Chapter 37: Xu Ming

Supervisor Xu Ming now arrived on the eleventh floor of the building.

This floor was where Yang Yi long resided, but it was also equipped with many expensive medical devices, including a specially customized nutrient chamber.

The nutrient chamber resembled a cylindrical transparent glass box.

Inside, it was filled with golden-yellow nutrient fluid, along with other expensive medications.

When a cultivator immersed themselves in it, their cells could rapidly absorb massive nutrients; combined with certain medications, their injuries could heal swiftly—but bathing in golden nutrient fluid consumed enormous wealth, far beyond the means of ordinary people.

Yet now.

The woman with green vertical pupils, Qin Qing, was fully submerged in the nutrient fluid, her body caked in blood and filth, her spine shattered, her injuries severe and beyond healing.

Even with the top-tier nutrient chamber nourishing her body, it could only temporarily stabilize her wounds, not cure them.

Yang Yi long stood before the nutrient chamber, arms crossed behind his back, his posture noble, yet his expression unusually grim.

This operation had succeeded in hunting down the extraordinary creature, but given the heavy losses, it was nearly a failure—and had Qin Qing not risked her life to hold the creature back at the final moment, he would never have been able to kill it.

“I’m still too weak. Though I’ve developed my own technique, its power is immense and can easily kill extraordinary creatures, but after actual combat, I’ve realized it has many flaws—if the enemy avoids direct confrontation, my advantages vanish. No matter how sharp the sword, it’s useless unless it strikes the enemy.”

Yang Yi long now recalled the scenes from his earlier ordeal in the danger zone.

He had been toyed with by the creature, which sought to drain his stamina completely before turning to hunt him down; had he not brought Qin Qing along, he likely would not have returned.

“I still need to refine my technique, and I can no longer act so recklessly—this entire incident is a bloody lesson.”

Yang Yi long clenched his fists, vowing to remember this event clearly, to turn shame into determination, and to rid himself of his habit of chasing glory.

If only he had practiced more and tested his new technique in real combat earlier, he might have discovered its flaws and avoided this disaster.

As he reflected alone,

Suddenly,

There was a knock at the door.

“Dong, dong-dong—Boss Yang, I have something to report.” Supervisor Xu Ming’s voice came through.

“Come in.” Yang Yi long calmed his emotions, pulled his thoughts back, and resumed his usual aloof demeanor.

Supervisor Xu Ming pushed the door open and entered.

Yang Yi long, standing before the nutrient chamber with arms crossed, said calmly: “Xu, speak.”

Supervisor Xu Ming immediately replied: “Boss Yang, just now, a cultivator named Li Yi escaped from the danger zone. His companions, Li Tao and Zhang Gao, have been confirmed dead.”

“Continue.”

Yang Yi long knew Xu Ming had more to report—just one cultivator returning alive wasn’t enough to warrant a personal visit.

Supervisor Xu Ming said: “Before entering the danger zone, Li Yi was an ordinary cultivator. But upon returning, he has awakened his Spirit Medium ability.”

“Between life and death, human potential is unleashed, accelerating bodily evolution—that’s normal.” Yang Yi long nodded slightly, unimpressed.

“Boss Yang, what’s astonishing is that not only did Li Yi survive and return from the danger zone after his breakthrough, he also successfully hunted down a ferocious beast—a Biao.” Supervisor Xu Ming said: “The Biao’s corpse was just brought back—I’ve seen it. According to Zheng Fei, Li Yi killed it bare-handed with his fists and feet.”

“Hmm?”

Hearing this, Yang Yi long finally showed a flicker of interest. He turned and asked: “Li Yi killed that Biao with his bare hands?”

“Yes,” Supervisor Xu Ming replied again.

“That’s impossible for a Spirit Medium cultivator. I’ve seen that Biao—it’s extraordinary. A Spirit Medium’s spiritual sense is useless against it. If encountered alone in the danger zone, death is certain. There’s no way to survive. Something unnatural is happening. Where is the Biao’s corpse? Take me to see it.”

Yang Yi long strode toward the private elevator.

Xu Ming hurried after him: “The corpse was just taken to the cafeteria’s cold storage, ready for rapid freezing. Since it’s Li Yi’s kill, we must preserve it properly—it’ll need to be returned to him later.”

“Don’t freeze it yet—I’ll examine it first. Also, go find Li Yi and tell him I want to buy the Biao’s corpse—at two tenths above market price.” Yang Yi long said as he walked, decisive and swift—but then he halted, realizing something: “No, two tenths isn’t enough. Buy it at double market price. This incident demands good news to stabilize morale.”

“Double price? Isn’t that too much?” Xu Ming was startled.

Ferocious beasts were already expensive; a ten to twenty percent markup meant millions. Doubling the price meant paying at least ten million more—a massive sum.

“A Spirit Medium who can kill a Biao bare-handed is no ordinary person. This is an early investment.” Yang Yi long said without turning.

“Understood, Boss Yang,” Xu Ming replied.

Soon,

The two took the private elevator to the building’s food storage cold room.

The Biao’s corpse lay on the floor, awaiting freezing.

Yang Yi long seemed to have seen something extraordinary—he instantly rushed to the corpse, knelt down, and touched the sunken fist imprint on its body.

Beneath the imprint, the flesh was soft and collapsed—the bones inside had been utterly shattered.

“What a devastating punch,” Yang Yi long’s expression shifted slightly: “How could such a punch be delivered? It’s as if the fist had been a branding iron seared into the flesh.”

“And this incredibly hard lower jaw—shattered by a single punch. The Biao’s bone density exceeds that of a Spirit Medium cultivator. To defeat it with inferior strength is nearly impossible—unless...”

“Li Yi didn’t punch with fists—he used a technique.”

“He mastered a fist technique—not from our world, but from another realm.”

“Everything makes sense now. He must have encountered a great opportunity in the danger zone—his body evolved, and he learned a powerful fist technique. That’s how he killed the Biao bare-handed.”

After merely inspecting the corpse, Yang Yi long immediately deduced all of this.

Yet he wasn’t surprised.

Many cultivators, like Li Yi, had gained strange encounters in the danger zone, acquired unknown arts, and fused them with their own cultivation to forge unique techniques.

“Xu Ming, where is Li Yi now?” Yang Yi long stood up.

He was now deeply interested in this man and wished to meet him.

“Li Yi is currently receiving treatment in the medical ward, but he’s facing a problem. A Spirit Medium cultivator named He Jun has accused Li Yi of betraying his teammates. Li Yi, in turn, accuses He Jun of abandoning his comrades to save himself. They’re arguing fiercely and want you to act as witness and determine the truth.”

Xu Ming quickly explained: “Whether Li Yi’s claim is true depends on evidence—and the evidence is inside the Biao’s belly.”

“Is that so?” Yang Yi long snorted heavily: “If He Jun demands proof, then bring the Biao’s corpse. Open its belly publicly, extract the contents for testing, and let everyone see the truth. If He Jun truly abandoned his teammates, I won’t let him off.”

“Let’s go. Without me, I can’t control those cultivators.”

“Thank you, Boss Yang,” Xu Ming replied.

Yet at the same time,

Li Yi was calm as ever. During this time, he bathed, stitched and bandaged his wounds, and underwent a full body scan. He found only minor cracks in his arm bones—the rest were superficial flesh wounds, no serious damage.

The bone cracks weren’t severe either; cultivators possessed high physical resilience, and he’d be fully healed in a few days.

“After this scan, I noticed my muscles and bone density have increased, and even my height has grown. Before cultivation, I was 178 cm—now I’m 185 cm. My shoulders are broader, my legs longer. This bodily evolution adjusts itself to enhance running and power output.”

Li Yi thought to himself as he studied his medical report.

Once evolution begins, the body continuously corrects flaws, moving toward perfection.

“I wonder how He Jun’s case will be handled. I’m tired—I want to return to my room and sleep properly.” Li Yi leaned back on the hospital bed, idly playing with his phone.

He first opened the home surveillance footage to check on his parents’ condition.

Then he checked the nutrient chamber’s operational status.

Everything was fine.

But the nutrient fluid was nearly depleted—he’d need to return in the next two days to refill it. He’d earned a good sum this time and planned to buy better nutrient fluid, plus some household appliances for his destitute home.

I wonder how much the Biao I killed is worth. If I make a fortune, I want to move my parents out of the old district and into Anding District.

Now that his horizons had expanded, Li Yi’s needs had grown—he wanted not just a better standard of living, but a new residence.

He checked the housing prices in Anding District on his phone.

Although homes in the old district were cheap, Anding District was different.

He looked at the prices.

Li Yi nearly dropped his phone in shock, as if he’d seen a ghost.

This was far beyond his reach.

Everything was villas and Western-style houses—starting at tens of millions, the better ones easily over a hundred million. How could he afford it? Even with a high cultivator salary, he’d need to work for over a decade without eating or sleeping.

Were cultivators now expected to take out mortgages and slave away to pay off debts?

While Li Yi still had the leisure to play with his phone,

He Jun’s mood was terrible—he was anxious, his face pale, deeply fearful of what was to come.

If evidence was found, he was finished.

He wouldn’t just lose compensation—he’d be sent to the Investigation Bureau and jailed.

“If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve killed Li Yi back in the danger zone,” He Jun bitterly regretted, realizing he hadn’t been ruthless enough, leaving himself vulnerable.

Now he could only pray the Biao’s belly held no evidence.

Only then would he still have room to maneuver.