Chapter 32
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nTranslator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
n“Oh?” A low, hoarse laugh could be heard from the other end of the call. “If Duan Tianhe has returned to Linzhou so suddenly, even before the incident at Mount Dadong was settled, he must have learned about the mole from our holy faith and our movement in Linzhou City.”
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nThe middle-aged man appeared to be panicking as he quietly said, “Duan Tianhe’s return is a problem. Lord heavenly general, I’m beginning to think he suspects me too…”
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nHowever, he was interrupted by the hoarse voice before he could finish, “Don’t worry. There will be a greater incident over at Mount Dadong in a week—Duan Tianhe will definitely head over to hold the line, and that is the moment he dies. You should be thinking about how you’ll uncover any unknown elites in Linzhou, and make your move in a week as well.”
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n***
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nLate into the night.
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nAtop a chain of mountains, the propellers of a wind-powered generator were turning with loud humming rumbles.
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nAnd down on an inconspicuous mountain ditch, a figure stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His presence was as grand as the sea. True Qi swirled around him, causing temperatures to plummet and layering frost over nearby weeds.
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nSoon, more figures appeared from the distance to kneel behind him.
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nWithdrawing his True Qi, the figure turned. He was nearing his sixties, his frame appearing withered and his hair was a gray-white. Indeed, with the wrinkles on his face, he looked no different from an average old man.
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n“Send word. The operation will begin in the early hours of the sixth of September. I’ll provide the specifics later. Just stay hidden for now and don’t expose your whereabouts. I’m going for a trip to Mount Dadong, and will have a discussion with the demon king over there.”
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nMoving his feet, the old man left the the mountain ditch in several bounds, disappearing into the night.
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nBehind him, the other figures all called out in one voice, “Safe travels, heavenly general!”
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n***
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nQi Pellet
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nEffect: Rapidly restores a martial artist’s inner strength, True Qi, and True Qi cultivation.
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nJiang He was staring at the weird small tree before him when the data of the qi pellet’s effects appeared before his eyes.
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nBut of course.
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nWas it nothing other than a tree that bears fruits in the form of qi pellets? Jiang He was used to it—what was weird about it anyway? In fact, he had a hunch that the day would come when a full-sized living person was grown on one of his trees.
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nHe turned to his System.
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nName: Jiang He
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nCultivation: Rank Four Intermediate
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nAbility: None
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nMartial Arts Cultivation: Indestructible Diamond (Initiate ), Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms ( ), Strengthened Nine Yang Technique (First Tier )
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nOwned Land: 888m²
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nFarm Level: 2 (EXP 223
/500)
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nSystem Backpack: 6 boxes
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nSystem Shop: Unlocked
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nFarm Points: 73
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n“My EXP used to be at 220, didn’t it? That means one qi pellet gives me three EXP and 10 Farm Points… not bad, not bad.”
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nJiang He did a count. There were 107 qi pellets on the tree. If the one in his hand was counted as well, the grand total would be equal to the gang of Mount Liang (1).
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n“A hundred and seven… and one pellet is three points, giving me a total of three hundred and twenty-one EXP. It’s enough for me to level up!”
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nHe plucked off every qi pellet and dumped them all into his System Backpack. The qi pellet tree before him immediately rapidly withered and crumbled into a pile of ashes.
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nJiang He did not even have to call out to Dumbo. The dog arrived on its own, standing on its rear legs as it dragged a shovel along, which it then used to scoop up the black ashes. Beside them, the Three-Tailed Demon Cat’s yellow eyes widened in surprise.
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nEven Jiang He was stunned by Dumbo’s actions. After spreading out the ashes, Dumbo flung the shovel away and ran to Jiang He’s feet, wagging its tail to ask for the good stuff.
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n“…Didn’t I just give you an entire cucumber? Did you finish it already?”
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nJiang He took out another cucumber and snapped it in two. He threw the bigger chunk to Dumbo and the smaller chunk to the Three-Tailed Demon Cat. Although cats don’t eat cucumbers, the Three-Tailed Demon Cat was a Feral and different in that respect.
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nJiang He had not been feeding it, and he also forbade it from hurting domesticated animals or humans. As such, it had taken up veganism after hunting down every last mouse in the village. Compared to grass, the cucumber was basically gourmet food.
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nDumbo wolfed down his own chunk, finishing the cucumber in a few bites. When it was done, it suddenly reared its head and howled. The wolfdog seemed to enjoy doing that, and its howling was very similar to a wolf’s howl.
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nJiang He wanted to kick it by reflex, but pulled back even though his foot was already out. He sensed an energy converging over Dumbo’s body, and its aura was rapidly rising from rank-one to rank-two.
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nAnd yet, Dumbo’s evolution did not stop after merely its ascension to rank-two. A searing presence cascaded over its body.
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n“Hmmm? Could it be… the awakening to a superpower?”
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nJiang He’s eyes sparkled, watching intently as Dumbo opened its maw again…
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nThere was no howling this time, but a fiery breath instead.
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nA line of data appeared before Jiang He’s eyes.
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nDumbo
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nBreed: Sichuan wolfdog
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nRank: Two
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nAbility: Fire manipulation
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n“Eh?” Jiang He gasped in surprise. “I didn’t plant Dumbo, why would there be data? And hold on, isn’t that data different from Trumbo’s?”
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nWith that, he turned to Trumbo.
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nThree-tails Demon Cat
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nRank: Three Pinnacle
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nAbility: Wind-riding
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nDumbo’s data showed its name directly, along with its breed.
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n“What is with that ‘breed’ thing? Sichuan wolfdog… Could Chief Wang have bought it from Sichuan?” Jiang He mused to himself for a moment before suddenly realizing that there was another question.
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n“We both ate cucumbers. So why did Dumbo awaken superpowers but not me? Is it harder for humans to awaken superpowers compared to animals? So, should I be eating more cucumbers?”
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nHaving a theory in his head, Jiang He then turned towards his System panel again and did a double take.
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nFarm Level: 2 (EXP 554
/500)
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nHis farm had not improved to level 3 even though his EXP was enough. Instead, there was a notification on the System panel.
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n“Level-up materials? Fifty kilograms of rank-seven Feral flesh? Two portions of rank-six Feral flesh, each a hundred kilograms, along with ten liters of rank-six Feral blood?”
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nWhat?!!
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nJiang He glowered. “Rank-seven Ferals are equal to a martial arts grandmaster. Where am I supposed to get their flesh? Moreover, I would be destroyed by a rank-six Feral, wouldn’t I?”
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nIt was pity that the System was rather rigid. If there was some loli system fairy like in the novels he read instead, he would have trampled all over her. Nonetheless, Jiang He calmed down after half a beat.
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n“Two portions of rank-six Feral flesh, which means two different species of Ferals… and I did sense that I could punch above my rank after that fight with Cordo. Although I do wonder if I could really kill a rank-six. I would need a rank-six martial artist to test my theory. As for rank-seven…”
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nJiang He handily whipped out a qi pellet he grew, threw it into his mouth, and gulped it down while musing to himself, “Maybe I could ask the Bureau or the Superpower Research Department if I could buy some rank-seven Feral flesh from them… Eh?”
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nHis eyes widened. “What is going on? Doesn’t it take up to four days to fully absorb a qi pellet? How is it gone the moment I swallowed it? Did I just grow a fake qi pellet???”
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n***
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nTranslator’s Note:
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n(1) A a reference to the classic novel Water Margin, where 108 outlaws gather at Mount Liang (or Liangshan Marsh) to form a sizable army.
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