16: Chapter 16 Can't Afford It

Hearing this,

Gao Changpeng's mind went completely blank.

Looking at him with an expression as if staring at a monster?

"An accidental Breakthrough? Is that something a human being would say?!"

"Mastered three Cultivation Techniques at the same time? Do you know what you're saying?? Are you speaking alien?"

After a while,

Gao Changpeng gradually calmed down.

He cautiously said,

"Um, Lu Chen, if you don't mind... could you come with me for a test?"

"Perhaps there's some misunderstanding, maybe you've made a mistake..."

Lu Chen understood Gao Changpeng's shock.

When he saw the receptionist's reaction,

he knew he might have been mistaken about something.

So, he readily agreed.

He followed Gao Changpeng

to a testing room.

He walked up to a punching machine.

Then threw a punch.

Boom.

Beep.

The display screen flickered with light.

It showed:

1800 kg

Actually,

deep down, Gao Changpeng already believed Lu Chen's words.

He just wanted to confirm.

But seeing the glaring numbers before his eyes,

the stark reality still hit him like a thunderbolt, leaving him dizzy.

Nevertheless,

he still tried his best to remain composed.

Next was the speed test.

The speed of an F-rank, first-layer Warrior is typically 35 m/s.

Lu Chen ran on the speed testing machine.

36 m/s

All the results pointed to one undeniable fact.

Lu Chen had truly achieved a Breakthrough.

He had become a Formal Warrior.

But Gao Changpeng knew,

he was no longer qualified to handle a Genius of this level.

So he immediately made a phone call.

C-2 Base City.

Human Alliance.

Office.

An old man who looked to be in his sixties or seventies, upon hearing Gao Changpeng's report,

immediately stood up from behind his desk.

He was Cai Jiguang.

A C-Rank Warrior.

He was also the direct supervisor for Base City D-1 through Base City D-10.

When he heard that in D-6 Base City, a youth had Awakened his talent and Broken Through to become a Formal Warrior in just one day,

he couldn't help but be greatly astonished.

Even the Alliance Chairman himself,

the legendary first Warrior of the Wasteland humans,

had never accomplished such a miracle during his initial Cultivation.

Cai Jiguang immediately ordered Gao Changpeng to receive Lu Chen with the highest possible protocol.

He must not be slighted.

Cai Jiguang would arrive within 4 hours.

He then immediately booked a fighter jet for an inter-city flight.

Meanwhile,

at the Alliance in D-6 Base City,

Lu Chen looked at Gao Changpeng with confusion.

The man now wore a huge smile on his face,

gazing at Lu Chen as if he were some priceless treasure.

"Why is his reaction so strange? Could it be... he's...?"

After all,

he had just undergone marrow cleansing.

He was quite handsome now.

Lu Chen didn't dare to continue that train of thought.

Seeming to notice Lu Chen's discomfort,

Gao Changpeng quickly snapped back to reality.

He awkwardly smiled

and said,

"Um... Student Lu Chen... no, Mr. Lu... the C2 District Director of our Alliance will arrive at our base city in 4 hours."

"He wishes to meet you. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen was stunned.

A District Director-level figure of the Alliance's C2 region?

That meant the person was at least a D-rank Warrior.

—or even possibly a C-Rank Warrior!

Such a big shot wanted to see him?

He agreed without hesitation.

Within the Human Alliance,

no one dared to act recklessly.

Because its Chairman was the foremost figure among the Wasteland humans.

Lu Chen then asked if he could register his Warrior status now,

and browse the Alliance's internal network.

Gao Changpeng, beaming with smiles, said,

"Of course, Mr. Lu! I'll help you register right now. Please wait a moment."

Lu Chen sat on the sofa waiting.

Twenty minutes later,

Gao Changpeng returned with a black card.

This was the officially certified Warrior ID card of the Human Alliance.

Lu Chen inserted the black card into the Optical Computer on his wrist.

He logged onto the Alliance's internal network.

All the resources needed for a Warrior's Cultivation could be found there.

There were Warrior forums, online trading platforms, and so on.

The Combat Techniques he yearned for were, of course, also there.

Lu Chen was particularly interested in the Combat Techniques of this world's Warriors,

especially Sword Techniques.

He searched the intranet for Sword Techniques above the F-rank.

Because there were also basic Sword Techniques for Quasi-Warriors to learn listed above.

1. Rift Sky Sword – 120 billion yuan

2. Divine Origin Sword – 120 billion yuan

3...

...

100. Breeze Sword Method – 200 million yuan

Soon,

one Combat Technique after another was listed.

There were a hundred Sword Techniques in total.

The cheapest one required 200 million?

Lu Chen stared dumbfounded at the prices.

"120 billion? What the heck is this?!"

"Even though my family is considered wealthy in D-6 Base City, our total net assets are less than 100 million... including investments, dividends, fixed assets like houses, and liquid funds."

"And the cheapest Sword Technique here costs 200 million? How am I supposed to buy that?"

Lu Chen was speechless.

He sat there,

somewhat dejected.

He was genuinely a bit disheartened.

At first, he thought his family was well-off.

Turns out that was only among ordinary people.

Compared to the real cultivation world,

it was like two different dimensions.

He felt helpless inside.

He calculated that he should just buy a basic Sword Technique to practice first.

He could buy those formal Combat Techniques after he saved up enough money.

Gao Changpeng stood nearby,

watching the shifting expressions on Lu Chen's face.

His heart skipped a beat.

Especially when he saw the other's crestfallen look,

he was even more startled.

Did I do something wrong?

Or did I offend him earlier?

Otherwise,

why does he look so upset?

Thinking of this,

Gao Changpeng couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

The Director had repeatedly instructed him

to entertain Lu Chen with the highest level of enthusiasm.

Looking at the other's expression now,

it was as if his own father had died.

Gao Changpeng couldn't help but cautiously ask,

"Mr. Lu, what happened? What's troubling you so much? Have I been a poor host?"