by <unknown>
"Firstly, it is true that Screwhead can contact the major sects in the federation, which can give us half legal or even entirely legal identities. However, the main purpose of those sects is to attract the talents on 'Firefly'. If we choose such an approach, we will inevitably be asked about the situation on Firefly and to show the techniques that only the Cultivators of the 'rightful government of the Star Ocean Republic' know. It is also possible that we will run into the crew members of Firefly who have already entered the federation through such an approach.
"We don't know the first thing about the situation inside Firefly or any technique of the Cultivators from the center of the cosmos. Even if we can fool Screwhead for now, we can never pass all the following procedures to come.
"Secondly, it might be possible for us to sneak into the federation by way of the CIFA.
"However, I have always been suspicious about the CIFA. Such an insignificant, anti-federation organization has been active under the federation's nose for such a long time without being annihilated. Is it possible that the federation is simply waiting for a big fish to bite the bait?
"Chances are that every secret branch of the CIFA is watched closely by a dozen special agents of the Secret Sword Bureau! If we go to the CIFA recklessly, it remains to be seen whether we can win their trust or not, but there is no doubt that the Secret Sword Bureau will set their eyes on us.
"Although it doesn't matter to us even if we expose our identities or end on bad terms with them, it is still a better option to observe from the darkness if we have a choice.
"After all, even if the federation truly opens the gate for us and welcomes us warmly, what they demonstrate to us will probably be disguises. We will not be able to see everything as clearly as when we explore everything on our own."
"Fellow Cultivator Wang, you do have a point." Meng Chixin nodded. "It is true that we are more likely to find the truth about the federation if we investigate in secret. However, what identities should we use if neither of those two approaches are workable?
"With the Cultivation of the twelve of us, it is not difficult for us to change our appearances. However, in the federation, most information is connected to the Spiritual Nexus. It is practically impossible to go anywhere without an identity that can be verified online. We can't hope to sneak around everywhere we go, right?"
"It is a problem that is not as tricky as it sounds," Long Yangjun said. "As long as you have money, you can almost buy anything on the black market in Fish Dragon City, including the packages of absolutely legal identities, backgrounds, and plastic surgery. Many outcasts actually returned to the federation after staying here for decades because of nostalgia by switching to a new identity from the black market."
Meng Chixin furrowed his eyebrows that were made of crystal threads. "As long as we have money?"
"Yes. That's actually the biggest problem we are faced with. We are out of money," Long Yangjun said rather helplessly. "We came to this place empty handed without any local currency. Fei Qi and his comrades were out on a hunting trip and therefore did not bring much money. Over the past few days, we have been purchasing jade chips, crystal processors, and other equipment crazily. The star coins and crystal cards that we looted from Fei Qi are running out.
"There will be an astronomical expense if we want to get twelve legal identities from the black market, preferably twelve related ones that can explain why the twelve of us are hanging around together!
"Also, after we do arrive in the federation, it will be best if we abide by the law and do not do anything outrageous in case we decide to cooperate with them later. So, we have to prepare a large sum of money for our daily expenses.
"After living in the Dragon Snake Space Zone for a couple of days, I'm afraid that you have all sensed that the spiritual energy here is much thinner than the spiritual energy in the Ancient Sages Sector. We have been consuming the crystals that we brought from the Ancient Sages Sector in our training every day. The rate of consumption is rather high!"
Everybody nodded at Long Yangjun's words.
The Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators and the Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators were all gluttons of crystals. Not just improvement, even maintaining their powerful level would require a tremendous quantity of crystals and spiritual energy.
The path of Cultivation was like rowing against the current. One would either be making progress or falling behind. Unless the Cultivator was hibernating, they could not skip training any day.
As it happened, the density of spiritual energy in the outside world was much lower than that in the Ancient Sages Sector. For them, it was like an ordinary person visiting a planet with an oxygen percentage of less than five percent. They felt extremely uncomfortable.
To maintain their level in such a 'low-oxygen' environment, they had to resort to the crystals that they had brought from the Ancient Sages Sector.
However, the capacity of their Cosmos Rings was not unlimited. At their current rate of consumption, all the crystals would soon be drained. After that, they would have to purchase the crystals locally, which would require another huge sum of money.
In the Ancient Sages Sector, those unparalleled experts were supported by their sects, tribes, and country, and the spiritual energy in their hometown was much denser. They had never been worried about such things before. However, now that they had gone to a modern Cultivation civilization where they were complete strangers, training resources—or in other words, 'money'—became the greatest problem.
"We have to find ways to make money." Long Yangjun counted on her fingers. "Firstly, we must buy twelve legal identities from the black market. Secondly, we must prepare funds for our training and activities in the federation. Thirdly, we have to prepare two crystal suits for everyone, which means twenty-four in total, or twenty-six if we are counting Heiye Lan. This is another fortune."
Ba Xiaoyu the Beggar was confused. "Why do we have to prepare so many crystal suits? Don't we have the Colossi?"
"It's true that we have the Colossi. However, such 'ultimate magical equipment' is too powerful and eye-catching," Long Yangjun explained. "If we make use of them, there will be absolutely no room for negotiation and no retreat for us!
"Also, it is highly inconvenient to maintain the Colossi. I'm afraid that we will not be able to use them again after a great battle.
"Therefore, the Colossi can only be used as our final 'trump cards'. For daily use, we will have to count on the crystal suits.
"The crystal suits that we are using right now are all loot from the Imperium that we got through Heiye Lan, with the unmistakable style of the Immortal Cultivators. I don't think it is appropriate to use them within the territory of the federation.
"Also, while we have acquired a few crystal suits from Fei Qi, they are mostly garbage with lousy performances. Such equipment is not good enough to aid us when we are in crisis.
"This is what I'm thinking. If we do sneak into the federation, unless it is absolutely necessary, we must not reveal our Cultivation of the Nascent Soul Stage and the Divinity Transformation Stage. In the seven Sectors of the federation, there are only less than a thousand Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators in total. If twelve unknown Cultivators suddenly popped up out of nowhere, the Secret Sword Bureau will certainly come running!
"We can only be active with the Cultivation of the Core Formation Stage, which means we will need twelve middle- and high-level crystal suits that befit Cultivators in the Core Formation Stage from the federation. Naturally, if possible, we also need twelve high-level crystal suits that can bring out the best combat ability of the Nascent Soul Stage and the Divinity Transformation Stage in case of emergencies.
"Those crystal suits do not have to be brand-new. We can ask Fellow Cultivator Spiritual Vulture to purchase some components and add to the crystal suits of the Imperium as disguises.
"However, both purchasing new crystal suits and modifying the old ones will cost a huge fortune.
"The thre
e expenses combined are certainly astronomical. Where do you propose we get the money?"
Long Yangjun looked at everybody.
'Heaven Battering King' Qi Changsheng grinned. "Is there a problem? Let's just rob!"
Long Yangjun clapped her hands. "Bullseye, Fellow Cultivator Qi. To get such a large sum of money, we can either gamble or rob. Or, we can both gamble and rob!
"My plan is for us to work in three different directions.
"Gambling is very popular in Fish Dragon City. Wealthy people fill the casinos and the arenas. Let's ask 'Sword Maniac' Yan Liren to go to one of the arenas and win a few matches. That way, we can figure out the details about the local magnates.
"The eleven of us will be divided into two teams and work simultaneously.
"As for Fellow Cultivator Spiritual Vulture, you will go to the biggest magical equipment market and crystal suit center to prepare equipment we may need after we enter the federation. Any problems?"
[ol][li data-annotation-id="e68e640b-7d9d-42f0-9026-faabb5403749"]Both of these are common Internet slang among Chinese web communities.[/ol]
Chapter 1575: Enjoy Life! |
The plan of gambling and robbing had been concocted by Li Yao and Long Yangjun together in the first place. Naturally, Li Yao did not have a problem with it. As for the rest of the experts, they had to admit that it was the best solution to address their capital problem to rob somebody in such a lawless, chaotic place.
Ba Xiaoyu the Beggar and Master Bitter Cicada raised questions. "We won't attack the ordinary people or the innocent, right?"
"Of course, how much money can the ordinary people possibly have?" Long Yangjun apparently did not think that it was a big deal. "The money we are in need of is more than a few million. In such a murky place as the Dragon Snake Space Zone, the targets that call for our attention are certainly the powerful magnates who have committed all kinds of wrongdoings. It does not contradict your belief, does it?"
"That's good!" Ba Xiaoyu the Beggar was relieved and smiled in delight. "I like robbing the rich and helping the poor!"
"I have a question," 'Heaven Battering King' Qi Changsheng said. "Since we are in need of a batch of crystal suits, why don't we simply loot crystal suits instead of money?"
"Good question!" Long Yangjun said. "There are two reasons. Firstly, the crystal suit centers must be heavily protected by a large team of guards in crystal suits, which means that it will be more difficult to take it over. Secondly, crystal suits are not small objects. Most of the cosmos rings that we carry are already filled with the Colossi. How many crystal suits can we expect to stuff into them?
"Looting the anonymous crystal cards and the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and possibly a few Cosmos Rings that we can crack later, will be much safer than robbing a crystal suit center. We are going to need the money later anyone. So, we might as well take care of the problem once and for all. Any other questions?"
There was no reply.
"Alright. Let's take action according to our plan!"
Long Yangjun waved her hands and said, "Remember, the focus of our operation is not guaranteed success. With the Cultivation of the twelve of us, if we go on a rampage, it should be more than enough for us to sweep across the entire Fish Dragon City!
"However, Fish Dragon City is a place where forces from different regions gather. The Chamber of Commerce, the Cultivators from the center of cosmos on Firefly, the Immortal Cultivators of the CIFA, the spies of the major sects from the Star Glory Federation, the special agents of the Secret Sword Bureau… all kinds of people are playing their part on the stage.
"If we throw a brick randomly on a street, we might hit a person with double identities. Should we reveal the Cultivation of the Nascent Soul Stage, we will certainly catch the attention of the local forces here. Right now, we are not familiar with the territory and the situation of Fish Dragon City. It will be near impossible for us to escape their pursuit!
"In the last three days, I collected all the news of assassinations, sabotages, robberies, and fights in Fish Dragon City that have taken place in the past five years. This is the pattern that I've figured out. For the fights, competitions, and robberies that the experts in the Nascent Soul Stage were involved in, most of them were found out eventually. However, when the criminals were only in the Core Formation Stage, the cases often went uninvestigated. After all, in the land of outcasts, everybody is robbing and killing each other, not to mention the headhunters from the federation. There is too much mess to be taken care of.
"Therefore, the difficulty of our mission is that we have to accomplish our goals neatly with the Cultivation of the Core Formation Stage at best without leaving any traces behind, in case the procedures later where we purchase the crystal suits and prepare the false identities are affected. Do you agree?"
All the experts nodded at each other.
"Alright, Lord Wang. Do you really need to tell us so much?" Heaven Battering King Qi Changsheng was so excited that his eyes were bloodshot. He grinned and said, "This is the business that I'm most familiar with. I have also read a lot of books on criminology and criminalistics as well as the biographies of the tough bandits in the federation from the past hundred years over the past few days! Hehe. Ten Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators and two Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivators going robbing together. That's enough respect for Fish Dragon City. If the job fails, we might as well slit our throats or hang ourselves!"
"Excellent!" Long Yangjun nodded. "Let's divide whatever's left of the capital we have into two parts. Half of the money will be the funds for our gambling, investigations, and reconnaissance. The other half will be given to Fellow Cultivator Spiritual Vulture, who will go to the crystal suit center to order appropriate crystal suits and magical equipment for us. He may also rent a refining workshop for modification and adjustment purposes later.
"After we have the money, Fellow Cultivator Spiritual Vulture will be able to buy the crystal suits and the magical equipment components that are most suitable for us and modify them directly. Fellow Cultivator Spiritual Vulture, is Heiye Lan going with you or us?"
Li Yao thought for a moment and said, "She'd better go with you. That way, she will be more or less of use. I'm just going shopping. I don't think that I'll run into any danger, will I?"
"Alright. Then, Fellow Cultivator Spiritual Vulture, you can go on ahead. I have taken the liberty of setting a few targets here. Let's all study them together, fellow Cultivators. We'll be leaving in ten minutes!"
Long Yangjun's eyes suddenly grew sharp. "Remember, fellow Cultivators. Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not reveal your capabilities in the Nascent Soul Stage or the Divinity Transformation Stage. The focus of our raid is—low profile, low profile, and low profile!"
…
Half an hour later, Li Yao arrived at the Four Sectors Magical Equipment Center deep inside Fish Dragon City.
It was the largest store of magical equipment established by the Chamber of Commerce of the Uranian Ring Sector, the Forest Ocean Sector, the Nether World Sector, and the Water Crystal Sector.
Not only did the store sell all kinds of magical equipment, including crystal suits of every type and level, it also boasted a rather adequate catalog of components, rare metals, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. It even had refining rooms and maintenance workshops with comprehensive facilities, as well as a magical equipment test field that offered more than eighty extreme environments, for rent. In short, as long as one's pockets were full, they could buy any magical equipment that they wanted from this place other than Colossi or main-force warships!
What made the place more interesting was that, since Firefly was docked right outside of the Dragon Snake Space Zone for repair and modification, the Cultivators on Firefly often traded their assets, magical equipment, and techniques with the Star Glory Federation through the Dragon Snake Space Zone.
As the saying went, it is easy to fetch water when a river is near. Many components
and materials from the center of the cosmos, which were bizarre and unseen for the refiners at the edge of the cosmos, were on sale there, making the store even more abundant than the magical equipment stores in the capital city of the federation. It was more likely for the treasure hunters to find what they desired in this place.
The debris of two Colossi, which towered more than twenty meters tall on either side of gate into the 'Four Sectors Magical Equipment Center', alone was indicative enough of the magnificence of the place.
Although they were already beyond repair, and all the rare materials and key components had been dismantled, the Four Sectors Magical Equipment Center was still wealthy and powerful enough to find such two remnants of Colossi as doorkeepers.
It was said that the essence of the traditional refiners from the Uranian Ring Sector, the Forest Ocean Sector, the Nether World Sector, and the Water Crystal Sector was gathered in that place. Not only were many masters of refining who had dominated the four worlds decades ago living there under different names, even the experts of refining from the center of the cosmos on Firefly also showed up on a regular basis, selling the magical equipment from Firefly on consignment in the place, purchasing the local magical equipment, and trading with the local refiners.
As a result, some experts of refining from the Star Glory Federation were attracted to the place. Changing their name and appearance, they risked going to the Dragon Snake Space Zone and competing with the experts from the four Sectors and the center of the cosmos!
All in all, this place was a true paradise for refiners. With money and techniques, all the dreams and desires of a refiner could be satisfied there!
Wearing the sloppy shirt, beach pants, and slippers, Li Yao stared at the colorful, dazzling board that said 'Four Sectors Magical Equipment Center' in the middle of the two remnants of Colossi with mixed feelings.
He felt like he had travelled back a hundred years, back to when he walked into the largest magical equipment store in Floating Spear City for the first time as a crazy fan of magical equipment. The feeling of being amazed, overwhelmed, and yet overjoyed was too marvelous!