32: spying

Time flew by, and in a blink of an eye, August was coming to an end.

Since the Fire Hammer Squad was on vacation, Qiao Yu and Luo Feng could only take a vacation with them. This time was perfect for studying the saber techniques, movement techniques, and guiding techniques of the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade.

Qiao Yu and Luo Feng had both purchased the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade, so they could practice and discuss it together without fear of the Security Bureau coming to their door.

Both were amazed by the profoundness of the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade. Unfortunately, time was too short, and besides the guiding techniques, neither of them had even mastered the first layer.

"It's too difficult. Every time I try to use the first layer of dark power, my muscle cells get damaged. If it weren't for the flesh and blood mycelium replenishing them in time, I probably wouldn't succeed even once out of ten attempts."

Qiao Yu endured the pain of his arm deforming, mobilizing the flesh and blood mycelium within his body to repair the muscles torn by the dark power inside his arm.

The first layer of the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade requires an additional burst of dark power to be unleashed at the moment of swinging the saber, superimposed on that strike, and it must be a full-strength swing, using 100% of one's power.

He practiced the 18 moves of just the first layer no less than a thousand times every day.

From initially being unable to find the way to exert force and unleash dark power, to later being able to unleash dark power with every move—these were all the results of thousands of painstaking practices.

The first layer of dark power can exert 1.4 times the force, but to use it correctly, this dark power also needs to be swung outwards. Currently, Qiao Yu only succeeds in superimposing the dark power onto the swung saber two or three times out of ten.

The dark power crisscrossed between his arm muscles. Each failure was equivalent to his arm enduring an attack of 1.4 times his own strength, which truly made him suffer a lot.

But there were also many benefits. Qiao Yu's precision in muscle control and the speed at which he used the fungal swarm to repair his body both improved significantly.

Especially in body repair, Qiao Yu could completely assert that even if he were injured in battle in the future, he could instantly restore himself to optimal condition through the flesh and blood mycelium.

The enemy would grow more and more tired with each strike, while Qiao Yu could refresh his optimal state every moment, practically making him a perpetual motion machine.

After putting on his complete set of equipment, Qiao Yu went out to meet Luo Feng. Today was the day they officially left the Base City, and also the first step for Qiao Yu and his fungal swarm into the Wilderness Area!

"Qiao Yu! Luo Feng!"

Hearing Chen Gu's call from outside, Qiao Yu and Luo Feng rose from the living room.

In the living room, Luo Hongguo, Gong Xinlan, and Luo Hua silently watched the two, not speaking.

It was false to say they weren't worried; every time a martial artist ventured out, their families behind them would be anxious and afraid, fearing that the pillar of their family would leave and never return.

"Xiao Feng, Xiao Yu, be careful, safety first!"

Gong Xinlan said with a worried expression, unable to help herself.

"Don't worry, Mom."

Luo Feng grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

"Auntie, I'll keep an eye on Luo Feng, and I definitely won't let him get some illegitimate child out there!"

Qiao Yu joked casually, also smiling as he spoke.

Gong Xinlan's worry receded quite a bit, and she nodded slightly.

"Brother, Brother Yu, maybe when you come back, you'll get to eat my wedding candy!"

Luo Hua cheered up and said with a smile to Qiao Yu and Luo Feng.

"Great! I'll eat your wedding candy when I get back!"

Luo Feng patted his younger brother's head.

"Luo Hua, I'll give you a surprise when I get back!"

Qiao Yu suddenly spoke. Besides finding a suitable place for the fungal swarm to nest in the Wilderness Area, another purpose of this trip was to kill enough monsters and use the flesh and blood mycelium to reshape Luo Hua's legs.

"Brother Yu, what surprise? Can you give me a hint in advance?"

Luo Hua showed a sly smile, wanting to pry some information from Qiao Yu.

"A surprise that will allow you to regain your former glory!"

"Brother Yu! Don't talk nonsense in front of my parents! What 'regain former glory'?!"

Qiao Yu casually made a joke, making Luo Feng's family burst into laughter.

"A-Yu, let's go!"

Luo Feng patted Qiao Yu's shoulder and walked away without looking back.

After the two met up with Chen Gu and another team member, Zhang Ke, at the villa entrance, they set off together for HR Mall to meet the other members of the Fire Hammer Squad.

Luo Feng's family silently watched the four quickly walk away until they disappeared from sight... At the entrance of the 88-story HR Building in the main urban area of Jiangnan Base City.

"Sir, please come in."

The automatic doors of the lobby opened, and the doormen on both sides of the entrance bowed thirty degrees.

The Underground Alliance, formed by the world's major super families and financial groups, had a headquarters that exuded luxury.

Golden patterns adorned the shiny floor tiles, and every corner had perfectly placed decorations, simple in style yet imbued with a subtle, luxurious culture.

Even Qiao Yu, who had stayed in five-star hotels in his previous life, was seeing such luxurious decor for the first time.

"Let's go sit at the bar and wait for the captain and the others."

Chen Gu suggested with a smile.

The four sat directly on the sofa next to the bar.

"Four sirs, what would you like to drink?"

A graceful female server bowed slightly, smiling beautifully.

"We can't be careless entering the Wilderness Area, so let's not drink alcohol. I'll have Tieguanyin."

Chen Gu said directly.

"Jasmine Pu'er."

Zhang Ke said with a faint smile.

Luo Feng saw that the two 'drinkers' were now abstaining from alcohol, knowing that entering the Wilderness Area was no joke, and replied with a smile.

"Then I'll have a cup of Pu'er tea too."

"I'll have Longjing."

The predecessor of Jiangnan Base City was originally famous for Longjing tea, so Qiao Yu naturally wanted to taste the current Longjing tea.

"Qiao Yu, Luo Feng. The biggest advantage of this Underground Alliance Mall is that we can sell the monster materials we hunt to them at a high price. The upside is that the price will be higher than the Dojo of Limits, but the downside is that there are no contribution points from the martial arts academy."

"Generally, we start by selling to the Underground Alliance to accumulate some funds for better equipment before we start accumulating contribution points. After all, equipment can be purchased at half price through proxy, so there's no rush to save up contribution points."

"Of course, the specific choice is up to individual decision."

Chen Gu explained to Qiao Yu and Luo Feng.

The two nodded in response, as this was explained in posts on the martial artist forum, so they were already aware.

"Brother Wang, you've been up all night..."

A clear female voice rang out, making Luo Feng, who was about to drink his tea, feel as if he had been electrocuted.

"Love is in the air."

Qiao Yu squinted at Luo Feng, teasing him.

Luo Feng scratched his head and smiled at Qiao Yu and the other two.

"Brother Chen, Brother Zhang, A-Yu, I'm going over there for a bit."

With that, he got up and walked towards the bar.

Chen Gu and Zhang Ke looked at Qiao Yu with gossipy eyes, hoping to get some details from him.

Luo Feng and Xu Xin chatted at the bar, while Qiao Yu, Chen Gu, and Zhang Ke chattered on the sofa.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! I didn't expect Luo Feng to be so secretly lewd before!"

Chen Gu slapped his thigh, laughing heartily, and Zhang Ke also couldn't stop smiling.

"Also..."

Qiao Yu was about to continue gossiping about Luo Feng when he suddenly shivered, cold sweat breaking out. It felt as if he had been targeted by some monstrous beast in an instant.

He warily looked around but found nothing.

"This kid isn't completely stupid..."

In a building not far from the HR Building, a man in a silver hoodie narrowed his eyes, watching Qiao Yu, and spoke playfully.