Chapter 25: The Desperate Director Liang

At this moment, everyone had dispersed, leaving only Facing Facing Cang Luo and Xiang Xiang Yunjiao alone.

Facing Facing Cang Luo felt awkward, trying to organize his words to explain the "Soul-Lock Mirror" to Xiang Xiang Yunjiao.

Xiang Xiang Yunjiao watched Facing Facing Cang Luo shyly from beside him; seeing he remained silent, she whispered, "Brother Luo..."

Facing Facing Cang Luo froze. Brother Luo?

Damn, is she calling me? Why so intimate?

Facing Facing Cang Luo sighed. What a beautiful misunderstanding—better clarify quickly; cultivation comes first.

"Sister Yun..."

"Hm?" Xiang Xiang Yunjiao saw Facing Facing Cang Luo suddenly look at her seriously; she blushed and lowered her head.

Facing Facing Cang Luo ignored her embarrassment and continued: "Sister Yun, actually... it's like this—you've misunderstood something."

Xiang Xiang Yunjiao slowly lifted her head and whispered, "What's that?"

Facing Facing Cang Luo hesitated, unable to say it outright: "You don't think the Soul-Lock Mirror, after absorbing your soul, can also... take off your clothes, do you?"

No sooner had he spoken than Xiang Xiang Yunjiao lowered her head again, her ears turning red, the color spreading slowly to her neck.

Seeing this, Facing Facing Cang Luo understood—this naive girl had indeed misunderstood.

She truly believed photos taken by a phone could strip away clothing...

After a long silence, Xiang Xiang Yunjiao boldly lifted her head, blushing deeply: "Isn't that so? Brother, you saw my body—so I'm yours now."

"Brother Luo, you must treat me well, and I won't betray you..."

Xiang Xiang Yunjiao's voice grew softer with each word, until it was barely a whisper; had Facing Facing Cang Luo not become a Warrior and enhanced his senses, he would've missed it entirely.

Facing Facing Cang Luo stared, dumbfounded. Are women in the Yuanwu Continent this loyal?

Just seeing a woman's body means she must give herself to him? On Earth, girls would kill him for that.

In that instant, freshly dumped by his ex-girlfriend, Facing Facing Cang Luo entertained the thought of letting the misunderstanding continue—having a girl who loved him wasn't bad.

But then he remembered the scene in the cafeteria, when Xiang Xiang Yunjiao had rushed to save him from Chen Dahu's attack.

Instantly, a heavy sense of guilt washed over him.

She saved him—and yet he was thinking of deceiving her?

He wasn't even better than an animal!

Facing Facing Cang Luo pinched his thigh hard and quickly explained: "Sister Yun, you're mistaken—the Soul-Lock Mirror isn't what you think."

"It's not a treasure; it's just an unusual mirror. It can't take off your clothes, nor can it see through them..."

As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and demonstrated, taking several photos of her, even leaning close for a selfie.

Xiang Xiang Yunjiao furrowed her brows, mouth slightly open, silent as she watched Facing Facing Cang Luo fiddle with the "Soul-Lock Mirror."

Though puzzled and curious about the mirror, she quickly realized her mistake as he explained.

This "phone"—this Soul-Lock Mirror—wasn't what she imagined; it wasn't a treasure, because she sensed no Yuan force.

I thought...

Once Xiang Xiang Yunjiao understood, her face flushed crimson—not the shy blush of before, but a furious, embarrassed red.

She was furious at herself for misunderstanding, believing her body had been seen by Facing Facing Cang Luo...

Ah! How humiliating!

Did I just say I was Brother Cang's? Will he laugh at me?

Oh heavens! If my sister finds out, she'll mock me and scold me.

Xiang Xiang Yunjiao's neck burned red, her head bowed so low it nearly touched her chest—she wished she could dig a hole and crawl into it.

She couldn't bring herself to look at Facing Facing Cang Luo again.

Seeing Xiang Xiang Yunjiao silent and bowed, Facing Facing Cang Luo assumed she was angry, so he quietly left.

After all, he'd explained everything—he hadn't done anything to her. He'd just avoid her from now on.

At least, until he fully dealt with Chen Dahu and uncovered the mastermind behind it all, Facing Facing Cang Luo wanted no contact with Xiang Xiang Yunjiao.

Because he feared he'd drag her into danger.

If, after a year, the teleportation array was complete, could he take her back to Earth with him?

Xiang Xiang Yunjiao watched Facing Facing Cang Luo's retreating back, reached out a hand as if to call him, but said nothing...

Facing Facing Cang Luo caught up with Zang Feng and Liu Li, ignoring Liu Xuande and Li Zhanxing's envious, resentful glares, and asked: "What's a way to quickly increase strength?"

Li Zhanxing answered immediately: "Absorb Yuan stones to cultivate! I used only half a month to fully absorb one low-grade Yuan stone, rising from Warrior Stage 1 to Warrior Stage 2."

Facing Facing Cang Luo stared blankly. If I had Yuan stones, would I be asking you?

But come to think of it—this guy took half a month to absorb one low-grade Yuan stone? Is that normal?

Ha! What would he think if he knew I absorbed four low-grade Yuan stones in just one hour?

Would he die of envy?

Liu Xuande tapped Li Zhanxing on the head and said dryly: "Absorbing Yuan stones for cultivation is stable, but slow."

"By the time you finish absorbing one stone, Chen Dahu's injuries would've healed and he'd already be at your door—let alone his brother, Chen Dalong."

Li Zhanxing protested: "Then take pills! Take pills that accelerate Yuan force absorption and speed up Yuan wheel formation!"

Liu Xuande looked at Li Zhanxing with exasperation and scolded: "You idiot, where do you get pills? Where do you get Yuan stones? Do you have any? Do I?"

Li Zhanxing replied seriously: "The Zhubao Pavilion sells them!"

Liu Xuande didn't even bother speaking. Facing Facing Cang Luo ignored Li Zhanxing entirely—this fool didn't even consider whether he had money.

Buy Yuan stones? Buy pills?

I don't have a single red bill on me—and even if I did, Xuantian Sect wouldn't accept it!

At that moment, Zang Feng, who had remained silent, spoke: "Absorbing Yuan stones only increases your cultivation level, not your actual strength. Cultivation level and strength are two different things."

"For example, Brother Cang's cultivation level is Warrior Stage 3, yet he defeated Chen Dahu, who was at Warrior Stage 5—that's strength."

Also, no matter how much Yuan Li you have, if you don't know how to use it, it's useless.

"What advice does Brother Zang have?" Facing Facing Cang Luo deeply agreed with Zang Feng's words.

It's like a feature phone with a 5000mAh battery but no ability to install apps like WeChat—what good is it besides extending standby time?

Take a Warrior as an example: it's like possessing vast amounts of Yuan Li but never learning any martial techniques.

Such a person has only slightly more strength and a slightly tougher body, yet zero combat ability, because without learning martial techniques, Yuan Li cannot be transformed into effective offensive power.

Zang Feng stared at Facing Facing Cang Luo, his voice firm and resonant, and said gravely: "Fight in life-or-death battles! You can go to the outer edges of the Beast Forest and seek out lone First-Stage Beasts—fight to the death!"

This will rapidly improve your practical combat ability, help you master martial techniques, and enhance your Yuan Li absorption.

Second, you can hunt Beasts to exchange for Yuan Stones and Pills, and simultaneously fulfill your monthly Outer Sect mission.

Disciples lacking resources but eager to grow strong quickly all take this path..."

"How strong are First-Stage Beasts?" Facing Facing Cang Luo's eyes lit up—he was tempted.

Liu Xuande took up the thread: "First-Stage Beasts range from Warrior Stage 1 to Stage 9. Which specific strength you encounter depends on your luck."

But don't worry—the Beasts at the outer edges of the Beast Forest are all weak, and we'll go with you."

"Same dorm, shared hardship!"

Zang Feng added: "Reward and risk go hand in hand."

Facing Facing Cang Luo looked at the three with gratitude—he understood this well.

But he was only twenty-two. What if he died?

Facing Facing Cang Luo hesitated, thinking of Chen Dahu and Chen Dalong he would soon face, and their unseen mastermind.

And his family and enemies back on Earth... his ex-girlfriend, yes, and Xiang Xiang Yunjiao...

Thinking of these, Facing Facing Cang Luo decided to follow Zang Feng's advice and venture into the Beast Forest.

No sacrifice, no reward.

As they spoke, the group arrived at a corner of the training ground.

At this moment, many Outer Sect disciples were practicing martial techniques under the guidance of their respective Executives; one Executive spotted Zang Feng and waved to him.

Facing Facing Cang Luo knew this Executive must be the one assigned to his dormitory—Dorm Xin Yi Qi Liu.

Facing Facing Cang Luo remembered Zang Feng saying his surname was Liang.

Executive Liang looked frail; his blue-green Outer Sect Executive robe hung loosely on his frame. He was currently chatting with several Executives from other dorms.

From afar, Facing Facing Cang Luo could hear them talking about the year-end assessment and Executive evaluation—something important, judging by their worried expressions.

Zang Feng and Liu and Li led Facing Facing Cang Luo aside to wait. Soon, Executive Liang ended his idle chat with a bitter smile and walked over.

Executive Liang glanced at Facing Facing Cang Luo, frowning slightly—he had assumed Facing Facing Cang Luo was a new disciple from his dorm.

But now that he was closer, he saw Facing Facing Cang Luo was older—at least twenty. Twenty-year-olds shouldn't be Outer Sect disciples, right?

He turned to Zang Feng, puzzled: "Who is he?"

Zang Feng bowed respectfully: "Executive Liang, this is Brother Facing Facing Cang Luo, the tenth member of our dorm."

After Zang Feng spoke, Facing Facing Cang Luo bowed respectfully to Executive Liang, handed over his identity jade tablet, then watched the man nervously while recalling.

Xuan Qingqing had said Outer Sect Executives were all Wu Shi cultivators. How strong was a Wu Shi?

Chen Dahu, at Warrior Stage 5, could punch with a force of seven or eight hundred jin. Above Warrior was Wu Jiang, and only above that came Wu Shi.

Could a Wu Shi take down a tank?

Executive Liang had no idea what Facing Facing Cang Luo was thinking. He took Facing Facing Cang Luo's identity jade tablet, glanced at it, and his already troubled face instantly darkened with despair.

Strange! Twenty-two years old and only Warrior Stage 3—and he wasn't expelled from the sect?

A connection?

"Sigh!"

Executive Liang let out a heavy sigh, wondering why the Executive Pavilion had assigned such an old Outer Sect disciple to him.

Did I offend someone? Why give me a disciple with this kind of worthless talent?

Will he pass the year-end assessment?

If he fails, how will I handle my evaluation this year?

Will my year-end bonus vanish?