ASER - Chapter 113
Chapter 113: Big Brother, Don't Be Like This
Danzhou Academy.
Qu Jiangnan and the Principal's resources primarily came from the academy, the academy alliance, and state support. However, while academy students might spend over three days a week at school, Qu Jiangnan only taught one day a week, the rest being her free time. It was impossible to say she was always working in her residence; most of her time was spent out in the wilds, grinding. She had originally set aside some time for A'Diao, but now that A'Diao had run off, she found herself with more free time.
Since she was free, there was nothing more important than enhancing her strength.
So, she was also in the outer wilderness. But just as she was clearing a level-six cavern in Danzhou's most desolate area, the Principal suddenly contacted her.
"What's wrong?" Qu Jiangnan manipulated Mental Threads with her fingertips, directing Spiritual Power for continuous attacks, while simultaneously conversing with the Principal.
"Qingzhou contacted me. They're calling an early assembly. The Grand Commandant has a bad feeling and has already issued a summons for the academy's upper echelons."
The Grand Commandant of Qingzhou? He was someone whose word was law, holding a significant position in the Tang Song Nation. Moreover, he was young; unlike those so old their futures were predictable, his potential was immeasurable.
So, the Principal obviously couldn't refuse him.
"Everyone is going?"
"No, they probably know Danzhou is weak, so they only invited you and me. But I told him that once you leave Danzhou, you're easily pestered by all sorts of troublesome people. He said it's fine; with him around, whoever bothers you, he'll eliminate them. My god, so domineering! Even I was moved listening to it. Do you think he's interested in you?"
Qu Jiangnan: "???"
Just focus on being a principal and watch fewer of those trashy Mary Sue dramas, okay?
Qu Jiangnan hung up the phone and looked towards the Southern Sea Region, lost in thought.
Danger also meant opportunity.
Why did she have a feeling that unlucky disciple of hers had also run off in that direction?
With a flick of her fingertips, over a thousand Mental Threads condensed into a small mental sword. It instantly pierced the brain of the level-6 BOSS that had emerged from hiding in a surprise attack, penetrating its spiritual body.
Insta-kill.
With the "Truly Extraordinary" second scroll, and under the gushing, fountain-like torrent of dual Spiritual Energy from the Great Spirit Gate and Toilet, A'Diao managed to raise her Spiritual Power cultivation to the double-A level and increase her Mental Threads to 100 strands within the two days it took the spaceship to reach the southern coast.
Her strength had skyrocketed!
The efficiency was too high.
A'Diao even wanted to just stay inside the dimensional Spirit Plant Body and not leave.
However, after being reminded by Xiao Yuanbao, A'Diao stood at the spaceship window, looking down at the coast below.
The coast of the Five Prefectures was a continuous shoreline, its geographical features divided into beaches and rainforests, named Fuxing Beach and Guan Rainforest respectively. Before the Spiritual Energy resurgence, this place was also a top resort destination for the Five Prefectures. Unfortunately, after the Spiritual Energy resurgence, the sea region, already abundant in Spiritual Energy, saw frequent cavern openings, leading to many deaths and temporary desolation. After human cultivators recovered over the following two or three months, cultivators from all Five Prefectures came here to adventure, grind monsters, and level up. However, when the sea crisis erupted later, these grinders couldn't hold out. The authorities of the Five Prefectures intervened, and now a large number of cultivators from across the Five Prefectures had gathered, making it the current largest cavern adventure site in the Five Prefectures.
But the place was beautiful, the rainforest almost unbelievably lush. A tree that should have only grown five or six meters tall now reached twenty to thirty meters, thick and towering, its very biological characteristics altered. Leaves were so large they could be used as blankets, pitcher plants could swallow an elephant in one gulp, mimosa plants released deadly poison gas when "shy," and vines could instantly pierce your body...
But you couldn't deny its beauty, nor its mystery.
All this originated from the powerful Spiritual Energy constantly fluctuating from the ocean, nourishing everything.
At first glance, the ocean surface, conversely, appeared normal, no different from usual, but A'Diao felt a sense of dread.
The more ordinary, the more terrifying.
The originally deserted, dense resort villages had become residences for these cultivators and military and government personnel. But with too many people and limited living spaces, securing a spot often required a substantial amount of money. More wilderness cultivators still chose to camp in the woods surrounding the resorts. However, they no longer dared to venture into more desolate areas, nor did they dare to go alone. Most huddled together for warmth, afraid of "cooling down" before their campfires even died out.
A'Diao, whose motto was "Rise up to avoid suffering," certainly wouldn't endure this hardship. She currently held 6.5 billion in assets, and though not yet liquidated, she had already started acting like a wealthy big shot. She directly booked the best resort villa—the Sea-Sky One Hue Resort Villa.
Three million star coins a night, enjoying the most high-end, VIP, personalized service.
What was VIP personalized service?
It was service that cost money.
When A'Diao, in the guise of the 30-year-old Zhao Ritian, wearing red beach shorts, a floral shirt, and flip-flops, swaggered into the Sea-Sky One Hue Resort Villa and pulled out a black gold card, she instantly became infinitely dazzling in the elegant, fifteen-mu lobby.
Even her red shorts seemed as if they were inlaid with gold, and her unremarkable features became exceptionally charming.
"So Your Excellency is also a client of our Huayao Bank. Because of the black gold card you hold, you are entitled to..." The VIP manager personally received her, selected the best unoccupied room, and arranged for top-tier food and beverage services, among other things. Of course, the price was also increased somewhat...
Do the wealthy need discounted services?
No, what she needed was more expensive, higher-grade service.
—Finding the best way for you to spend more money is the core principle of our service.
Toilet watched A'Diao spend money like water and couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Corruption, indeed. Getting rich by illicit means truly corrupts a person.
After entering the room on the 35th floor, which was fully automated, A'Diao waved her hand. The huge balcony doors opened automatically, revealing a large, fragrant terrace with flowers and plants, suitable for a barbecue for twenty people. A'Diao leaned on the railing and gazed at the distant sea.
As far as her naked eye could see, dark clouds capped the distant sea, rain poured down in torrents, and thunder occasionally rumbled.
A storm.
Yet here, the sun shone brightly; it was quite peculiar.
Standing on the balcony, A'Diao could hear the idle chatter of other guests next door.
"The thunderstorm is in Zone B. People over there are mostly out of contact now; signals can't get through, and we don't know the situation. Zone B has a total of 6 caverns: one level-eight, two level-seven, and three level-six. Such a huge phenomenon is, nine times out of ten, caused by a level-eight Demonic Spirit BOSS. It's too terrifying. Zone B is now as dangerous as Zone A."
"Level-six BOSSes can already use Daoist arts; level-eight ones can conjure celestial phenomena. Even an upper-rank Transcendent expert would surely die if they encountered it. Anyway, we can't go to Zone B next. Let's choose Zone C."
These people must have been on the coast for some time and knew the areas well. A'Diao thought for a moment, went inside, and soon came out with a bag of fruit, smilingly asking the cultivators having a meal on the adjacent balcony.
"Brothers, how are you all..."
A'Diao spent an hour chatting and bantering with these cultivators, after which she was added to the group chat of the coastal region's wilderness cultivators.
Originally, these people were in one group, but inevitably, everyone was in more than one group, so after chatting around, she ended up joining several.
Each group had about a thousand people...
However, she joined the groups quite discreetly. These cultivators were all worried about the celestial phenomenon in Zone B, and few paid any mind to a newcomer. A'Diao also knew that trying to farm Mental Power now was inappropriate and might even be counterproductive, so she didn't make a fuss, just chatted idly with people and occasionally ate barbecue. It was during their conversation that she learned these people were from Qingzhou.
From Qingzhou, huh? No wonder they were so strong, B-rank on average, with several A-ranks.
But this team wasn't the most outstanding on the coast.
"The day before yesterday, when I was returning, I happened to fly over Zone B and saw a team entering it. Good heavens, they were practically all Forbidden Masters! They slaughtered their way through, annihilating everything they encountered. It was terrifying."
The man exclaimed in admiration while munching on cauliflower. A'Diao was shocked. That strong?
"Were there five of them?"
"Yeah, you know them?"
"You wouldn't know if you were out. That group arrived three days ago. Their origins are mysterious, but they sound like they have our Qingzhou accent."
The people of Qingzhou were very confident in their prefecture's strength, a sense of pride in their words. Someone turned and asked A'Diao where she was from.
This "Big Brother" was extremely wealthy and didn't look like an ordinary person, but he truly lacked the aura of a powerful expert. They all assumed he was some young master from a rich family who had come to the coast to burn money and gain experience.
"I'm not from the Five Prefectures," A'Diao said simply, then casually asked, "Is your captain also from Qingzhou?"
"Naturally."
Just as they were speaking, a young man walked out from inside the room.
He had a crew cut and wore practical, close-fitting attire. Standing a full one meter ninety tall, he had a strong build, an inverted triangle torso, and a slim waist, looking like a top male model.
Many people greeted him; this was the team's captain, Gu Tang.
Just then, a disturbance arose in the distance with surging waves. Unnoticed by the others, embers from the barbecue flew everywhere, a cluster of them heading towards this Gu Tang. The man neither dodged nor evaded; with a mere lift of his gaze, the sparks suddenly plummeted to the ground.
A'Diao withdrew her gaze, thinking to herself: This person is A-rank but possesses the combat power of a Forbidden Master, and he's skilled in controlling gravity.
Looking to be under twenty and so strong, it seemed only Qingzhou could produce such a figure.
But being so formidable, his appearance should have been recognizable, and the name Gu Tang wasn't one she had heard much.
It must be a false identity too.
Probably an unparalleled talent from Qingzhou Academy.
A'Diao had an epiphany but also found it commonplace and didn't pay much attention.
The airflow disturbance lasted only a moment. Everyone seemed used to it and didn't pay much mind, continuing with their barbecue. Gu Tang also sat down. Since A'Diao was the only outsider present, someone made introductions, and Gu Tang gave her a slight nod, politely asking a few questions.
Socially adept, no personality issues. Even though his appearance was formidable, his presence wasn't as intense as Duan Fei's, nor as overtly aristocratic as the Li siblings'.
He was shrewd; with just a few casual words with A'Diao, he extracted quite a bit of information. Of course, this was information A'Diao intentionally fed him.
Carefree, not very scheming, and extremely rich.
"It's fate that we're neighbors. Let's be friends," A'Diao said with a smile, appearing amicable. But seeing the strange expressions on a few team members, she asked, "What's wrong? Did I say something amiss?"
She noticed their gazes were fixed. Turning her head, she saw a young woman walk out onto the balcony of the room on her other side. The woman was extremely tall, perhaps 1.74 or 1.75 meters, wearing black shorts and a white shirt. The collar buttons weren't fully fastened, revealing a sliver of a white camisole underneath. She was drying her damp hair while talking on the phone.
"Yes, it's unsafe. I just got back, missed it. I won't go to Zones A or B, Zone C at most."
"Companions... forget it. Unreliable people are more likely to become a liability. No need to arrange any for me."
It sounded like she was reporting her safety to her family. After finishing, she turned her head to look over.
Her eyes held a hint of aloofness, a reluctance to cooperate with others, yet she could drop her guard and be reassuring with her family.
This was a considerably independent and mature young woman. Her features were grand and beautiful, but her eyes were like the crisp autumn wind—sharp and cool. Her bearing and spirit were exceptional, far from ordinary.
Cold, intellectual, but also sexy.
Below her slender neck, above the camisole, a small, cinnabar-red gemstone hung between her collarbones. The contrast of red against white was strikingly vivid.
But also sharp.
When she turned her head and her indifferent gaze swept over, all those men instantly turned away, pretending to chat, laugh, and eat. Even Gu Tang suddenly became very serious about grilling meat. Only A'Diao was still looking at her.
Damn, this bunch of animals! They've definitely ogled beautiful women like this more than once, A'Diao thought. No wonder these cultivators, supposedly out here training, had so much leisure time for barbecues.
They were all damn well waiting here for this!
A'Diao finally realized.
It wasn't a big deal initially; she wasn't fazed by this. But the system reminded her that the woman was a top-tier "conquerable target," a level higher than "high-grade"!
After all, Zhao Guang and the others before were merely "high-grade."
Such high aptitude?
A glint flashed in A'Diao's eyes. Since there was Mental Power to be farmed, she might as well farm some presence.
The question was how to farm it.
As a lewd, lecherous, boorish rich "Big Brother," or...
That was the question.
Besides, top-tier Mental Power would probably be hard to farm. She needed something drastic, a one-shot move to farm the Mental Power and leave a deep impression, making future farming easier.
She had five billion, but she didn't have 30 million Mental Power. For the 404 Array, let's go!
In the eyes of the woman in the white shirt, the man on the other balcony, dressed in a floral shirt and red shorts, looked like a common, nouveau riche pretty boy. He was unremarkable, mouth full of greasy meat. After reacting a beat slower than the others, he seemed a bit embarrassed, and so...
The man suddenly grabbed a wine cup, drained it in one gulp, his eyes reddening. He declared, "They say a drink of Du Kang's wine dispels a thousand sorrows in a hazy stupor, and a beauty's smile can shatter eternal cages. But there is someone in my heart; she is the most exquisite beauty in the mortal realm. Even if I hate her, resent her, find it hard to forgive her, still I..."
He choked up, clasping his hands in a fist salute.
"My brothers, there's no need to persuade me further."
"Besides, the young lady next door is so exquisitely beautiful, surpassing even the solitary swan's sword-like shadow against this sea and sky of one hue. How could a wretched, ugly, unremarkable toad like me, possessing nothing but immense wealth, dare to covet her? Even intentionally using this barbecue as an excuse to secretly gaze upon a fraction of her beauty would seem lewd and despicable, wouldn't it?"
From Lin Kai +66666!
From...
This group of people burst forth with a pile of Mental Power.
Damn it, they'd been subtly insulted! "Big Brother, your words are so venomous! Wasn't it just because we didn't remind you a moment ago?"
But "Big Brother" was clearly drunk. He stood up, stepped onto a chair, and raised his cup high.
"Enough, enough, enough! Brothers, fill it up for your Big Brother!"
"Today, I won't stop until I'm drunk!"
Someone pulled at him, urging him not to drink, but others were curious: "Big Brother, Big Brother, don't be like this! You're so wealthy, so devoted and faithful, so heroic and passionate—a true paragon of masculinity! How could she not like you? Just what kind of woman is it that makes you so despondent?"
"My sister-in-law."
"..."
The atmosphere suddenly became deathly silent. Even the woman in the shirt was stunned for a moment.
A critical hit from the "immoral brother-in-law and sister-in-law" genre of literature!
From Yue Xingxi +222222!
From Gu Yuntang +137777!
From...
From this wave, A'Diao obtained two pieces of information: first, the woman's name was Yue Xingxi; second, Gu Tang's real name was Gu Yuntang.
Gu Yuntang, that name sounded familiar.
Wasn't he a student from Linzhou Academy? And he used to be ranked first, but later faded into obscurity.
Why was he suddenly pretending to be from Qingzhou?
Playing weak on his own turf, then striking hard with a false identity elsewhere.
So she wasn't the only one following this playbook.
Just as A'Diao was inwardly reveling in the Mental Power she'd farmed under the guise of drunkenness, someone suddenly walked out of the room behind Yue Xingxi.
"Big Brother Zhao Ritian, you live next door? That's great! Older Cousin, this is the Big Brother Zhao I mentioned to you. He is a person of great sentiment, righteousness, and noble character."
Zhao Guang very solemnly introduced them to each other.
And then the atmosphere became... a bit strange.
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