CHAPTER 145: CHAPTER 145: WHO IS THAT WU SEN? (EXTRA FOR THE LEADER WHO GOT ANGRY)

Having settled the matters with the Circle, Lu Luo was momentarily unclear about where he should go next. Should he return to school? Or should he go home?

He glanced at Qi Xinzhu, who showed no intention of leaving. Where should he take her?

"Aren’t you going back?"

"Back where?"

"Don’t you usually live at Han Shiyu’s place?"

"Senior Sister went to get your wall visa. She won’t be back until tomorrow."

"Is there a spot in the dorm at school?"

"No."

"Then where do you plan to stay?"

"I don’t know."

Fine, you all are incredible.

Lu Luo felt helpless about Qi Xinzhu sticking with him. He really wanted to go and ride a tricycle!

Sigh, I’m about to head beyond the wall, where it’s so dangerous and difficult. If I don’t take a leisurely tricycle ride to relax, I’ll feel like I’m letting myself down. But now, saddled with this burden, I can’t fulfill this simple wish.

"Well, you can come home with me, then."

Qi Xinzhu didn’t immediately agree. Instead, she turned her head away, hiding the smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Okay."

For some reason, neither of them brought up taking the rail train, just like the last time Lu Luo carried her on his back. They walked all the way to Lu Luo’s home.

Downstairs, they casually ate some street food before returning to the apartment.

Different from last time, both of them were completely sober, and Lu Luo took the initiative to suggest that Qi Xinzhu sleep in the bedroom while he would sleep in the living room.

But before Qi Xinzhu could nod, the door opened again, and it was Lu Yang.

When their gazes met, Lu Yang wished he could punch himself. Damn it, I just wanted to pack some clothes, why is it so difficult?

"Hey! I’m just passing by; carry on."

Having said that, Lu Yang decisively closed the door behind him.

Standing at the door, Lu Yang felt a bit helpless. Why did I bump into my little brother and his girlfriend *both times* I came back to pack? How frequent *are* they? Isn’t this too much? Can’t they show a little consideration? Are they really going to torment a single guy like me to death in his own home? (╥﹏╥)

Forget it, forget it. I’ll just buy clothes when I get back to the Inner Ring!

After Lu Yang left, Lu Luo awkwardly smiled at Qi Xinzhu and closed the bedroom door for her.

Qi Xinzhu rested inside the room while Lu Luo cultivated outside. Because he was about to go beyond the wall, he had become even more diligent recently.

The first half of the night passed without incident.

It wasn’t until deep into his late-night cultivation that Lu Luo suddenly felt something was amiss. He opened his eyes to find Qi Xinzhu sitting opposite him.

"Ah, what are you doing?"

"The bedroom’s seal isn’t very good. Your cultivation has filled the room with mist, making it impossible to sleep."

Qi Xinzhu didn’t say that she came out because she couldn’t sleep; admitting such a thing would be out of character for her.

"Ah? Oh... sorry about that."

Lu Luo looked around at the scattering mist, which indeed was substantial, giving off an ethereal vibe, and he suddenly felt quite awkward.

"Lu Luo, do you have a goal of your own?" Qi Xinzhu suddenly asked.

"A goal? Of course, I do."

"What is it?"

"To break through the Third Tier first."

Qi Xinzhu was somewhat speechless. It wasn’t that his goal was bad or unrealistic, but the kind of goal she was asking about wasn’t this.

"Don’t you have anything else? Something more ambitious?"

"I haven’t even broken through the Third Tier yet. You’re not suggesting I start thinking about the Fourth Tier, are you?"

"You! You know that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about ideals, life goals, that sort of thing."

"Ideals, huh!"

Lu Luo’s gaze gradually grew deeper as he thought for a while before slowly speaking.

"May the world know peace, and also, half-price vegetables."

This?

Qi Xinzhu originally wanted to say that these two ideals were too vague.

But upon closer thought, world peace and half-price vegetables didn’t seem like easy things to achieve. In fact, they might be very difficult.

World peace required the elimination of all Exotic Species that threatened humanity. Half-price vegetables, on the other hand, would require a complete overhaul of the existing rules of the Alliance.

Neither of these wishes was likely to be achieved by one person alone.

Thinking this, Qi Xinzhu sincerely nodded her head.

"Alright, your ideals are grand, and they’re more practical than mine too."

Lu Luo had simply made a casual remark and didn’t understand why Qi Xinzhu was being so reflective.

"Well, if you say so."

"Let’s cultivate together. Aren’t you going to buy equipment tomorrow?"

Qi Xinzhu took the initiative to suggest this. She really liked cultivating with Lu Luo because, beside him, her cultivation speed could even increase more than twentyfold.

Lu Luo had intended to refuse, but after thinking it over, Qi Xinzhu hadn’t asked for anything excessive, so he didn’t turn her down.

However, Lu Luo found that this girl was particularly overbearing at night because she always stuck close to him.

She was so close that he couldn’t concentrate on his cultivation at all. His sitting posture became stiff and uncomfortable, utterly distracting him from training. He made no progress throughout the night.

Indeed, women only hinder my progress in becoming stronger.

「The next day.」

Lu Luo and Qi Xinzhu first went to Han Shiyu to pick up the wall visa she had prepared for them.

Today, Han Shiyu was dressed in a red bodycon dress, causing not only Lu Luo to stare dumbfoundedly but also Qi Xinzhu to glance her way frequently.

Lu Luo had originally thought that Han Shiyu would be able to get him a mercenary visa, but upon receiving it, he realized that it wasn’t so.

"Mining exploration? Assigned by East Ring University? A 20-day visa? Professor Han, why are our visas always these strange oddities?"

"Getting a 20-day visa for mining exploration is already quite difficult, okay? If you don’t like it, go get yourself a mercenary group one."

Although the 20-day period was a bit less than what he had expected, it was still okay, at least better than the previous herbalist visa.

"Well, being a miner isn’t so bad."

"This time it’s quite a long trip, so you both need to be careful about safety."

As Lu Luo was about to leave, Han Shiyu winked at him, which was clearly a flirtatious gesture.

Lu Luo, being an upright gentleman, naturally fixed his gaze directly on her, bidding Professor Han a proper farewell.

"Got it, Professor Han, we’re leaving."

"We’re off then, Senior Sister."

「After parting with Han Shiyu.」

Lu Luo contacted Gu Fangyi to go with them to the Four Squares District market to buy some equipment.

He took 50,000 from Zhou Kai for this operation’s working capital. The company was now on the right track, with more people, and was no longer a private workshop.

So after this operation, this sum of money would be accounted for.

Then he had over 30,000 on his person, which was his share of the last dividend, effectively his private stash.

Together, that made over 80,000, and Lu Luo felt it necessary to spend all that money to improve his combat readiness for when he was out.

To save time, the three of them split up. Lu Luo gave Gu Fangyi 20,000, Qi Xinzhu 10,000, and he kept over 50,000 for purchasing supplies.

First was Gu Fangyi, who was responsible for buying ammunition.

In addition to regular bullets, Gu Fangyi also stocked up on 15 grenades, 5 stun grenades, 3 smoke grenades, and many other military items.

Qi Xinzhu, on the other hand, was in charge of buying tools and equipment. Following the list given to her by Lu Luo, she made her purchases.

Qi Xinzhu bought nails, wire, hooks, ropes, and other common tools. Then, as Lu Luo had instructed, she also bought two sets of pig-nose gas masks.

Lu Luo hadn’t told her why he needed two gas masks, but she bought them as requested anyway.

Lastly, there was Lu Luo. He first bought 50 grams of Dark Spirit Stones, a Clarity Herb, and an eyeball of a Third Tier bird Exotic Species. These cost him a total of 45,000.

He also had 30 grams of Dark Spirit Stones in stock. Combined with his purchase, he now had all the materials needed to upgrade Observer and Fusioner.

Then he found a place and first carried out Sequence Enhancement on two Grade S Sequences.

He had been able to gather the materials needed to enhance these two Sequences for some time, but it was the Sequence Value that truly hindered him.

"Enhance S-11 Observer."

[Enhancing S-11 Observer, requirements: 500 energy + Sequence Value 10 + First Tier profession + Clarity Herb + bird Exotic Species eyeball + 30 grams of Dark Spirit Stone]

[Sequence S-11 Observer upgraded to LV2, basic effects of Observer significantly improved.]

[Your Observer can now discern the opponent’s basic attributes.]

[Your overclock mode has been enhanced, and you have gained the ability ’Imitation’.]

[Your Observer can search for Fusioner item recipes.]

Effect 1-Information: Provides tips.

Effect 2-Imitation: In overclock mode, you can imitate the opponent’s actions and techniques, but imitation is not replication.

Introduction: Eyes that see through everything.

"Continue, enhance Fusioner."

[Enhancing S-04 Fusioner, requirements: 500 energy + Sequence Value 20 + First Tier profession + 50 grams of Dark Spirit Stone]

[Sequence S-04 Fusioner upgraded to LV2, basic effects of Fusioner significantly improved.]

[Your Fusioner can now synthesize items up to +1 higher quality, currently rare.]

[Your Fusioner can fuse energy for you.]

[Your Fusioner can fuse Secret Techniques for you, though it consumes a lot of resources and takes a long time.]

Effect 1-Fusion: Fuses items.

Effect 2-Change: Alters items.

Introduction: Hands that create everything.

Just as Lu Luo had expected, the improvements of these two Grade S Sequences did not directly enhance his physical strength.

However, there were many, many soft improvements.

For example, the ability to see others’ basic attributes was something he had only used when the Doomsday Disc was active.

Of course, the super Observer in that state could see much more than just attributes. It could pierce through all of an opponent’s weaknesses, Sequences, and attributes, immediately providing the most effective battle strategy. This is a type of soft improvement to my strength, I suppose.

Then there was the Fusioner. It now gave clear indications of item synthesis levels—currently up to rare—and it could also help him fuse energy.

He temporarily couldn’t consider fusing equipment, mainly because he was too poor. This can wait. Once I go beyond the wall and have the materials and energy, I can try some experiments.

As for fusing energy, that should be an ability he could use right away.

After attaining the Affinity of Light, he could convert Dark Energy into Holy Radiance.

Does this mean if I save up a wave of Holy Radiance, I can unleash some kind of Holy Radiance-steam combo? A symphony? Arms and provisions arriving simultaneously? It sounds very impressive, but I wonder what the actual effect will be.

Next was the fusion of Secret Techniques.

If I’m not mistaken, this function could blend my current Secret Techniques? Can it create even more formidable Secret Technique effects?

Lu Luo’s current Secret Techniques included only Dust Devil and Sword Heart Style.

However, these two techniques were from entirely different systems. Dust Devil belonged to status and energy-based Secret Techniques, while Sword Heart Style was a swordsmanship Secret Technique.

Their development directions were vastly different, making them unfit for fusion.

It seems I still need to find a way to acquire more Secret Techniques and then use Fusioner to optimize my skills.

The path to becoming stronger is long and arduous. I should set a small goal first: get all attributes to 50 and reach the threshold of the Third Tier.

After Lu Luo completed the enhancements, Qi Xinzhu and Gu Fangyi had returned.

They had planned to buy several mobile phones, but looking at the current situation, it seemed difficult, as he was out of money.

After the Wraith Blade shattered, Lu Luo needed a new melee weapon.

In the Wasteland, it was impossible to always have bullets for resupply, and fists weren’t as effective as weapons.

Thus, a suitable melee weapon was very necessary.

"What kind of weapon are you planning to buy? A cross sword?"

Since the two had always trained together, Qi Xinzhu was familiar with Lu Luo’s fighting style. At present, he always wielded a single two-handed cross sword.

"No, the cross sword is still too narrow. I plan to buy two two-handed greatswords."

"Two two-handed greatswords? You mean to dual-wield?"

Qi Xinzhu imagined Lu Luo dual-wielding two-handed greatswords. He seems a bit too slender for that!

Although his height was not bad, at 1.86 or 1.87 meters, in this world where Transcendents of the Wasteland Alliance were in abundance, he didn’t quite have an imposing and robust stature.

Generally, those who swung heavy weapons were freakishly strong and exceptionally tall individuals, and they mostly used both hands for a single weapon as well.

For Lu Luo to now dual-wield two-handed greatswords, it seemed rather odd.

It’s like a relatively slender person carrying two door panels on their back.

"Are you sure you want to do this? It might not look very good."

"Dual-wielding two-handed greatswords doesn’t look good? What kind of taste is that? Womanly concerns."

Lu Luo spent the last of his money and bought two alloy greatswords at a price of 2,600 each.

Besides being heavy and having a high base attack, these two swords had no special attributes.

But now, with Qi He to handle Specter Species, he didn’t care much about whether the greatswords had any attributes or not.

Big enough, heavy enough, with enough reach—perfect.

"Alright, we’re about ready. Let’s get going."

"We’re leaving today?" Gu Fangyi was also somewhat surprised.

"Yeah, we leave today."

「Meanwhile, at Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals.」

As Lu Luo and his two companions were preparing to leave the wall, in the Little Purple Vial drug research lab of Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals, also known as Zhang Desheng’s lab:

Song Hana kept caressing the fake scar on her nose, her expression exceedingly grim.

The anger in her eyes was plain to see, obvious to anyone who wasn’t foolish.

Now, no one dared to start a conversation with Song Hana, for they were company veterans who knew very well that whoever spoke up at this moment would get chewed out, with absolutely no exceptions.

"Five Second-Tiers, five whole Second-Tiers are dead! Second-Tier Transcendents can already apply to become Hunters!

In the company, Second-Tiers are either team leaders or deputy team leaders. How many team leaders does the East Ring branch even have?

In just over a month, you’ve squandered five Second-Tiers, making every team leader anxious.

Zhang Desheng, is this the result you’re giving me? Is *this* the result of the Exotic Species Power Little Purple Vial series? Is this what I wanted?

Tell me, how do you wish to die?"

Zhang Desheng felt he had been set up, betrayed by Wu Sen. That Wu Sen could clearly use the little purple vial, and he’d accepted it so easily!

But why then, when other Second-Tiers tried it, just like in the previous experiments, did the little purple vial turn into poison—extremely potent poison, with no antidote available?

Experiment after experiment, failure after failure, Zhang Desheng knew he had exhausted all of Song Hana’s patience.

Today, I am undoubtedly going to die.

"Supervisor, I swear that Wu Sen really did inject the little purple vial that time. You can kill me, but I didn’t lie to you about this."

Song Hana suddenly burst into laughter, patting Zhang Desheng’s wrinkled face.

"Of course, I know you didn’t lie to me. Didn’t you also let the little red vial’s formula slip out before?

Right now, there are roughly 40 to 50 unmarked little red vials circulating in the market. Zhang Desheng, guess whether this has anything to do with you?"

Song Hana took out one of the little red vials that Qi Xinzhu and Han Shiyu had made, her face full of mirth.

Who would have thought they’d actually manage to replicate something like the little red vial? It seems their connections are quite extensive; they even found their way to the Church’s Believers of Light. And the distribution channels they chose are quite interesting too—Hui Min Commerce, entrusting the task to a student. Amusing. Is it because the real mastermind is unwilling to show their face? Lu Luo... he must be one of those youngsters still tied to company contracts, right? Who did he turn to for support? Hongtu, or Sea Star? He’s even secured the endorsement of Hunters—truly impeccable! However, the little red vial isn’t technologically complex, so it’s not surprising that these two companies could produce imitations. Compared to the little red vial, I’m more interested in that Wu Sen who injected the little purple vial. Who exactly is he?

"Supervisor, Wu Sen... is Captain Wu Sen."

"Heh, Captain Wu Sen, huh? He’s already dead. So, you better think carefully. Who *was* Wu Sen that day?"