The orange cat looks ordinary, what's so special about the orange cat? Orion thought.

"He is the boss cat around here and very dangerous. He is called Mr. Little Tiger. You must be careful; he controls the area around here." Wang Lingxin warned as she approached the cat. "Pss, pss, pss, miaw," Wang Lingxin called the cat. which meowed and rubbed himself against Wang Lingxin's leg.

"Don't you say that he is dangerous?" Orion questioned.

"It's fine because we are friends, but the other kids will be attacked if they come too close to Mr. Little Tiger, and they end up being so scared of him," Wang Lingxin rubbed the cat, picked it up, and held it close. "Master, please record us," she requested as she held and hugged the cat. "Mr. Little Tiger, I will be going to another place. Maybe we won't be able to meet again. Please take care of yourself and don't fight too much," she said as she continued to rub Mr. Little Tiger.

"Meow..." Mr. Little Tiger responded.

After enough interacting with Mr. Little Tiger, Wang Lingxin let the cat go. "Goodbye, Mr. Little Tiger," she said. Wang Lingxin and Orion then left, with Wang Lingxin taking a final look and waving goodbye to Mr. Little Tiger.

Next, Wang Lingxin led Orion to visit Granny Mei. Granny Mei lived alone in a small wooden house. When Wang Lingxin ran away from her uncle's house, Granny Mei took her in, providing a place to sleep and food. Granny Mei was surprised by Wang Lingxin's sudden visit and invited Wang Lingxin and Orion inside her house. Wang Lingxin happily engaged in conversation with Granny Mei, enthusiastically sharing her excitement about finding a master who would guide her on the path of cultivation.

"It's good for you to find a master. Listen to him well, don't play around, and be obedient, understand?" Granny Mei advised, stroking Wang Lingxin's head lovingly.

"Of course, I will. I am a good girl," Wang Lingxin replied.

"Mr. Orion, please take care of Wang Lingxin. She's been through a lot. I hope she can have a better future and find happiness," Granny Mei requested.

"Sure, don't worry," Orion assured.

Orion and Wang Lingxin then bid farewell. Orion gave Granny Mei a pouch containing money, but she initially refused, accepting it only after Wang Lingxin convinced her tearfully. Wang Lingxin urged Granny Mei to use the money for her well-being. Wang Lingxin promised to visit again in the future, emphasizing that Granny Mei must take care of her health.

Leaving Granny Mei's house, their next destination was the flower shop. There, they planned to buy some flowers before going to the cemetery to visit Wang Lingxin's parents' tomb.

After arriving at the tomb, Wang Lingxin and Orion cleaned the surrounding area, removing weeds and wild plants. Then, Wang Lingxin placed the flowers in front of the tomb. She stood there quietly for a while, but Orion noticed that she was holding back tears, suggesting that a lot was going on within her.

"Master, have you recorded my parents' tomb?" Wang Lingxin asked.

"Yes," Orion replied.

"Then, let's go," Wang Lingxin said. She caressed both her parents' tomb and then left.

Orion followed her, and as they left the cemetery, Orion gently held Wang Lingxin's hand. After a while, it seemed that Wang Lingxin couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and they flowed.

"It's fine to cry," Orion reassured her.

"Hua... huee..." Wang Lingxin cried as they walked, reminded of her deceased parents.

After a while, she stopped crying and calmed herself. The street was empty with nobody around. Orion retrieved a tablet computer from the storage ring and handed it to Wang Lingxin.

"Here, why don't you check the video recording? See if it's good," Orion suggested, trying to shift the situation and lighten the mood.

"It's good; they look so real, as if we are watching them in person," Wang Lingxin remarked. The tablet seemed successful in changing her mood, diverting her attention and alleviating her sadness.

They had walked for a while and were now in a rather busy street. Orion held her hand as they walked, ensuring she wouldn't get lost in the crowd. They headed to the Liu family estate, and Orion had already stored the tablet in the storage ring, preventing others from knowing about it.

"Master, is there something you still need to do before we leave this city?" Wang Lingxin asked.

"Yes, first, I will send you back, and then I will head out again. You stay in the guest house and study," Orion replied.

"Eh... study?!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed.

After dropping Wang Lingxin off at the guest house in the Liu family estate, Orion looked for Liu Jian and informed him about leaving tomorrow. After that, Orion immediately set out, heading to Luo Fengwei's workshop.

In Luo Fengwei's house, Orion sat with Luo Fengwei, the bustling sounds of the workshop echoing in the background. Luo Fengwei was currently engrossed in writing something on a piece of paper.

"Mr. Orion, here is the introduction letter," Luo Fengwei said. "With this, you can go to our Flameforge Sect's representative branch in Fengxian City and get your disciple's cultivation root tested. I will also inform them in advance."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Luo. I owe you," Orion expressed its gratitude.

"It was nothing. Also, your orders are mostly finished. Only a few still need a little work. The completed ones are on that table; you can take them with you immediately. As for the rest, I will deliver them today when they're finished," Luo Fengwei informed.

"That's great. By the way, how's the progress with the wolframite ore?" Orion inquired.

"Uh... he he, there are still lots of hurdles," Luo Fengwei chuckled, scratching his nose with a hint of embarrassment. "But I won't be discouraged."

"Mm... well, good luck with that," Orion said. Orion then retrieved a tungsten carbide drill bit from the storage ring, "This is an example of how tungsten is used, hopefully, it can help you and maybe give some inspiration. For more detailed information, I've written it in this book." Orion pulled a book from the storage ring.

Orion has many of these tungsten carbide drill bits for the purpose of constructing the Mars base. The drill bits are also for research and experiments involving drilling Martian materials. Giving one to Luo Fengwei is not a problem.

Luo Fengwei scrutinized the drill bit, examining it closely and using his spiritual sense to probe it. "Whoa... such high-quality craftsmanship," Luo Fengwei exclaimed, impressed by the factory-standard tungsten carbide drill bit. "Is it for me? Thank you very much, Mr. Orion."

"Just a small gift from me, after all, I've obtained so much from you," Orion replied.

"That was nothing, really," Luo Fengwei said.

They continued their friendly conversation, and then Orion excused itself, storing the finished orders before heading to the market. There were still many things Orion needed to do before leaving Yanjing City.

Chapter 38: Hidden Machinations

Orion spent hours visiting many places in the city. During the journey, Orion also overheard from passersby that Hua Meiying had departed Yanjing City, returning to the Melodic Harmony Sect. The revelation left her fans saddened upon hearing the news.

Returning to the guest house at around 3 PM, Orion also brought red bean buns for Wang Lingxin. She joyfully accepted the treats and decided to savor them in a small flower garden near the guest house, planning to enjoy the delightful red bean buns along with the scenic beauty of the garden. Meanwhile, back at the guest house, Orion was occupied with the meticulous task of sorting through the numerous items acquired throughout the day.

The refreshing breeze gently caressed Wang Lingxin, and the pleasant aroma of the flowers added to the relaxing atmosphere. With a delicious red bean bun in hand, seated on a stone chair, Wang Lingxin truly savored the moment, eating happily and blissfully. However, everything changed when the person she hated appeared in front of her. She immediately devoured the bun in her hand and hastily shoved the remaining red bean buns into her mouth. After finishing, she wiped her mouth and faced the unwelcome person.

...

Luo Fengwei went to the Liu family estate after completing all the orders from Orion. Upon arrival, he sought out Liu Jian and delivered the dagger he had ordered. Since Orion had not returned and was still in the market, Luo Fengwei accepted Liu Jian's invitation for tea. After a while, Orion returned to the guest house. Luo Fengwei excused himself and went to visit Orion.

Upon arriving in the flower garden near the guest house, he noticed Wang Lingxin there, seemingly enjoying a bun. Approaching her with a smile, he tried to be a caring elder, showing some attention to Wang Lingxin. Unexpectedly, Wang Lingxin turned hostile toward him, and Luo Fengwei remembered that she harbored resentment due to past events.

Uh... what to do? Sigh... I think I should apologize to her, Luo Fengwei thought to himself. Even though Wang Lingxin is just a mortal kid, she is Orion's disciple, and who knows how high she can soar in the future? It's better to mend their relationship as soon as possible.

"Little lass, are you still angry with me?" Luo Fengwei asked.

Wang Lingxin stood silently, looking at him with cold eyes.

"Will you forgive me if I apologize?" Luo Fengwei asked.

Wang Lingxin remained silent.

"Sigh... little lass, I am sorry if I angered you," Luo Fengwei bowed.

Wang Lingxin spread her legs, crossed both arms in front of her, and raised her chin. The situation seemed surreal, an old man bowing to a kid, and the kid trying to appear intimidating. However, somehow it also fit, considering that Luo Fengwei is a dwarf, and their height difference is not much.

"It's not that easy!" Wang Lingxin declared.

"At least give me some face. Even like this, I am still a Golden Core realm cultivator and a rather famous blacksmith, you know? I've already apologized. Will you forgive me? How about this? I'll give you a gift as an apology. What do you want? Spirit stones? A beautiful dress? Weapons or armor? Just name it," Luo Fengwei offered.

"Hmp! Just a Golden Core realm cultivator. Even immortals would have to bow down in front of me, and Celestials need to show their respect towards me!" Wang Lingxin retorted. Though she is just a mere mortal, her view has expanded greatly after encountering her future self. Now, she looks down on everything.

...

Due to Wang Lingxin's words, above the planet where they were currently located, a pair of illusory eyes appeared. Each eye was far larger than the planet itself, and these eyes possessed a breathtaking beauty, with many mesmerizing lights in the iris. It was as if each eye held within it a galaxy adorned with billions of stars.

"Ha ha ha, what an interesting little girl," a beautiful voice echoed from above the planet, but nobody could hear it. The pair of eyes glanced towards Wang Lingxin and then to the whole planet, piercing everything as if nothing could hide from them. Then, the eyes shifted their gaze towards the distance.

"Sigh... human greed knows no bounds. For their selfish ambitions, they willingly sacrifice others, unknowingly inviting disaster upon themselves," the beautiful voice spoke. Then the eyes returned to Wang Lingxin. "Hmm... Wang Lingxin, let's see how far you can go."

The pair of eyes took a last glance at the planet and noticed a metallic object orbiting it. "Oh... and what is this?" The eyes scrutinized the metallic object, which had something akin to a pair of wings and a long metallic object resembling a tail. There seemed to be 'Orbiter' written on it. "A wild variable... perhaps there is still hope for this world..." The voice faded, and the pair of eyes slowly disappeared.

...

In a dimly lit room, a figure sat cross-legged, and before him, a crystal ball hovered, surrounded by a thick black aura.

"Void Sword, how's it going?" a voice emanated from the crystal ball, its tone eerie and sinister.

"Everything is going smoothly," the seated figure replied, "Shadowlord Krythar, you better not be lying to me."

"Ha ha ha, of course, I won't be lying to you. Why would I lie to you? We've come this far already. I promise that I will give you what you want when the time comes. Hua hua hua," the voice echoed from the crystal ball.

"You better be," a dangerous glint flashed in the eyes of the seated figure.

...

On a snowy mountain, three elegant figures hovered, dressed in beautiful attire. Their faces radiated a captivating beauty, complemented by their slender figures.

"Jeez... why should we be wandering in the wilderness like this? We've been all over places for days already, and I am tired. There's nothing fun and interesting," remarked one of the girls, her breath visible in the frosty air.

"Junior sister, stop complaining. We are currently on an important mission," said the other girl.

"Senior sister, you are being too serious about this mission. It's just some space and time fluctuation, probably some kind of natural treasure was born or maybe some kind of natural phenomenon. There is no need to be concerned too much about it. Ugh... why must Master send us? She should send others. Sigh, I prefer to stay in the sect rather than in the wilderness like this," grumbled the junior sister.

"Junior sister, you really don't listen to Master's words, do you? She already said that not long ago there was some abnormal space-time fluctuation. It was so huge that it even alerted all of those old monsters. Even the ancestor said that this is something that can't be ignored, thus we need to investigate it," explained the senior sister.

"Well, whatever. But why me???" questioned the junior sister.

"If you don't like it, you can return to the sect," suggested the older looking, more mature girl.

"Really, martial aunt?" asked the junior sister.

"Of course, but I will tell your Master, and you will be punished. Do you still want to go back?" inquired the martial aunt, her smile warm, but her eyes carried a subtle threat.

"Ugh... never mind," sighed the junior sister. She was truly scared of her master, who also happened to be the sect master of the Serene Moonlight Sect—an all-female cultivation sect and one of the top 10 cultivation sects in the Luoshan continent.

"We just need to find some trace of the space-time fluctuation and investigate it. If it's just a natural treasure, as you said, then we need to take it, and we can head back. But there is also the possibility of something worse..." explained the martial aunt.

"Something worse?" questioned both the senior and junior sister.

"Your master has sent new information. It seems that in the dragon race territory, a world portal connected to the Demon World has been discovered, from which a demon emerged and attacked the dragon race that discovered it. Fortunately, it's weak and can be killed easily. As for the world portal, it disappears after a while. The same incident has occurred in other places. It's still unclear if it's related to the huge space-time fluctuation incident previously. That's why our sect has dispatched teams to patrol and check for such world portals and also to investigate the mysterious space-time fluctuation. Now, do you understand the severity and importance of the situation? Stop complaining already and focus on the mission," emphasized the martial aunt.

"Yes, martial aunt, I understand," replied the junior sister reluctantly. However, she stuck out her tongue behind the martial aunt, clearly not caring at all even after the martial aunt's explanation. The martial aunt just pretended not to notice this.

"Let's go; there is nothing unusual around here," Martial Aunt led them. "We can take a little break at Fengxian later. How about that?" Martial Aunt suggested.

"Really? Martial Aunt, I love you so much; you are the best," the junior sister exclaimed.

"But you must focus on the mission for now, and no more complaining, understand?" Martial Aunt reminded.

"Understand!" the junior sister affirmed.

The senior sister sighed, looking at her junior sister, and just smiled at her.

The world where Orion is currently located is called the Qian Feng World (千峰世界) 'Thousand Peaks World'. Another world, the Demon World, is inhabited by demons. The inhabitants of Qian Feng and demons rarely interact because they reside in different worlds. Only in rare cases, when mystic realms with portals connecting both worlds emerge, do the inhabitants of Qian Feng interact with demons.

Around two weeks ago, there was a huge space and time fluctuation that only those with a high enough cultivation base could detect. It resonated from every corner of the world, prompting the cultivation world to mobilize and race to find the cause. The speculation was that it might be the birth of a precious natural treasure.

Cultivators from the orthodox, unorthodox, and evil paths scrambled to search for clues, each eager to claim the potential treasure for themselves. Even prominent sects immediately dispatched large teams to investigate. However, smaller space-time fluctuations suddenly began to emerge from all corners of the world, caused by the appearance of world portals connected to the Demon World. The world portals only exist for a short time, and from them, demons emerge.

When demons and the inhabitants of Qian Feng meet, it results in a fight to the death. Demons are dreadful creatures, driven by a relentless instinct to kill and consume. They view the Qian Feng inhabitants as mere food, seeking to drink their blood and devour their flesh to become stronger.

For the inhabitants of Qian Feng, they are not just mere prey; they also see demons as prey. They actively fight back, aiming to kill demons as they recognize them as mortal enemies. Moreover, demons possess valuable body parts that can be utilized for various purposes, including making pills, weapons, armor, and for inscription materials. The conflict between the inhabitants of Qian Feng and demons is intense, with both sides killing each other on sight.

Typically, major conflicts are avoided because both worlds are separated. However, a phenomenon has occurred where portals connecting the Demon World to Qian Feng World are appearing. It remains unclear whether this phenomenon is related to the initial massive space-time fluctuation. Demons can now enter Qian Feng World, but the inhabitants of Qian Feng World cannot enter the Demon World. This has created a new and dangerous dynamic, introducing a threat that challenges the longstanding separation between the two realms. Some voiced concerns that it could be the onset of a calamity, but as of now, the cultivation world doesn't appear overly worried about it.

...

I... Immortals?! How dare she say that. As expected of a kid, she doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, Luo Fengwei thought to himself. And Celestials? What even is that? he pondered.

Sighing, Luo Fengwei retrieved a spiky fruit from his storage ring, its rather strong odor filling the air. Remembering that the little girl was particularly fond of food, he hoped that offering the fruit would earn her forgiveness.

"Little lass, will you forgive me if I give you this?" Luo Fengwei asked.

Wang Lingxin's face turned dark, and she grew angrier. "What a bad guy! You gave my master a trash sword, and now you want to give me a rotten fruit?"

"It's not rotten! The fruit is normally like this, and it tastes very delicious! Moreover, it's not just a simple fruit..." Luo Fengwei began.

"I am telling my master that you are bullying me!" Wang Lingxin interrupted.

"Wait, let me finish... Let me explain," Luo Fengwei pleaded.

But Wang Lingxin was prepared to leave. Not wanting misunderstandings to escalate and have Wang Lingxin complain to her master, he immediately opened the spiky fruit. With a flick of his finger, a small chunk of the fruit flew into Wang Lingxin's mouth. She was surprised as something entered her mouth, instinctively chewing and swallowing it.

"Aaaaaaaa huaaaaa... How dare you feed me that rotten fruit!" Wang Lingxin sobbed.

"Wait...wait...don't cry. Please forgive me for doing that. But why don't you taste the fruit? It's good, right?" Luo Fengwei asked.

Wang Lingxin felt the lingering taste on her tongue, and it was delicious. She tasted and swallowed her saliva.

"See, I am not lying. The fruit tastes good; it's just that the smell is a bit strong." Luo Fengwei explained.

"Hmph, don't expect that I will forgive you just by giving one fruit," Wang Lingxin remarked.

"I still have ten more of them, and I will give them to you. How about that? Will you forgive me?" Luo Fengwei asked, feeling rather exasperated. He wasn't good at dealing with kids.

"Te..ten?" Wang Lingxin smacked her lips. "He he he, Grandpa, you are so nice. Of course, I am willing to forgive you," Wang Lingxin said.

Luo Fengwei successfully mended his relationship with Wang Lingxin in exchange for eleven spiky fruits. These were not ordinary fruits but spiritual ones that greatly aided cultivators, boosting their cultivation.

The fruit was called Earth Dragon Fruit because the spiky skin resembled the Earth Dragon's. It was highly valuable and in demand among cultivators of the Foundation Establishment realm due to its effectiveness. Even those at the Golden Core realm could still gain some benefits.

However, it seemed that these fruits would just end up as regular food for Wang Lingxin, consumed for their delicious taste. As a mortal, she could only absorb a small part of the benefits of the fruit. If other cultivators were aware of this, they would likely be angered and curse such wastefulness.

"Grandpa Luo, why are you here? Do you want to meet Master?" Wang Lingxin asked with a friendly expression.

Grandpa Luo? Luo Fengwei thought internally. "Ha ha ha, good girl, indeed I want to meet with your master," Luo Fengwei replied.

"Master is at the guest house. I can bring you to him," Wang Lingxin offered. "That fruit looks heavy. How about I carry it for you?" She eyed the fruit.

"Sure, thank you very much. It's for you after all," Luo Fengwei said as he handed her the fruit. "I will give more later."

"Thank you, Grandpa Luo," Wang Lingxin said.

Then, Wang Lingxin brought Luo Fengwei to meet her master.

Chapter 39: Leaving Yanjing City

"Master... Master... Grandpa Luo has come to visit you," Wang Lingxin announced loudly as she opened the guest house door.

Grandpa Luo? Orion thought internally, "Oh, it's you, Mr. Luo. Please come in," Orion said. Orion noticed that it seemed Wang Lingxin didn't hate Luo Fengwei anymore, and Orion could deduce the method used by Luo Fengwei just by looking at the fruit being carried by Wang Lingxin. Durian? Orion thought internally, as the spiky fruit resembled durian from Earth.

"Greetings, Mr. Orion. All your orders have finished," Luo Fengwei said.

"That's great. Please have a seat," Orion replied.

Orion and Luo Fengwei were busy with their own thing, while Wang Lingxin enjoyed the Earth Dragon Fruit on another table, not wanting to disturb her master and Luo Fengwei, and more importantly, so she could savor the fruit alone. Surprisingly, Wang Lingxin managed to devour the fruit by herself, quite an impressive feat considering its size. By the time she finished, Luo Fengwei had also completed his business with Orion and excused himself.

"Mr. Orion, thank you very much for everything. If you ever need my help, you just need to use the communication talisman to contact me, and I will do my best to assist you. Also, feel free to come and visit me if you have free time," Luo Fengwei said.

"Thank you for everything, Mr. Luo. Also, feel free to ask for my help if you ever need it," Orion said.

"Then I'll excuse myself," Luo Fengwei replied.

"Granpa Luo, goodbye!" Wang Lingxin chimed in.

"Yes, goodbye. Come and play in my workshop next time," Luo Fengwei invited.

Luo Fengwei left, hurrying back home. With all of Orion's orders completed, he could now focus solely on the research of the wolframite ore.

"Look at you, so messy. Is the fruit delicious?" Orion asked, observing Wang Lingxin's hands and face, which were messy after eating the Earth Dragon Fruit.

"Master, the fruit is soooooo delicious. You must try it," Wang Lingxin exclaimed, licking her lips.

"No thank you. You can have it all. Mr. Luo already gave the fruits to me, and I've stored them in the storage ring to keep it fresh. Now go take a bath," Orion instructed.

"Yes~," Wang Lingxin replied.

During the night, Wang Lingxin had already nestled into bed, listening to the continuation of the Snow White story.

"We will stop the story right there for now and continue again tomorrow. Also, I have some gifts for you tomorrow," Orion announced.

"Really? What is it?" Wang Lingxin asked, excitedly rising from bed.

"You will know tomorrow morning. Now, it's time to sleep," Orion replied.

"Uhh..." Wang Lingxin sighed, rather disappointed. She nestled back into bed and said, "Good night, Master."

"Good night," Orion replied.

Orion returned to the table in the middle of the room, starting to retrieve a plethora of items and tools from the storage ring. "Time for work," Orion declared.

Tonight, Orion would focus on the gifts for Wang Lingxin. They weren't completed yet; they were only halfway finished. To complete them, Orion would add inscriptions and make some adjustments. Thus, another busy night passed.

Morning came, birds chirping, and Wang Lingxin woke up, stretching a little. "Hoams," she yawned, then remembered what her master had said last night. She immediately called, "Master! The gifts!" Wang Lingxin was excited.

"You wake up? Good morning," Orion greeted, seated at the table, reading a book.

"Good morning, Master. Where is the gift?" Wang Lingxin inquired.

"It's on the table. Why don't you check it?" Orion replied, still focused on reading and flipping through the book.

Wang Lingxin immediately jumped out of bed, heading to the table. On it, she found many kinds of different things.

"Wow... is this for me? Thank you, Master!" Wang Lingxin exclaimed.

"All these items may look ordinary, but they are far from it. Always wear it understand?" Orion instructed.

"Understand," Wang Lingxin agreed, though she didn't fully grasp the reasons behind it and didn't dwell on it too much.

"Go get prepared and wear all those gifts. We will be leaving this city before midday. Also, I will explain more about the gifts and their use later," Orion instructed.

"Okay," Wang Lingxin replied.

After getting ready for the day and finishing breakfast, Orion began to explain about the gifts.

One of the gifts was a hairpin with a butterfly shape, a Grade-3 accessory artifact. Orion had custom-ordered it from a shop in the city because Luo Fengwei couldn't craft aesthetically pleasing products. Despite its ordinary and simple appearance, the butterfly-shaped hairpin was rather beautiful. Orion had specifically asked the craftsman to make it not overly flashy or extravagant but still beautiful enough that Wang Lingxin would like it. Orion had added a defensive inscription to it and powered it with LQ, hidden inside. By pressing the butterfly head, an energy barrier would emerge to protect the wearer.

In addition to the hairpin, there was also an ordinary non-Graded pendant with a round shape containing a hidden storage ring. Within the confines of the storage ring resided a button cell battery used to activate the storage ring. The pendant could be used to store and retrieve items. Due to its simple mechanism, it can't be used for selective retrieval of items, and when retrieving, it will unload all stored items simultaneously. It featured two buttons—one for storing and another for retrieving. With this, now Wang Lingxin will have a storage treasure that she can easily use, even as a mortal.

There was also Grade-3 inner armor defense artifact, which is thin, smooth, rather elastic, made from comfortable yet strong material. It consisted of short pants and a T-shirt. Orion also put a defensive inscription on them because it's the last line of defense for Wang Lingxin. The waistband of the pants was made from a long, elastic tube extracted from a spirit beast's body parts and filled with LQ to power the inscription. And for the T-shirt, the tube storing LQ is placed in the underarm seam.

And there is a Grade-3 metallic bracelet accessory artifact, the only object made by Luo Fengwei. The bracelet is hollow inside, where Orion stuffed a Micro PIFA antenna (a more advanced and compact version of planar inverted F antennas, PIFA), radio transceiver, signal processing circuitry, microphone, speaker, several very small button cell batteries to power it, an indicator light to indicate incoming calls, LQ storage and other components.

The bracelet is equipped with buttons—one for calling and receiving calls, another for activating the locator beacon, and another for activating the inscription. It can be used for full-duplex (FDX) radio communication, allowing communication with a range of a few kilometers. Additionally, the bracelet serves another purpose—it can emit a periodic radio signal, acting as a radio beacon or locator beacon when activated. Orion can use triangulation to locate the bracelet, providing valuable assistance in emergency situations when Wang Lingxin needs help.

When the inscription is activated, an energy barrier will envelop the wearer. It's not a defensive energy barrier, but a concealing type. The energy barrier will conceal the wearer's visibility, scent, sounds, thermal signature, and Qi fluctuations, but radio signals can still pass through. Additionally, the energy barrier can hide from spiritual sense detection.

The last gift consisted of Grade-3 shoes defense artifact that Orion inscribed with inscriptions powered by LQ stored in the shoes designed to enhance the wearer's speed and jumping height. These shoes, along with the inner armor, were ordered from the same shop and have an additional feature to adjust to the wearer's size.

"Have you understood? I will explain more and teach you how to use those gifts later," Orion finished explaining. "Let's go, time to leave. Let's bid farewell to the Liu family first," Orion said.

"Yes, Master," Wang Lingxin replied. "Master, can you make me armor like the one you wear? It looks so cool; I want it," she added.

"Uh... maybe later," Orion responded. It will be challenging but will provide better protection for her; it's worth a try, Orion thought internally, adding another task to its to-do list. Other than the dress, now Orion will also need to make a full-body armor for Wang Lingxin.

"Thank you, Master!" Wang Lingxin expressed her gratitude.

Orion and Wang Lingxin headed to the Liu family's main hall to meet Patriarch Liu and bid farewell. Upon arrival, they were greeted by Liu Ming, Liu Jian, several elders of the Liu family—each at the Golden Core realm—and an old man emitting the strongest radio signal in the entire Liu family at 29 GHz, indicating he was at the 9th stage of the Golden Core realm.

"Patriarch Liu, I've come to bid farewell. Thank you very much for your Liu family's hospitality," Orion expressed its gratitude.

"It was nothing. After all, you saved my son. The Liu family is grateful for that, and we must do at least that much. Oh yeah, Mr. Orion, let me introduce you to my father," Liu Ming gestured towards his father, Liu Xinyi.

Liu Ming had initially suspected that Orion might be a Golden Core realm cultivator. However, during Orion's encounter with Chen Rongwei, when Orion emitted a strong Qi pressure, Liu Ming began to consider the possibility that Orion's cultivation level was likely much higher than just the Golden Core realm. Recognizing the potential significance of this discovery, he immediately informed his father, Liu Xinyi.

Liu Xinyi, who was already old and nearing the end of his lifespan saw little hope of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, his vitality already declining along with his cultivation. Upon hearing about Orion from Liu Ming, he decided to exit his seclusion and meet Orion.

"Greetings, Mr. Orion. I hope you enjoyed your stay in my Liu family. My name is Liu Xinyi. I was the previous Liu family patriarch, but now I am too old and mostly spend my time in seclusion. So, forgive me for only meeting you now," Liu Xinyi spoke.

"Greetings, Mr. Liu Xinyi. I sincerely thank your Liu family for extending their hospitality to me," Orion replied, and they engaged in warm conversation.

Then, Liu Ming introduced the elders of the Liu family one by one.

"Greetings, Mr. Orion," they greeted Orion one by one, and also engaged in small talk. One of them was the elder that Orion had previously seen together with Liu Ming when Liu Jian got attacked by the Vermilion Clawed Bear. This elder also sometimes spied and followed around Orion secretly.

Orion easily noticed that Liu Ming's attitude had changed a bit; he became more polite. Previously, Liu Ming was polite towards Orion but also more casual and rather easy-going.

After they had a conversation, Liu Ming said, "Mr. Orion, you are always welcome in our Liu family, and if you ever need our help, we will do our best."

"Thank you very much, Patriarch Liu. Indeed, there is something that I will still need the help of the Liu family. I am sure your family also has business in the construction field. Thus, I want to use it to build a house for me in Fenxian City," Orion said.

"That is easy, Mr. Orion," Liu Ming replied. "You can meet my brother, Liu Minzheng. He is the one managing our Liu family business in Fenxian. You can discuss the details with him; I will inform him to do his best."

"Thank you, Patriarch Liu," Orion expressed its gratitude.

"The caravan is ready to depart. Have a safe and pleasant journey, Mr. Orion," Liu Ming wished.

Orion bid farewell and left the Liu family estate, heading to one of the Liu family business buildings in the market riding a carriage that was already prepared. There, the Liu family caravan heading to Fengxian was waiting for Orion.

The caravan of the Liu family was significantly different from the one Orion had previously joined. It consisted of about dozens of carriages, carrying both cargo and people heading to Fengxian. There were 15 guards, all of them cultivators, with the leader at the 7th stage of the Qi Condensation realm. The carriage specially prepared for Orion was quite luxurious, spacious inside. With only Orion and Wang Lingxin inside, it felt incredibly roomy, featuring soft leather seating. A table was set with food and drinks already prepared.

After Orion arrived and joined the caravan, they departed, beginning their journey to Fengxian.