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All 3.4 million credits plus two strange-looking coins were traded for vicious beast meat, and it was all Level 3 vicious beast meat, to be exact.

However, the outcome of the trade was peculiar. 3.4 million Safety Sector No. 17 credits were only enough for 2.6kgs of Level 3 vicious beast meat and it was not even the best of quality. It was just the usual quality. According to the owner, the best part of the vicious beast was the heart as it could be sold at the price of Level 4 vicious beast meat.

The meat from the limbs were not all that bad either. The least valuable parts would be those scraps at the edge like the neck, scalp, or any other insignificant parts.

However, the price was not fixed. Other than the heart and limbs, the quality of the meat varied depending on the vicious beast’s traits.

Well, even though the 2.6kgs vicious beast meat was of inferior quality, it was still Level 3 vicious beast meat. If not for Su Yao’s guest badge reaching Level 2 plus those two strange-looking coins, no matter how much credits Su Yao had, they could not be traded for vicious beast meat.

Still, the ratio of 3.4 million credits to 2 coins seemed like a tremendous difference in value, yet those two strange coins alone were traded for 4kgs of Level 3 vicious beast meat. Furthermore, it was not just common quality meat but high-quality meat around the limbs.

Somehow the fat owner felt very pleased about the deal. He even added a little strip of red meat jerky for Su Yao, claiming that it was made from the heart.

Due to the compact texture of the Level 3 vicious beast meat, when the owner packed everything together and gave it to Su Yao, the duo left the shop with only a small extra package. Just a little over 6.5kgs of meat jerky were packed together. Despite only being the size of three to four fists, it was very heavy.

The two of them did not linger in Madame’s Black Market after the trade and returned to the bar.

Su Yao seemed to have a lot more to talk to Tang Ling about. After they returned to the bar, they were not in a hurry to leave. Instead, Su Yao ordered two glasses of sweet leaf wine from the strange owner as both of them sat down in their usual corner.

Tang Ling did not speak along the way. He took a sip of the beverage after it was served. It tasted sweet at first, but it was bitter with a hint of spiciness when it trickled down his throat. As he drank it, his hands were shaking.

He did not have a clear concept of money, especially credits, because the spoils he got from his hunts and the crystals from the garage mission were traded for 2.5kgs of Level 2 beast meat.

Yu did not tell him what was the value of the meat in credits.

I didn’t know that vicious beast meat costs so much in credits! And it seems like even if I have credits, I might not get any vicious beast meat! Did I drain Uncle Su Yao’s savings? He even used his Level 2 honored guest badge because of me. I bet it isn’t easy to get to such a high position. As for the two seemingly precious coins...

Even until now, Tang Ling had no idea what the coins were, but he knew without a doubt that they were precious.

A bunch of intense feelings piled up in his heart. The rascal Tang Ling could not actually find the words to voice his mind out or vent his feelings.

All he could do was remember what Su Yao had done for him in his heart. He no longer felt lost about what to do after he got his revenge and cleared all his hatred because he now had a new family by his side, a family member that was as important as his grandmother and sister—Su Yao.

His decision might seem a little too simple. There were no moving words from him or the slightest hint of excitement that expressed his gratitude and feelings, but to Tang Ling, staying quiet was the most solemn way to remember this as it would leave a strong impression on him.

“What are you thinking about, kid?” Su Yao took a sip from his glass and seemed a lot more relaxed as he tapped Tang Ling’s back.

“Did I make you spend a lot of money?” Tang Ling asked.

“A lot? You bet! Those 3.4 million credits are all my credits, but...” Su Yao put his glass down and took two cigarettes that he had smuggled out from Madame’s Black Market. He gave one to Tang Ling and said, “Who cares about the credits of the safety sector? Does the sector produce anything? Or are there any valuable occupations or specialists here? This is just a little corner that’s just above the poverty line. How much do you think it’s worth, the credits? I can easily earn 3.4 million credits.” Su Yao made it sound all so easy, but there was a trace of sadness in between his brows. Tang Ling had no idea what could have caused the sorrow.

“What about those two coins?” Tang Ling asked.

“Yeah, those two coins are the key. The two True Capital Coins cost me two-thirds of my savings,” said Su Yao as he took another of the same coin out from his pocket. The coin was as transparent as the previous and there an emerald embedded in the center.

“This is for you. With this True Capital Coin, when you have to travel outside Safety Sector No. 17, you won’t have to worry about not having money.” Su Yao squinted his eyes as he inhaled the cigarette. It was his usual thinking expression. He stuffed the True Capital Coin that retained his body warmth into Tang Ling’s hand.

However, Tang Ling did not want to take it.

Su Yao shoved it into his palm and then took it back almost immediately. “I’m not giving it to you now. I’m just letting you know what true money feels like.”

Tang Ling was a lot happier since Su Yao was being himself.

Still, worry lingered in his heart while he asked, “If you exchanged all your money into resources for me...Uncle, do you still have money left? Don’t you need to train either? Won’t the consumption burden you? It must be huge, isn’t it?”

“Me? I can live a free life here in Safety Sector No. 17 regardless of what I do. I can either spend Hope credits, and if I want, I can spend everything today and earn more tomorrow. Besides, of course, I’ll save some up for myself.” Su Yao seemed to be avoiding Tang Ling’s question about his own training as he subtly switched topics. While he spoke, he took another small pouch out from his waist.

He untied the pouch and poured a pool of different coins and money out. There were around 40 to 50 different types of currencies.

Tang Ling glanced over at the money. All of them looked almost the same. He had no idea what type of currency they were and he recognized none of them.

Su Yao raised his glass and drained the sweet leaf wine to its last drop before he heaved a long breath and said, “Let me tell you this. This world is huge. All these currencies are from different factions and forces. Of course, they aren’t as widely recognized as True Capital Coins, but any one of them can be traded for Safety Sector No. 17 credits and it’s worth at least 500K per piece. Hmm...speaking of which, there aren’t that many people who want to trade, but you don’t have to worry about me being poor.” He winked at Tang Ling as if he was delighted by his savings.

“Then, can you give me one or two?” Tang Ling was also infected by his delight and joy.

What he got was a kick on the chair and his face landed on the ground.

The two of them had a squabble before sitting down calmly. Su Yao kept all his coins on the table before he picked up the True Capital Coin.

“This True Capital Coin is worth 100 True Capital credits each. Do you know why it’s so universal that it’s recognized as an important currency anywhere in the world?” Holding the coin in his hand, Su Yao locked eyes with Tang Ling.

“Maybe this True Capital is very powerful.” It was a very simple theory that the coins and currencies themselves had no minimal to no value on their own. It represented a type of trust since this True Capital Coin was widely recognized as the universal currency in this messy era. It should be distributed by a very powerful faction because it would translate the trust people had in that powerful faction.

It was a simple theory that even Tang Ling could understand.

“Yes, the undefeated True Capital is very powerful.” Su Yao stretched his body and put his legs on the table as a tinge of reminiscence floated in his gaze.

Tang Ling fixed his gaze on the window of the bar. He was looking at the sky beyond the glass, and coincidentally, the Purple Moon came into his sight. His eyes were flashing with admiration.

What kind of place is this True Capital? The undefeated True Capital? In this chaotic era where monster hordes, insect plagues, and strange natural disasters are endless, how can it remain undefeated?

Like Safety Sector No. 17, the True Capital spent more than half of its resources and strength on the Cliff of Hope and got tangled in the battlefield ruins for many decades, yet failed to make any actual progress.

Tang Ling wanted to visit this True Capital at least once in his life.

Su Yao flipped the coin into the air and caught it. Then, he continued, “You are right. It is the main reason why True Capital Coins are so universal, but there’s another reason. Do you know what it is?” His finger stroked the outer transparent area of the coin.

Tang Ling shook his head uncertainly.

“Fool, it’s the crystal! A quality crystal! You might ask why it doesn’t have any purple lines. It’s because the people from this era noticed something strange about gemstones. They can gather energy within them. It might not be as effective with other energies, but the effect of the natural purple energy is exceptional.” Su Yao took a puff from his cigarette.

Tang Ling replied, “Are you saying that the purple energy in the crystal is concentrated by the gemstone embedded in the center of the True Capital Coin?”

“Yes! The higher the quality of the gemstone, the better it can gather energy. This True Capital Coin that is worth 100 True Capital credits uses quality crystals for the outer area and the gemstone embedded in the center is anything but inferior in quality. Gemstones are considered tactical resources, get it? So, that’s why the True Capital Coins are so valuable. It isn’t worthwhile forging a counterfeit of it.

“During critical moments, you can crush the gemstone in the center and absorb its energy. The energy gathered through gemstones is a lot milder, but since you aren’t even a rank 1 Purple Moon Warrior, you can’t absorb the energy. Besides, absorbing the energy of the coin is a desperate measure. It’s worth more treating it as money.”

Su Yao talked about the coin as if it was some after-meal story, yet it was the little story that excited Tang Ling the most. It stimulated his admiration of the world.

His gaze on the True Capital Coin was burning. It was not greed for money but the desire to explore the world. He really wanted to step out of the safety sector and travel the vast world.

Su Yao’s unexplained sorrow became heavier when he noticed Tang Ling’s blazing gaze.

He ordered another glass of sweet leaf wine and drained it in a single gulp. He then said to Tang Ling in a rare emotional tone, “Kid, I’m not really that strong. To be honest, every step that you take is difficult, and now you are having trouble with vicious beast meat. Maybe, you might find yourself in the center of trouble...You know, you’re smart and you should understand that your surroundings aren’t very peaceful. If I were stronger, there might not be as much trouble around you since I could keep you safer, but...I keep telling myself you going through all this hardship is also a chance for you to grow. Maybe it’s a good thing for you. I don’t know whether my pathetic self-comfort is correct or not. I really don’t. One day, when you look back, I just want you to know I tried my best.”

Su Yao took a deep puff from his cigarette and looked at Tang Ling.

To his surprise, when Su Yao said those words to him, Tang Ling felt anguish in his heart as he was somehow upset. He gazed back into Su Yao’s eyes and said, “Uncle, why are you saying all these stupid things? It’s really stupid, do you know that? Don’t...you look at the things that I cherish the most like something else. I’m saying that regardless of the type of vicious beast meat or danger, I don’t care about all those.” Tang Ling’s little flaw that kept him from expressing his feelings were in full effect. He was mumbling nonsense, but what he wanted to say was that the relationship between him and Su Yao was above everything else.

“I...don’t need to look back to understand. I understand it now.” Tang Ling curled his fists while his face blushed. He really did not know how to argue.

Pak!

Su Yao kicked Tang Ling off his chair again and he scolded him with a vicious look, “You little bastard! Did Fish Leong give you the courage to call me stupid?”

Tang Ling fell on the floor painfully, but he grinned as he climbed up and sat back down on the chair. He asked, “Who’s Fish Leong?”

“I don’t know. It’s some pop culture reference from the old civilization.” Su Yao’s bad habit was in play. He would never explain what he said, but this time he added a little something at the end, “Actually, I’m just being sentimental just now. Don’t mind me.”

“This world is really unfair. This True Capital Coin might be precious to you and me, but there might be someone in some corner of the world who can simply give the coin out as tips. I’m just saying maybe there’s someone out there who can tip anyone who opens a door for them or whatnot...Actually, in my opinion, such a youngster might not be as powerful as you. You will be strong even if the circumstances that we have to face are harsh.” Su Yao was being naggy as he rambled on.

Tang Ling raised a brow. “Of course, that guy isn’t as strong as me, but...where is he? I want to open the door for him.”

“You little piece of shit, can you be more ambitious?” The vein on Su Yao’s forehead was twitching furiously.

******

Rona liked the moment very much.

She watched as Su Yao and Tang Ling, the big man and the small man, eating in front of her. She watched how they gobbled down the food, how concentrated they were while eating, and how the mountain of food decreased in a second. It somehow calmed her.

“Men and women really eat differently.” Smiling, Rona herself had forgotten to eat. It was when Tang Ling put a piece of meat in her bowl that she came back to her senses.

She felt very happy to the point that she started to imagine things. She wistfully hoped that this little flirting between her and Su Yao that started because of some pricey meat could be real and that they could have a happy ending. She wanted to be by Su Yao’s side and bear his child. With Su Yao around, Tang Ling, the favorable kid, would also be with them and he could be their child’s big brother. The family would sit together and have meals like this together. It was the life that she hoped for.

Her fantasy made her very happy. When Su Yao and Tang Ling finished, she quickly tidied up and flitted away like a butterfly.

“Let’s just sleep here. Ask Rona to set up a room for you. You are a rich little kid with 120K credits.” Su Yao looked askance at Tang Ling.

Tang Ling really wanted to slap himself for what he said. Who asked you to show off? Who asked you to be so stupid?!

“I have to pay back the credits even if I don’t use them.” Tang Ling did not want to owe that much money all of a sudden.

“Cut the crap. Pay a little back first, then earn more with the rest. Then, you can truly clear off your debts. I’m not that poor because of you squeezing my wallet,” Su Yao scolded Tang Ling and silenced him.

Tang Ling then stayed at the Grand Inn since he was very familiar with the place.

The firm bed increased Tang Ling’s sense of security. He had a good sleep all the way to the morning until the communication device beeped. He woke up from his extravagant sleep which refreshed him a lot.

The beep was from Yang Kong who was calling Tang Ling to the cultivation class.

The cultivation class started yesterday evening and it had been a full 18 hours, so the rest of the Fierce Dragon Squad had completed their cultivation session.

“Cultivation, eh?” Tang Ling anticipated the cultivation session a lot. He tidied up and packed the vicious beast meat that Su Yao bought for him. He then sprinted towards the inner city and headed straight for Glory Hall.

Yang Kong was waiting for Tang Ling in front of the entrance of Glory Hall. He brought Tang Ling straight to the top after he arrived.

“Try not to be too ambitious with your first cultivation,” Yang Kong said to Tang Ling all of a sudden when they were heading towards the room with the gene tester.

“How is everyone’s cultivation results? Is it less than ideal?” Tang Ling was more or less worried about his squad.

In fact, not all of the Fierce Dragon Squad completed their first cultivation because there was only so much time at night. Only Amir, Vian, Christina, and Andy completed their first cultivation.

Yu and Orston picked that night.

Yang Kong originally wanted to tell Tang Ling to come over that night after the time was fixed and to be prepared, but this strange kid said he would not mind starting the cultivation in the morning either, so he showed up.

“Not really. In my experience, everyone in the squad that has completed the cultivation session is a lot better than most of the earlier batches of the First Reserved Camp. However, everyone is thinking about how to cultivate and form the energy vortex in their first cultivation,” Yang Kong simply explained.

“Then, did anyone make it?” Tang Ling understood his squad’s feelings.

“None. Amir almost made it and he managed to draw a rough outline of the energy vortex.” Yang Kong paused slightly before he continued, “You really don’t need to pay a lot of attention to the energy vortex during the first cultivation. I’ve said it before. Ever since the First Reserved Camp was formed, only two people manage to form the energy vortex during their first cultivation.”

“Who are they?” Tang Ling frowned as he instinctively asked, but he was actually thinking about other matters.

Amir has formed the outline of the energy vortex? This really isn’t* good news. The method mentioned at the beginning of the addendum is vastly different from the one from Safety Sector No. 17.*

Tang Ling was pondering about a certain matter. He wanted to come up with a decision, but he dared not risk it.

“Aber and Hank. Only two of them from the First Reserved Camp made it.” Yang Kong had no idea what Tang Ling was thinking about, so he revealed the names instead.

“Oh.” Tang Ling was still not concerned.

Both of them arrived in front of the room with the gene tester while they were talking.

Only Yang Kong and Tang Ling were left in the room. Since everyone else had completed their first session, they might be at home or elsewhere now.

Yang Kong started the gene tester, and maybe because of Fei Long’s bias towards Tang Ling, Yang Kong could not help but voice his reminder, “Remember, try to shut your body out at first and let the energy wash your body. Your Genetic Chain Talent might be average, but you should know that’s just about how far you can reach...Theoretically speaking, it shouldn’t affect your cultivation speed.”

“Mm-hmm.” Tang Ling was not paying attention. Shut my body out?

No, he did not want to follow Yang Kong’s way. He decided to follow the addendum’s cultivation method to start the Thousand Satin Skill.

I’m sorry. I guess I’ll disappoint Yang Kong again.

According to the addendum method, there were no improvements in the early stage which might even set him back.

Of course, with sufficient resources backing him up, the setback might not be too obvious, or there may be none at all. Nevertheless, in short, hoping for improvements in the early stage was wishful thinking.

I don’t think I should explain it. Tang Ling originally wanted to keep a low profile. He had always been the last in the First Reserved Camp, so now, being the weakest in the cultivation session would also be reasonable in people’s eyes. He never cared about how people viewed him.

Yang Kong had set up the gene tester and Tang Ling was prepared to go in.

Concern lingered in Yang Kong’s heart as he said for one last time, “Remember, shut your body out. When the energy washes through your body, you might feel a little pain, but it’s nothing compared to the result.”

Yang Kong’s gaze was pure and sincere. He felt a little guilty when he looked at Tang Ling, but not every word could be spoken out loud. Tang Ling averted Yang Kong’s gaze and replied in a soft nasal grunt.

“Go in then.” Yang Kong nodded.

Tang Ling stepped in and sat down with his legs crossed.

However, Yang Kong did not start the machine right away. Instead, he squatted down and asked, “It isn’t an ideal time now. Are you sure you don’t want to wait for the night?”

Yang Kong was still confused about why would Tang Ling insist on starting the cultivation at such a strange timing. Was it a sign of him giving up? He hinted a lot to Tang Long on the way here that it was really unnecessary to give up just because his Genetic Chain Talent was weak.

“It’s fine. Now is fine. More energy, less energy, what difference does it make? Will I suck all the world’s energy into my body during the first cultivation?” Tang Ling not bothered at all.

Truth be told, the energy at night might be richer, but it would also mean that the energy would be cruder. For Tang Ling, who chose the unconventional way to start, it might not be the best idea.

Therefore, even though Yang Kong mistook it as an act of giving up, Tang Ling could not explain himself. He closed his eyes and was ready to start.

Yang Kong sighed. The pity in his heart grew as he turned the gene tester on.

Tang Ling was officially staring his first cultivation and it would surely be a so-called “disappointing” one.