92: Chapter 92 Harvest, Back to Blue Star

"Not bad. Coming out this time, you've not only settled a personal grudge but also lined your pockets with a massive fortune... Tsk tsk!" Manager Jiang Zhou looked at Fang Zhuo with a chuckle.

Just as he was about to step into the cave to take a closer look,

a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. "Huh? Your Life Level... you're not a newly advanced Transcendent, and you're definitely past Level 40!"

"...Manager Jiang really has sharp eyes, haha. Yes, that portion of phoenix essence blood was incredibly effective. It truly lives up to its reputation as one of the Federation's top cultivation treasures. My Life Level happened to increase a bit more by chance."

Fang Zhuo smiled.

He couldn't help but marvel in his heart at the power of a Flying Martial Artist. He had already intentionally concealed his aura using his control from Internal Landscape - Great Achievement.

Yet, his true strength was still seen through at a single glance.

"Heh..." The astonishment in Manager Jiang Zhou's eyes flashed and vanished. A bit? The control of the Heaven-Reaching level was no longer limited to a martial artist's own physical body; it could even radiate outward!

A Life Level of 43!

A single portion of phoenix essence blood?

No matter how good the group's Phoenix Meat Field was, he had personally experienced the effects of the phoenix essence blood. Under normal circumstances, it was absolutely impossible to grant such a massive boost!

Fang Zhuo's Superior Martial Aspect was far more powerful than expected.

Manager Jiang Zhou valued Fang Zhuo more and more in his heart, but he didn't pry further. Instead, he said, "Accompany me inside to take a look. Once we settle our shares, you can head back first."

"Alright."

Fang Zhuo nodded respectfully and followed behind Manager Jiang Zhou.

While he was waiting, he had counted them carefully again. There were a total of 136 depressions on the stone wall.

"136 of them!"

Manager Jiang Zhou stepped into the cave. With just a simple sweep of his gaze, he confirmed the number and said, "Their growth rates vary. The fast ones will mature in over a month, while the slow ones might take more than half a year. For the subsequent harvest, you and the group will split it fifty-fifty. I'll have Sister Lan deliver your share to you in batches. Any issues?"

"Of course not."

Fang Zhuo smiled.

After accompanying Manager Jiang Zhou for a while, he didn't stay long in the Wilderness Area and headed straight back to Starry Sky Base City, returning to the Starry Sky Group headquarters building.

...

The Starry Sky Group building, 25th floor.

At this moment, night was just beginning to shroud the base city. The full moon was rising, casting its bright, clear moonlight into the room.

Bai Shiwei had prepared dinner early. Currently wearing an apron, she sat at the dining table with her chin resting on her hands, her beautiful eyes filled with a complex expression.

On his way back, Fang Zhuo had called her.

"Ding Nan is dead...!"

"A Life Level of 43, and Body Control at Internal Landscape - Great Achievement... I thought that after I reached Level 39, the gap between us would close again. I didn't expect it to widen even further instead."

Bai Shiwei felt a bit downcast, yet at the same time, she felt proud.

"Hubby, you're back? Let me see if you're hurt. Even if you broke through to Level 43 without a word, you shouldn't have been so impulsive. You're not allowed to take risks like this next time!"

While Bai Shiwei was lost in her thoughts, footsteps sounded outside the door. She quickly went over to open it, looking at the slightly tired Fang Zhuo standing outside.

"The battle was entirely under my control. There was no risk."

Fang Zhuo smiled.

If it were truly risky, he would have gone out before his Body Control broke through, rather than waiting until it reached Internal Landscape - Great Achievement.

Though there was only a minor boundary's difference between Internal Landscape - Great Achievement and Minor Achievement, the gap was like night and day!

Having put it to the test in real combat, Fang Zhuo felt this even more deeply.

"I don't care!"

Bai Shiwei pouted and said, "You have no idea how worried I was this afternoon! You said you'd only be out for a little bit!"

"...I did break my word on this. I won't keep things from you in the future."

"Really?"

Fang Zhuo smiled and nodded.

"Then pinky swear."

Bai Shiwei held out her fair hand, her pinky finger wiggling in front of Fang Zhuo.

Helpless, Fang Zhuo could only reach out and hook his pinky with Bai Shiwei's.

"Pinky swear, hang yourself, no changing for a hundred years! Whoever lies is a puppy!"

After chanting the rhyme, Bai Shiwei pursed her lips, her face slightly red. She also felt a bit embarrassed; after all, she was almost graduating from her Martial Arts Undergraduate program and was no longer a child.

"Pack your bags in a bit. We're getting ready to head back to Blue Star."

Fang Zhuo's face showed a hint of anticipation.

Aside from a portion of 'stone milk crystal', he had also looted quite a few valuable items after killing Ding Nan.

A battle-scarred ss-grade combat suit damaged around the waist and abdomen. He didn't know how much it would fetch in recycling, but surely it wouldn't be less than ten million?

After all, the original price was a whopping one billion. Even just as raw materials, it should be worth tens of millions. Otherwise, the various groups would be far too exploitative...!

A butchered Transcendent Exotic Beast, a 'Horned Lion', with a Life Level of 45. The materials from its entire body wouldn't sell for less than a hundred million.

Transcendent Martial Artists really are the ones who make the big bucks!

An Advanced Martial Artist, after painstakingly killing a level 30-odd exotic beast, would only make slightly over ten thousand. As for elementary and intermediate exotic beasts around level 10 to 20, they were worth even less.

This was also why a large number of Elementary and Intermediate Martial Artists usually chose to do ordinary jobs in the safe rear of Blue Star.

To make a living on Origin Star, one had to at least be an Advanced Martial Artist to make a decent profit. Otherwise, there was really no need to risk life and limb for a few thousand credits.

The last good item in Ding Nan's tactical backpack was an entirely pitch-black herb.

Fang Zhuo didn't recognize it. The reason he was certain it was a good item was because it was packaged so exquisitely and carefully! That small jade box almost matched the specifications of the one used to hold the 'phoenix essence blood'!

He wondered how much it would be worth.

His conservative estimate was at least a few hundred million.

Thinking of Ding Nan and the Transcendent Martial Artist who had been backstabbed to death by him—both of whom came from the Tengfei Group—Fang Zhuo guessed that this might be a precious medicine produced by the Tengfei Group.

"If I turn these resources over and exchange them for things suitable for Shi Wei, the transactions back and forth will amount to several billion! Adding the eight ss-grade combat suits I haven't disposed of yet... it's time to head home, purchase the dragon-shaped grass, and restore my father's vitality!"

Fang Zhuo took a deep breath.

In just over three months, his strength had undergone such a massive transformation, and the money on hand had increased by more than a hundredfold. Even he hadn't expected this.

He had thought this day would take at least a year or two to arrive.

Among these, talent, hard work, and the group's resources were all crucial. It could be said that none of them could have been missing!

...

The next day.

At noon, the warm winter sun was shining down generously.

Mingyue Residential Community, Jinhe City.

"Old man, Fang Zhuo has been at the Starry Sky Group for over three months now. I wonder how the food is over there, and if it's to his liking?"

Li Ru pushed the wheelchair, walking along the edge of the residential community's garden.

"I heard from Sister Xueling next door that Origin Star's gravity is 1.3 times that of Blue Star, and the oxygen level is only 15%. Even for Intermediate Martial Artists... it might not be very comfortable, right?"

Fang Wu sat in the wheelchair. Hearing his wife's nagging, he said testily, "Stop worrying blindly. That kid even brought his wife over there; his life is bound to be comfortable."

"By the way, that kid got a wife and forgot his mother. Does that make you feel bad?"

Though only a little over three months had passed, Fang Wu seemed to have aged more than ten years. His short hair was frosted with white, and the wrinkles on his face had visibly multiplied.

Facing her old man's teasing, Li Ru gave a soft snort and said, "Fang Zhuo has been sensible since he was a child. During his high school and junior college years, even though he wanted to practice martial arts, he rarely asked the family for money. Instead, he worked quietly on his own."

"Three months ago, he married Shi Wei and suddenly asked the family for money. At first, I thought the boy had been blinded by a woman, but it turned out he was cultivating himself. Now he's suddenly rushed all the way to the Starry Sky Group. I still find it hard to believe even now!"

"In the past, Sister Xueling next door never even looked me in the eye, but now she's incredibly warm. All of this is because our son entered the Starry Sky Group."

At this, Li Ru's eyes filled with a smile, but she suddenly sighed, "Before Fang Zhuo went to the Starry Sky Group, he was holding in a burst of determination. He must have set his mind on saving enough money to buy you a treasure to restore your vitality. Every time he gave us a hasty call, he only reported the good news and kept the bad to himself, all because he was afraid we'd worry."