Gu Jianlin took out his phone, logged into the Deep Space Network, and opened the resource exchange hub.
Then he chuckled.
"CMJ113 Spiritual Secret dicine, out of stock."
"A03 Spiritual Secret dicine, out of stock."
"Blood of Graphite, out of stock."
"Deep Red Wine, out of stock."
Almost all spiritual secret dicines were displayed as out of stock. These resources were highly sought after, making them incredibly scarce—even when you had the rit points to buy them.
This highlighted the importance of having an Alchemist on the team.
Gu Jianlin's current rit points could only be used to exchange for so Alchemy Weapons.
Or perhaps so special services.
For example, one-on-one psychological counseling sessions with Priests.
Or, protection for family mbers at one thousand rit points per month.
"In the Ether Association, low-level resources like these are in high demand. The truly valuable benefits co into play once the Qilin Immortal Palace can be explored. You can rely on the association as a safety net while searching for Ancient Tis treasures hidden in the palace. Whatever you find becos yours."
Lu Zicheng explained, "Many high-ranking mbers of the association rose to power thanks to these treasures. It's what makes the association so appealing to Ascenders."
"As for those services, they're basically just intellectual scams. I've already inford my family about them."
He thought for a mont. "From now on, your family's safety will be directly overseen by the Lu Family. My sister will also keep an eye on them."
"Thank you."
Gu Jianlin replied.
Lu Zicheng reminded him, "I've already signed us up as a squad for this extermination mission. However, due to the nature of the task, squad leaders like
won't be accompanying you directly. Of course, you have those two Mythical Weapons from the Joker, so there shouldn't be any issue with self-defense."
"But if you want to compete with other squads for rit points… that's up to you."
He paused for a mont. "If you can quickly advance to the Superdinsional Level, that is, Fourth Rank or higher, my sister's connections and resources will beco relevant to you. You need to hurry."
Gu Jianlin thought to himself, "That would be wonderful."
He carried far too many secrets.
Be it the two Mythical Weapons or the Ancient God Transformation.
Neither were suitable for others to witness.
Currently, he was already at the First Order. Moreover, there was an Alchemist within the Qilin Immortal Palace.
He didn't need to fret over resources for his advancent.
As for the Priests' healing services, those were utterly redundant to him.
Firstly, the Divine Path allowed him to use the Divine Sacrificial Fire to absorb Life Force for self-recovery.
Additionally, in the Ancient Tomb, there happened to be a Fourth Rank Alchemist.
Suddenly, a notification from the Deep Space Network rang on Gu Jianlin's phone.
"Dear D-level investigator Gu Jianlin, your squad has been enlisted in this major hunting mission. Please ensure you are equipped and supplied, and proceed imdiately to the lobby of the Deep Space Technology Building for assembly."
Taixu's voice.
"It's about ti to head off. Seven squads in total, eting in the lobby."
Lu Zicheng remarked indifferently, "This ti, it's mostly elites."
Gu Jianlin nodded subtly. He suddenly realized that he hadn't yet tested his abilities since advancing to Fate.
Reportedly, a First Order Divine Priest could expand their Life Perception range to twenty-five ters.
This range was just about right for him to experint.
At that mont, he emptied his mind, achieving clarity—activating his Seventh Sense.
For a brief instant, chaotic and disordered life rhythms sounded in his ears, akin to being subrged in a sea tide of noise!
Gu Jianlin's hand trembled, nearly spilling cola all over himself.
Because at that mont, he seed to hear the life rhythms of everyone inside the building!
·
·
The atmosphere in the spacious elevator was unbearably tense.
Lin Wanqiu stood with both hands tucked into the pockets of her white coat. Her alluring face displayed no emotion.
The other squad leaders were equally solemn.
A middle-aged man glanced at his watch and said coldly, "Stay sharp on this operation. If there's another fiasco like last ti, you can all get lost. Understood?"
Cheng Youyu shrank into a corner and said ekly, "Second Uncle—uh, Captain. Rest assured, last ti was just an act of God. Who could've predicted the Joker had sothing like Death Spirit Gu? This ti, we're guaranteed to be flawless."
"You'd better shut up."
Soone muttered, "Last ti you said everything was guaranteed—and we ended up crashing hard."
"Yeah, Brother Cheng, please stop tempting fate. No more jinxing us."
Another person added, "If it weren't for stroke-of-luck circumstances last ti, we'd all be dead."
Cheng Youyu scowled. "Was that even
tempting fate? The Joker was just absurdly difficult to deal with!"
In the corner, Nie Xiangsi stood timidly at the back, clutching a tablet.
On the screen was a photograph of a boy, drenched in blood and seated on a chair amidst collapsed ruins, with the corpse of an enemy sprawled at his feet, eyes wide open in death.
"Brother Youyu."
Nie Xiangsi asked softly, "Wasn't it him who saved us?"
Cheng Youyu turned to look, grinning sheepishly. "That's right, Sister Xiangsi. It was him. Gu Jianlin, from Peak City Second High School. I even copied his answers during exams back then—we're quite close."
Nie Xiangsi fell silent for a mont before replying, "So he's an Ascender too, huh."
"I didn't know either, until recently."
Cheng Youyu asked, "Why, what's up?"
Nie Xiangsi minimized the photo and pulled up the mission roster.
"It seems he's also part of this operation."
She hesitated, "And his squad… only has him."
Cheng Youyu froze upon seeing that lone, familiar na on the list.
"Oh crap, it really is that badass himself!"
·
·
anwhile, in a dark laboratory, the bubbling sound of liquid churned relentlessly.
In the blazing Copper Cauldron, scarlet liquid boiled, roiling like molten lava, surging furiously.
A hunched Pharmacist gazed at the scene with fanatical eyes.
"ntor."
A young man standing beside him swallowed nervously. "With this, can we survive?"
"Though only a single drop, it's not enough to fully transform us into Divine Servants. But it's sufficient to extend our lifespans."
The Pharmacist licked his lips. "This is the grace of the Gods."
The young man hesitated for a mont. "But ntor, there's a complication. If we truly ingest the Ancient God's Blood and beco Divine Servants, wouldn't we then end up as slaves to that Supre? We're far too weak; if not for its inability to break free, it surely wouldn't have chosen us. While we gain life, we lose freedom."
He paused. "And if it decides to kill us, it can do so at any mont."
"My dearest student, how can you be so naive?"
The Pharmacist chuckled. "Do you think, even with all the secret dicine we have stockpiled—even the Superdinsional-level Spiritual Secret dicines aplenty—that we'd court its wrath by offering just a dozen low-level ones?"
Scholar froze.
"Offering too much at once would make it unpredictable when it could escape. On the other hand, delivering Spiritual Secret dicines in incrents ensures we retain control. Even though it's a Supre, it remains shackled by the far more potent Candle Dragon Venerable. To placate us, it has no choice but to trade Ancient God's Blood with us, one drop at a ti."
The Pharmacist explained, "Quantity is the key! You're my apprentice, and as long as we survive, that's enough. As for the Sea Demon Butcher and Moon Princess, they don't matter. The Qilin Venerable is trapped within the Immortal Palace. Even if we beco Divine Servants, it cannot bridge two dinsions to control us. As long as we never return, we're safe."
Scholar questioned, "But when the dinsional portal of the Qilin Immortal Palace stabilizes, won't we forfeit access to its ancient treasures and opportunities if we never return? Wouldn't abandoning the palace an giving up its vast resources?"
The Pharmacist laughed. "I'm an Alchemist. If I can refine valuable enough secret dicine, do you think there'll be a shortage of people willing to enter the palace for us?"
Scholar froze in realization. "So that's the plan!"
"This is the wisdom of your ntor. You still have much to learn."
The Pharmacist grinned. "Once the seal on the Qilin Immortal Palace completely dissolves and the Ether Association mbers enter, what do you think will happen?"
Scholar suddenly grasped the idea. "ntor, you're brilliant! As long as it cannot manifest in reality, we're safe!"
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