Zhou Zhengde sighed and spoke incessantly in the video:
"The situation is indeed somewhat terrible, Mu Liang, you may not realize the severity of the problem."
"The attack you orchestrated on the 49th Floor successfully attracted the attention of the Thirteenth Institute.
"We really didn't expect that Wen Heisen from the Black Fire Gang, the number three person, was a Spiritual Ability User, and also a D-level one specialized in body strengthening.
"Even more unexpectedly, you injured him severely rather easily; his one eye was ruined, and the blade you stabbed into his eye damaged some of his nerves, making it impossible for him to conceal his injury... That was a huge help!
"Now the higher-ups are taking Black Fire Gang very seriously; the joint forces that besiege the gang have escalated their efforts, and the person in charge of No. 76 Fortress from the Thirteenth Institute was directly warned by the Governor.
"You have no idea how exhilarating it was to eavesdrop on that meeting! It was really gratifying!
"Thank you, my dear comrade-in-arms!
"However, the person from the Thirteenth Institute stationed at No. 76 Fortress, who had originally given up on the Black Fire Gang, has just dispatched one D-level and one E-level Spiritual Ability User; they have already entered the gang's territory.
"Now in Lower City, there are at least two D-level and one E-level Spiritual Ability Users; the E-level one is relatively weak.
"They are here to capture you, the Black Fire Gang will also heed their orders, and there are people from the Thirteenth Institute around us as well.
"You don't need to fight this battle alone, Mu Liang. We have a common enemy and goal, and I know you might mind the fact that core members of the Black Fire Gang are likely to escape unharmed, but that's the unspoken rule of the fortress, they say the fortress needs these gangs... Even though I despise this, it is indeed the truth."
Zhou Zhengde sighed again, a look of helplessness in his eyes:
"Anyway, come back first, it's relatively safer here.
"I've sent you a simple text exchange device. If you don't want to come back, you can also send me a message.
"We can discuss carefully what to do. I don't mind temporarily following your lead in our cooperation because you are truly... unexpectedly powerful.
"Remember, write about the gift you sent me last time in the text exchanger, so I can confirm it's you on the other end, then I can rest assured to pay them the hefty final payment."
Chirp!
The simple holographic player stopped working and reverted to a state of flashing green light.
Wang Jixuan's expression was somewhat indescribable.
The Thirteenth Institute sending more Spiritual Ability Users to catch him meant even the Thirteenth Floor of the fortress became unsafe...
Referring to Mu Liang's memory, he quickly understood how this device workedt, and sent Zhou Zhengde a message.
[02: Burn after taking with rice soup.]
'02' represented the online number of this text chat device.
[01: Hurray! Their speed is so fast! Indeed, the most elite mercenary squad in Lower City!]
Wang Jixuan: How can these texts almost sound like they're speaking?
He could almost imagine Zhou Zhengde's exaggerated and perfunctory facial expression.
Wang Jixuan simply replied with a sentence.
[02: No need for the final payment.]
[01: Why? What happened?]
[02: They were ambushed by the Black Fire Gang.]
Wang Jixuan rubbed his temples with a hand.
It was fortunate that in the Cultivation World, only those monks had vows against lying, and their cultivation didn't regard these matters.
[01: Are you okay, Mu Liang? I'm a bit worried about your situation, I think we can talk carefully, this device has plenty of battery life.]
[02: How did you find me.]
Wang Jixuan thought for a while, then added a question mark to it.
[01: Simple, Mu Liang you exchanged the gang coins for Joy Coins too frequently and quickly, the gang in Joyful City had already located you since yesterday, they approached me, and I covered for you with supplies. Joyful City is the gang that deals the most information out of the seven.]
Wang Jixuan secretly felt lucky.
It really would be troublesome without a transformation technique.
But, a transformation technique is a high-level technique possible only for those in the Nascent Soul Realm, which is still a long way off.
[01: I can help you, we have the same enemy, and we have fought together before, is there anything you don't trust about me?]
[02: Thanks, but I still prefer to solve problems myself.]
[01: No no no, that's too risky, your value cannot be estimated, we should be more prudent; the Black Fire Gang has now stationed a new D-level Spiritual Ability User, I think I mentioned this; didn't you watch the video I sent you?]
[02: Watched. To sit and wait is to perish, to fight through the clouds is to find a chance at life.]
Zhou Zhengde took a while before sending any messages back.
Wang Jixuan was completely unhurried, contemplating what to do next, whether to advance or retreat, a decision had to be made now.
To advance meant to quickly create a simple Magic Artifact, to kill the Black Fire Gang boss and that Wen Heisen, capturing the soul of Wen Heisen.
This would inevitably involve certain risks.
To retreat was to return to the Thirteenth Floor for a few months of cultivation until his energy was fully charged and he was fully prepared.
But this too carried risks, and could potentially trap him, while also making him dependent on Zhou Zhengde's power, leading to possible manipulations in the future, and he would likely become Zhou Zhengde's guest... which he would find exceedingly uncomfortable.
The voice of his master echoed by Wang Jixuan's ear, as if urging him to prepare more, but after pondering for a while, he decided to follow his heart.
He chose the third option!
To advance and retreat.
Limitedly ask for Zhou Zhengde's help, craft a disguise to hide his identity, then find a way to infiltrate the 49th Floor, survey the Black Fire Gang boss and the Spiritual Ability Users, and not act recklessly without a proper chance, to 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: Good! Very good! How many Clearing Forces do you need? Or, I can directly ask my granddad to mobilize the Defense Army!]
[02: No need, just help me get an identity, preferably one that can change appearance; I want to infiltrate the 49th Floor and stay undercover.]
[01: Only this? (ಥ_ಥ)]
Wang Jixuan leaned back, frowning as he looked at the character emoji.
How was this produced?
It's quite interesting, actually.
A moment later, the square box gently vibrated, and a line of small text popped up on the screen.
[01: I will give you an answer in an hour. I need to design a new identity for you, one with a suitable reason to leave Middle City and join the Black Fire Gang in Lower City. I also need to find someone trustworthy to take you to the 49th Floor… I hope that after this, we can have an open-hearted conversation. I feel like I'm becoming your little brother now!]
[02: You and I should treat each other as equals, Brother Zhou.]
[01: Wait for my message. Try your best to protect yourself. I want to understand the miracle that has happened to you. I will send someone to find you as soon as possible. Can you fix a meeting point?]
[02: Night Hawk's Headshot.]
[01: Perfect meeting point.]
No more characters popped up on the screen of the square box.
Wang Jixuan breathed a sigh of relief and pocketed the device.
He had no desire to make friends.
Cultivators in the Golden Core Realm live between three to five hundred years, those in the Nascent Soul Realm live from eight hundred to a thousand years, and those in the Mahayana Realm can live from five to six or seven thousand years, whereas the mortal life expectancy is rarely seventy as of old.
If a mortal confidant were to pass away, it would cause ripples in one's Dao Heart.
"There's a bit of a problem here,"
Wang Jixuan glanced at the five mercenaries, pondering briefly.
To deal with artifact refining later, it's better to prepare more Joy Coins… Their equipment looks pretty decent.
"My apologies."
…
The next day.
The maid that came to clean the room paused when she saw four men and one woman covered with a blanket on the bed, then nonchalantly rang the service bell.
Hmm? A lot of blood on the floor?
"Ah! They're dead… Well, it's nothing serious."
The maid complained a few words with a frown, then turned to call for some helpers.
She hated cleaning blood.
…
Meanwhile.
At the site of Night Hawk's headshot, in the corner of the cluster of low buildings,
Wang Jixuan sat in the interlayer formed by the overlap of two rooftops, maintaining the Bao Yuan Shou Yi posture, with a bullet placed in his palm.
He had not entered meditation.
If he meditated and gained insight, he could enter the state of Enlightenment, easily losing awareness of the outside world and immersing in the Dao.
Wang Jixuan did not lack insights for cultivation; he was only using this posture to speed up the circulation of Qi in his body, enhancing his ability to absorb Spiritual Energy.
After several past battles, his Spiritual Sense had improved significantly, now covering a radius of several tens of meters around him.
Once he reached Great Success in the Qi Refining Realm and advanced into the Gathering Spirit Realm, his Spiritual Sense would transform, and as his cultivation improved, the direct range he could sense would continue to grow.
An even more critical point was…
This world had no Formations or Barriers!
Once his Spiritual Sense was accomplished, no enemy could hide, and evil would face the nemesis of the righteous path!
Vroom—
The roaring of a motorcycle engine came from the distant main road as a bike turned off its high beams and slowly entered the impoverished neighborhood.
On the main road, over a dozen motorcycles stopped under a few street lights.
Wang Jixuan hid under a neighboring eave, watching the scene on the main road.
Under the street lights, about a dozen provocatively dressed young women were joking and remaining vigilant as they held submachine guns and wore tactical belts, most of their hair dyed in vivid colors.
Wang Jixuan recognized the Silver Party's tattoo on these women's shoulders.
Were they standing guard for the motorcycle in front?
The person ahead… indeed, she had already gone to Night Hawk's Headshot site.
The Silver Party had installed a huge billboard there, featuring a headless sniper and lots of graffiti faces; they spared no expense of the most precious electricity of Lower City to illuminate the billboard with several spotlights.
Wang Jixuan had chosen this spot for their meeting because the sign was easy to locate, and the surrounding environment was highly conducive for a solo hiding.
The female motorcyclist having arrived at the meeting point was driving slowly and circling around.
Hearing the rumble of the engine, people in the buildings quickly shut their doors and windows.
Wang Jixuan stroked his chin, deep in thought.
To say he wasn't worried about it being a trap would definitely be a lie.
The female motorcyclist had a spherical drone floating above her shoulder, an expensive all-in-one reconnaissance and combat drone, which was also her confidence to move alone.
She rode around the area seven or eight times, eventually slowing and stopping while balancing the bike with her long, leather-clad legs. Muffled mumblings came from behind her pitch-black helmet, seemingly saying something like 'Isn't he here?'
She tilted her head and called out, "Boss?"
Wang Jixuan remained motionless.
The female motorcyclist sighed in frustration, slackening her rigid posture.
As she raised her hand to slap her waist and back, the tightly fitting leather pants and short jacket revealed a not-so-obvious muffin top at her abdomen.
Daoist Wang took a closer look.
"Doctor Wei?"
The female motorcyclist instantly turned her head, straightened up, took a breath, and elegantly removed her helmet, allowing her freshly curled, wavy long hair to cascade down.