Chapter 102: Chapter 92: Neat and Tidy (Thank you to the Benefactor Alliance Hierarch for the release)
Las Vegas enjoyed abundant sunlight, and although it experienced low yearly rainfall, the city was home to some of the finest water sources nearby. The plants in the park, which had been untended for most of the year, thrived under the copious sunshine, quickly growing lush and verdant.
Yet, despite it being the peak of noon, when the scorching sun was at its fiercest, there was an inexplicable sense of gloom and coldness lingering in the park.
As two hoverbikes whizzed overhead, feeling the chill in the air, even the well-traveled Sun siblings were somewhat surprised.
“This is a very magical approach, somewhat similar to undead magic.”
Said Sun Shiqing, who was leading Tao Yu, after some contemplation.
Tao Yu immediately seized the opportunity to ask for more information.
“Undead magic? Is it an ability from the old gathering area?”
“It’s an ability from a complete world that hasn’t yet been pulled into the Abyss but has only been captured. It’s very strong, but hasn’t made contact with our Starshine gathering area; it’s from some intelligence reports from the State Capital.”
Such information might be unknown to many in the Outer City, and perhaps even to many in the Inner City, but to Sun Shiqing, it was trivial to mention.
“Do we still have contact with the State Capital?”
Tao Yu asked with renewed curiosity.
He had seen convoys crossing the grey fog a few times, generally looking ragged and rundown. There probably weren’t many routes left that maintained contact with Starshine City.
“Yes, in fact, before the Abyss invasion became so severe, we could complete teleportations in this realm, but now we can’t afford the cost. We can only exchange some intelligence information, and as for material supplies, we have to rely on crossing the grey fog.”
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Tao Yu keenly caught the keywords and followed up with another question,
“This realm? So, within the Abyss, teleportation is still possible?”
“It’s possible if one is willing to pay the right price, but you need corresponding equipment. Our Starshine only has one set in the old gathering area.”
Sun Shiqing paused briefly before continuing,
“If our development here goes smoothly and is deemed valuable enough, we might apply to the State Capital for related equipment.”
Given that even the Suns, notorious for their wealth, spoke of costs in such terms, Tao Yu knew that, for at least the time being, there was no need to consider these matters.
But Starshine City did have a solid foundation…
After such casual conversation, Tao Yu accompanied the two to what he had identified as the prime corpse cultivation site!
Actually, there was no need for Tao Yu to introduce it since, contrasted with the surrounding overgrown weeds and hasty shade, the area earmarked for Corpse Refinement was starkly bare for at least an acre, with nothing but black soil visible.
It was nauseating for the living to even glance at it.
“Seems like the potential of your Art of Corpse Refinement isn’t bad. I wonder if it can yield a breakthrough.”
Sun Shiyu, riding beside her, now showed a hint of interest on her face as she looked down at the patch of black earth.
Then Sun Shiyu exchanged a glance with Sun Shiqing before turning back to Tao Yu and stating,
“You’re too weak. Stay up here and watch.”
“Alright.”
While being called a weakling to his face, Tao Yu had no retort.
If he could handle it himself, why would he have sought out their support? Getting them to take action was his initial goal!
Next, he saw the siblings’ seven peculiar weapons swiftly fly from the hoverbikes, with both of them almost synchronously stepping onto one of the weapons!
The sight was as cool as sword riding.
However, considering they usually traveled by hoverbike, it must be quite energy-intensive.
In the next moment, the remaining six weapons from each transformed into streaks of light, planting themselves upside down into that barren black land in a strange pattern.
Sizzle~
The twelve inverted weapons each released bursts of dazzling lightning. Then, electric serpents began to roam, visibly connecting the weapons with arcs of electric light.
Roar!
The black soil shattered, and a figure burst forth from the earth!
It was a zombie covered in black hair.
Even under the scorching noon sun, it could still move freely!
This is truly…
The next moment, the twelve inverted weapons rose into the air one after another, shooting towards the zombie from various angles. Before Tao Yu could finish his thoughts, he saw the weapons simultaneously pierce the zombie’s body, and then burst into light once more.
Boom~
The black-haired zombie that had just leapt out was instantly blown to pieces, dead beyond recognition.
A thick, nauseating stench arose, making both siblings frown and retreat to a higher distance, returning to the motorcycle, and then quickly ascended.
“The poison is very potent; indeed, it’s a troublesome thing. Are you sure you want to perform Corpse Refinement here?”
Sun Shiqing recalled the weapons while allowing them to hover around the motorcycle and spoke to Tao Yu.
“I’m sure, I have some resistance to poison.”
Only then did Tao Yu snap back to reality after witnessing their swift and deft actions.
Although he had always acknowledged that these two were strong, the telekinetic outburst from the day before at the dormitory had already proven that.
Now, seeing a zombie nurtured by the deathly aura of the whole city taken out in one strike, he couldn’t suppress the shock in the depths of his heart.
“Do you think these things are no big deal because you saw how quickly we handled it?”
Although Sun Shiqing’s back was to Tao Yu as she operated the motorcycle, she seemed to know what he was thinking.
“I can tell you, if your Art of Corpse Refinement could reach such an effect at its extreme, then in the future, it’s not impossible for you to enter the Floating City and even pursue my sister.”
After saying that, she stopped the motorcycle and summoned a weapon to place near Tao Yu.
As the weapon approached, the foul odor hit them, and then Tao Yu was amazed to find that the technology-infused and bizarre weapon surface seemed to have developed some blood vessel-like black lines, which were being decomposed and suppressed by arcs of electricity.
The foul smell was the result of the electric light breaking down those black veins.
“It’s strong. If it weren’t for us, any Pioneer that encountered it would die.”
On the other side, Sun Shiyu approached on her motorcycle and then summoned a weapon that seemed to have the zombie’s head attached to it, likely a product of condensed Yuan Force.
Sun Shiyu didn’t seem to mind the dirt; she directly held the Yuan Force head in her hand, seemingly closing her eyes to sense it, perhaps possessing some kind of skill assessment ability.
“It has a complete Skill, but the contamination is too severe; I have no idea how much it’ll cost to clean it.”
Then, she glanced back at Tao Yu and said,
“Are you absorbing the same type of Skill?”
“Uh, I’m not sure, after all, that was a zombie I could kill, unlike this one.”
“That’s also true, you really are quite lucky.”
Sun Shiyu nodded; in the Abyss, luck was a very important factor.
“Do you have the experience? Is this the only one around here?”
“Hmm, but I’m not sure if the corpse refiner is nearby.”
Tao Yu was hoping they would search the area to eliminate the risk.
“We will look around here for the next few days, but most likely, they aren’t around. If the whole world has been contaminated…”
Sun Shiyu voiced her judgment, and her words carried a somber weight.
If every city of this scale had something similar, then facing such a zombie army, even the two of them would probably have to flee.
“It must’ve been the work of the Fortune Thief.”
Sun Shiqing also speculated.
“The best solution is to demonstrate this place’s value early on, so the company makes more investments.”
Truth is always written by strength, as long as we are strong enough, we can handle any problem!
Having awakened their talents only two months ago, they had already reached such strength.
Although it might be difficult to maintain the same rate and efficiency of growth after the explosive phase of improvement passes, given their resources, their rate of advancement wouldn’t be slow. It truly makes one wonder whom time is really on the side of…