"I never expected to end up like this."
Wang Jixuan really didn't see this coming.
He was just at the Qi Refining stage, yet he had to work tirelessly for nineteen days and nights to barely make it in! If it weren't for his meditation replacing sleep, it might have taken him a month!
In his previous life, when he first started cultivating, he managed to generate a breath of internal energy during his first meditation session. In half a month, he formed a complete cycle, and in less than a month, he was full of energy. In less than a hundred days, he reached the Spirit Gathering stage and began to condense his three souls and seven spirits to become his own divine being.
There were many factors at play this time. The main issue was that the spiritual energy in this world was much thinner compared to his previous life. Plus, this body was over twenty years old, and most of its meridians were blocked...
But thankfully, he had made it through.
Wang Jixuan clenched his fist, feeling a breath of energy swirling beneath his skin.
Now, when he threw a punch, it had about the same power as when he used the Diamond Warrior spell before, but it wouldn't hurt him.
The energy was stored within his skin and flesh, marking the beginning of his Qi Refining journey.
Wang Jixuan calculated that to reach a state of full energy, based on his current cultivation speed, it would take at least four to five months.
However, the threat from the Black Fire Gang was pressing.
He had been living in this safe house for a while now, and he had gone out three times to find food, so it was hard to guarantee that no information had leaked.
As long as this situation remained unsettled, he would have no peace.
"I have entered the Qi Refining stage, so it’s time to settle accounts with them."
Wang Jixuan habitually shook his sleeves, only to realize he was sitting on the bed in just his underwear, which made him chuckle.
He jumped up, and a breath of energy began to flow along the difficult path he had opened up, making his steps light and his senses sharper.
Turning on the tap, Wang Jixuan quickly washed away the dirt from his pores.
Water was the only free resource in the fortress;
As the water flowed, his thoughts raced.
He had decided to take the initiative, and he needed to be fully prepared.
Captain Zhou had sent him several messages, the most recent one four days ago. Wang Jixuan received a note while buying emergency food, marked with Captain Zhou's sign. The note said that the pressure from the Black Fire Gang on Captain Zhou was increasing, and he might soon have to evict Wang Jixuan from the safe house.
"Zhou is a decent officer. Once my cultivation improves, I can refine some pills and give him a few longevity pills as thanks."
"The biggest threat within the Black Fire Gang comes from those firearms."
"To catch a thief, first catch the king; it’s best to deal with the gang leader first, as he is the root of the problem."
From what Wang Jixuan understood, the entire lower city was very chaotic, and the Black Fire Gang likely had many members. Taking the head of the enemy among thousands would not be easy for him right now.
Wang Jixuan was pondering things he never thought about during his previous hard training.
In battles, it was about tools and techniques.
Low-level cultivators' spells could be simply divided into three categories: incantations, talismans, and artifact control.
Incantations use fixed phrases to summon the power of the soul and spirit, driving spiritual energy and condensing spells. This is the most basic method.
He had used incantations several times before, such as the Calm Heart Spell, Fire Control Spell, and Godspeed Spell.
Talismans involve drawing secret symbols on special paper, gathering some magical power within them. The advantage is that during a fight, you can throw the talismans to cast spells, and there are many kinds of talismans, with higher-level cultivators often preparing protective ones for lower-level cultivators.
Wang Jixuan planned to create some protective talismans. Though he wasn't very skilled in this area, he had a few books on talismans in his mind.
The problem was finding suitable paper and spiritual liquid.
Artifact control is about mastering magical tools.
Magical tools have restrictions inscribed on them, and the most basic ones can have magical power infused into them and absorb spiritual energy. You can summon these tools to defeat enemies.
The simplest magical tools include peach wood swords and talismans, while slightly advanced ones include rings and sword pills for sword techniques. High-level magical tools are known as treasures, and there are countless types.
Refining tools was something Wang Jixuan was relatively good at, but right now, he only had various metals he wasn't familiar with, making it hard to use them.
A skilled cook can’t make a meal without rice;
And the Daoist had no usable magical tools.
Wang Jixuan's favorite sword technique could only be practiced after reaching the fourth foundation stage, and forging sword pills required some precious materials.
All of these were nowhere to be found, so he didn't need to think about them for now.
"I can find a way to make some protective talismans, but where can I find the right paper and spiritual liquid?"
Wang Jixuan stared at himself in the mirror, slightly lost in thought.
Gurgle, gurgle—
His stomach growled loudly.
Wang Jixuan smiled wryly; he hadn’t completed his foundation yet and couldn’t afford to skip grains and meat.
He turned to glance at the food cabinet;
It was completely empty.
He hadn’t gone to work for twenty consecutive days, and this month, his three types of quotas had been cut in half, putting the numbers on his quota card in jeopardy.
...
Eating was the top priority for the residents of the fortress.
Among various supply shortages, food scarcity was an unavoidable problem.
If it weren’t for the technology to synthesize starch, allowing the fortress to exchange electricity for food, and the fortress's smart control center managing resources around the clock, Fortress No. 76 wouldn't be able to sustain so many people.
Wang Jixuan put on a mask and a baseball cap, wrapped himself in a gray jacket he had exchanged with his general quota last time he went out, and headed towards the emergency food vending machine he had scouted before.
Food vending machines were usually set up in the circular gardens where the capillary pathways intersected, featuring some simple greenery, and in better conditions, a few fitness equipment.
Wang Jixuan chose to go out during regular working hours, which was the quietest time in the residential area.
He was also considering a problem—without work, there were no food quotas, and he would starve before he could fast.
"Once I deal with the Black Fire Gang, I’ll have to take up some physical labor."
"Just going with the flow; I’m not someone who doesn’t know how to work."
"If my fellow disciples find out, they’ll definitely laugh at me."
Wang Jixuan chuckled to himself.
Since his cultivation was going relatively smoothly, he felt a bit more cheerful at this moment.
After walking for a few minutes, he entered the circular public area, and the target food vending machine came into view.
It was square-shaped, with a narrow window in the front and a simple card-swiping area, all made from high-strength alloy.
As he got closer, he could see two faded lines of promotional slogans stuck on the machine.
"Don’t praise power; that’s just flattery."
"Honor the workers; they deserve to be praised."
Wang Jixuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
He liked these two slogans.
Taking out his quota card, he held it close to the card-swiping area, and the interactive screen displayed his personal information and the food list. Wang Jixuan still chose the lowest food quota for emergency food. Following the suggestion of the "Meal Assistant" in the corner of the screen, he spent 3 food quotas to buy a bottle of comprehensive nutrients.
The machine buzzed, and Wang Jixuan had learned from Mu Liang’s memories that this was the internal conveyor belt working...
Hmm?
Wang Jixuan, having partially regained his spiritual sense, suddenly sensed a hint of danger.
He slightly turned his head, and two figures rushed out from the left rear entrance of the capillary pathway, stopping at the intersection and looking this way.
They were wearing green sweatshirts and had bulging muscles.
This clothing...
Looked exactly like the two guys that Doctor Wei Na let go that day.
Black Fire Gang!
Wang Jixuan stood still, relaxing his body as much as possible, waiting for the food he had just bought to drop down to the exit below.
The two muscular men nearby frowned, examining Wang Jixuan's figure, unable to confirm if he was their target, but they had already reached into their clothes.
Thud, thud, thud.
Several bags of food dropped into the collection area beneath the machine.
Wang Jixuan acted as if nothing was wrong, bending down and slowly pulling out the bags.
"Mu Liang?"
The man on the left frowned and called out.
Wang Jixuan did not react at all, breathing steadily and moving naturally.
The man on the right squinted slightly, his gaze falling on the food vending machine's display screen, watching the personal interface that was about to disappear in two seconds. Suddenly, he pulled out a gun from his clothes!
Killing intent!
Wang Jixuan made a quick decision, throwing two large bags of emergency food at the faces of the two muscular men.
Bang!
The gunshot rang out!
With the flash of the gun, a bullet shot out!
Wang Jixuan's instincts kicked in, and his soul power activated on its own. He could almost see the bullet grazing his scalp as he exerted all his strength to control his muscles and bones, flipping backward.
A sharp pain shot through his forehead!
His scalp was cut, and his baseball cap flew off!
Wang Jixuan completed a backflip and landed on one hand, springing to the right to dodge.
The two large bags of emergency food had a certain weight, and being thrown by someone who had entered the Qi Refining stage, they struck one man's arm, making it hard for him to hold the gun.
But the other man, after firing the first shot, was now filled with adrenaline and began to wildly pull the trigger at a corner of the food vending machine.
Gunshots rang out!
Wang Jixuan narrowly dodged behind the food vending machine, the bullets hitting the alloy and making a pleasant sound, causing both sides to tense up.
Heavenly Lord!
How powerful is this thing?
Wang Jixuan held his breath, quickly searching for suitable cover but found none.
The two men were already shouting:
"Don’t waste bullets!"
"I'll jump over!"
One muscular man gripped his gun tightly and rushed forward. He didn’t charge directly at the vending machine; he just needed to find an angle to shoot at Wang Jixuan.
He was ready to leap forward!
Wang Jixuan clearly sensed the other’s intentions, while the other man had locked down the space above him; as soon as he showed his head, he would be shot.
In the blink of an eye!
The rushing man leaped powerfully, his finger ready to pull the trigger.
Wang Jixuan's eyes sparkled with golden light!
The incantation he had silently recited was nearing its end!
"Let me roam freely, my path is natural!"
He suddenly crouched and lunged forward, a faint golden light radiating from him. Today's Godspeed Spell was many times stronger than the last time he used it!
But this time, he didn’t use the Godspeed Spell to escape!
Wang Jixuan rolled forward at high speed, and before he fully stood up, he pulled out a folding knife hidden in his sleeve, its blade wrapped in a layer of faint energy.
That was the energy Wang Jixuan had painstakingly condensed!
The leaping man quickly adjusted his gun's aim, and his arm-raising motion coincided almost perfectly with Wang Jixuan's knife throw!
Bang!
(End of this chapter)