Chapter 48

Cang Luo sent Zhu Ge Qing the photos he had taken of the Meiti Shengong, excluding the content of the first layer.

Cang Luo now only hoped that the Meiti Shengong was a technique that required the first layer to be cultivated before advancing to the second layer or higher.

That way, as long as the first layer's content wasn't leaked, it would be equivalent to safeguarding the entire manual, and he wouldn't worry about someone using his technique against him in the future.

After sending the photos, Cang Luo couldn't wait to ask: "Can you restore them?"

Zhu Ge Qing gave a rare faint smile; she didn't answer immediately, but instead pulled out a stack of A4 paper and placed it in front of the camera.

Then, with a sly glance at Cang Luo, she said: "Only the first ten or so photos were successfully restored; the ones after were too badly stained by ink—only the original physical copy can be fully restored."

Cang Luo stared at the content on the A4 paper, dumbfounded: "So fast? I just sent the photos a moment ago! Are you guys that awesome? Instant restoration? Alien tech?"

Cang Luo found it unbelievable, but within seconds he realized they must have already obtained the photos—from his cousin Yang Yongshan.

That meant Feng Lin Huo Shan had been monitoring him all along? Monitoring his phone messages...

As Cang Luo suspected, Feng Lin Huo Shan had indeed been monitoring his phone.

They had records of every news article he browsed, every website or app he logged into, every person he chatted with, and every conversation's content.

In fact, Feng Lin Huo Shan had also tried hacking into Cang Luo's phone to investigate why it could connect to Earth.

Unfortunately, they failed—couldn't break in at all!

Not just Feng Lin Huo Shan—other factions like Eden Garden and Chuyun Society had also attempted to hack into Cang Luo's phone, but all failed.

They discovered they could only retrieve data left on Earth's server by his phone, but could not extract information directly from the phone itself, nor control it.

This situation was utterly inexplicable—beyond the scope of Earth's current technology.

So they attributed it all to anomalies caused by the phone's dimensional transit.

But they didn't know Cang Luo's phone connected to Earth via the Golden Finger satellite—any attempt to hack it required access through the satellite's network.

Yet how could Earth's technology possibly infiltrate the satellite mysteriously linked to Cang Luo?

Zhu Ge Qing's lips curled slightly in amusement, delighted by Cang Luo's shock—as if avenging the fright she'd suffered from the mutated Flame-Eating Wolf earlier.

She calmed her expression and said: "Minister Li asked me to tell you: don't reveal any information from the other world to ordinary people, to avoid unnecessary unrest. If anything happens, contact us directly—Feng Lin Huo Shan will provide you with all necessary assistance."

Though deeply annoyed, Cang Luo could only nod: "Understood. Send me the files."

Zhu Ge Qing sent Cang Luo the organized files, then asked: "What level is this technique? Why didn't you send us the first layer's content?"

Cang Luo frowned slightly, puzzled—how did Zhu Ge Qing know he had withheld the first layer?

As he pondered, only after viewing the files she sent did he suddenly understand.

The restored photos were precisely the content of the Meiti Shengong's second layer—on one photo, seven large traditional Chinese characters clearly read: "Meiti Shengong, Second Layer."

Cang Luo's blood surged with excitement—he couldn't wait to begin cultivating the second layer of the Meiti Shengong.

"First layer? When I obtained this manual, the first layer was already missing—torn away by someone."

Facing Cang Luo's evasive reply, Zhu Ge Qing stared at him with wide, skeptical eyes, clearly disbelieving—but since he refused to speak, she couldn't force him.

"Uh... don't look at me like that, thanks a lot!" Cang Luo felt awkward and quickly ended the video call.

After hanging up, Cang Luo suddenly felt lonely—a deep, overwhelming loneliness of being far from home.

For over twenty days since his transmigration, he had never had a single day of peace—either fighting beasts or battling people from this world.

Shouldn't someone his age be hanging out in an office or starting a business?

Why am I fighting to the death in the wild mountains of another world?

Thinking of it, Cang Luo couldn't help muttering: "Ah! I really want a chilled cola, and some instant noodles..."

Cang Luo sighed, put on his clothes, and set off—he feared lingering here would attract beasts.

Before leaving, he buried the bodies of Chen Dalong and the other two, interring them in the same pit where he had captured Erha.

No waste at all, and no harm to nature.

Everyone has a duty to protect the environment!

As dusk fell, Cang Luo found a place to spend the night and began cultivating the second layer of the Meiti Shengong, preparing to return to Xuantian Sect at first light.

After all, he couldn't stay indefinitely in the beast-infested woods; though hunting beasts for their cores was a fast way to boost his cultivation, it wasn't the only way—he needed balance between effort and rest.

Besides, eating too many first-tier cores easily led to resistance—each subsequent one became less effective; his body needed time to recover.

Moreover, Cang Luo was eager to return to Xuantian Sect because he had something even more important to do: learn the art of arrays, so he could begin researching how to manufacture Yuan-Energy batteries.

The next day, May 25th.

Cang Luo rose early and set off toward Xuantian Sect with Erha; along the way, he encountered three lone first-tier beasts, and with the Meiti Shengong activated, he and Erha dispatched them easily.

One of the beasts was a Spear Boar; since it was small, Cang Luo simply slung it over his shoulder to carry back to Xuantian Sect, planning to roast it whole with Cang Feng and the others—he still remembered the delicious taste of Spear Boar meat.

Thinking of the Spear Boar meat, Cang Luo's spirits lifted; another discovery also greatly cheered him.

During joint combat with Erha, Cang Luo realized he could access part of Erha's senses.

He could see and hear what Erha saw and heard—similar to viewing through a satellite camera, and he could turn it on or off at will, though it consumed Yuan Consciousness.

Cang Luo didn't know whether this ability was common among all martial artists with beast companions, or unique to himself.

After some thought, Cang Luo concluded this ability must be unique to him—granted by the satellite, just as it granted Erha infinite Yuan Energy, and perhaps even the voice-transmission ability.

Believing this, Cang Luo felt greatly invigorated—the more abilities he had, the stronger his power would become!

At around two in the afternoon, Cang Luo finally returned to Xuantian Sect; the sight of him and his beast on the path to the outer sect training ground drew considerable attention.

The beast was not Erha—it was the Spear Boar; Erha had been recalled to the Beast Companion Space, as Cang Luo wished to remain discreet.

At that moment, five outer sect disciples were drawn to Cang Luo by the Spear Boar slung over his shoulder.

The leader, a fat boy with a round face and a protruding belly, hurried forward.

He stared at the Spear Boar, swallowed hard, and exclaimed: "Hey! Senior Brother, is this Spear Boar freshly hunted?"

"Mm." Cang Luo nodded, unsure of the boy's intent.

"Will you sell it?" The Fatty extended one finger; before Cang Luo could speak, he blurted excitedly: "I'll give you a hundred taels of silver!"

A hundred taels of silver?

Cang Luo was stunned; he was shocked by this fatty's bid, never expecting that a spear-pig's flesh was worth more than its energy core, the demon core.

A first-tier demon core is roughly equivalent to one low-grade yuan stone, which is ten taels of silver.

Yet, a whole spear-pig's flesh is worth a hundred taels of silver?

That equals ten low-grade yuan stones, ten times its demon core!

At this moment, Cang Luo decided that whenever he went to the beast mountains to train, he must prioritize searching for spear-pigs.

Killing one spear-pig equals obtaining eleven first-tier demon cores; the profit is eleven times that of other first-tier beasts...

While Cang Luo was still shocked by the spear-pig's value, that fat disciple thought Cang Luo was silent because he thought the bid was too low, so he said again: "Hmm? Senior brother? Think it's too little? Then I'll offer one hundred ten taels?"

"Hmm?" Cang Luo was stunned again; the price was actually raised?

It seems this spear-pig is truly valuable; could this fatty's layer of fat have been eaten from spear-pigs?

Should I sell it?

Cang Luo thought for a moment, decided not to sell, and shook his head, saying: "Uh... Senior brother, sorry, I plan to take this spear-pig back to share with my dormitory brothers; I won't sell."

As soon as Cang Luo finished speaking, he noticed the fatty frowned; adhering to the principle of not causing trouble, Cang Luo added: "Although I won't sell, all you senior brothers are welcome to enjoy it together."

Upon hearing this, the fatty's frown instantly smoothed out; he clasped his hands and said: "I've made a friend of you for sure. Junior brother, my name is Wang Fuhai, Warrior Stage 8, from Tongzhou, Danyang Commandery."

Speaking, Wang Fuhai pointed to the four outer disciples behind him and said: "They are all my good brothers..."

After the introductions, Cang Luo learned that all four had cultivation levels between Warrior Stage 5 and Stage 7, and they were all from Danyang Commandery.

Cang Luo introduced himself as well: "Junior brother Cang Luo, Cang of the vast sky, Luo of misfortune, Warrior Stage 7, from Tongzhou, Earth Village."

Wang Fuhai nodded casually, not looking at Cang Luo, his eyes fixed on the spear-pig, drool almost dripping out.

He said: "Brother Cang, where do you plan to prepare this fresh, plump spear-pig?"

Prepare?

I say, Brother Fatty, can you use your words more precisely? It sounds as if I'm going to do something to this spear-pig.

Cang Luo said awkwardly: "Uh... right over there."

Speaking, Cang Luo pointed to the southwest corner of the martial arts field, the place where Cang Luo's dormitory brothers often trained.

Wang Fuhai said happily: "Good, Brother Cang, I can't just eat your food for free; you go ahead first; we will go buy some ingredients and wine; we will hold a spear-pig feast."

"Uh... I'll follow what Senior Brother Wang says."

Watching the five of Wang Fuhai leave in a hurry, Cang Luo felt quite helpless; he was not good at socializing.

On Earth, when people invited him to drink or sing, he would avoid going whenever possible...