CHAPTER 147: CHAPTER 147: TO FIGHT BEYOND THE WALLS, IT’S A FIGHT FOR LIFE! (SEEKING SUBSCRIPTIONS)

This time was different from the last. The trio was well-prepared; even without needing to intercept ammunition from others, Gu Fangyi could still snipe from long distances. Coupled with Lu Luo conducting solo ground pursuits, they wouldn’t spare ordinary teams a second thought. Everything was ready; they were just waiting to go beyond the Wall.

However, upon reaching the high wall of the Southern Ring, the three were directly stopped by the Wall Guardians. The first trial from the Southern Ring had appeared.

A female Wall Guardian glanced at the visas of Lu Luo and his companions, then at the two greatswords on Lu Luo’s back.

"This... is for mineral exploration?"

"Yes, beautiful lady of the Wall Guardians."

Lu Luo bowed slightly, flashing a charming smile. He then winked at the Wall Guardian, hoping she would be lenient.

"No need for flattery. I don’t like men."

After saying this, the Wall Guardian glanced subtly at Qi Xinzhu. Qi Xinzhu blushed upon hearing this.

Qi Xinzhu couldn’t do the things that Lu Luo usually did!

This woman has improper thoughts about Qi Xinzhu. How can this be tolerated?

Lu Luo was shocked as well. So there are lesbians in this world too? He quickly pulled Qi Xinzhu behind him.

"Uh, lady, stop joking. That joke isn’t very funny."

The female Wall Guardian just smiled and ignored Lu Luo.

She then opened Gu Fangyi’s bag, and her face immediately stiffened at the sight of over a dozen grenades.

Lu Luo hastened to explain again.

"Grenades are really useful for blasting mines, truly!"

"You use energy grenades for mining? That seems a bit extravagant."

"You’ve caught us, madam. Your thinking is so sharp. We are just too rich; can’t help it."

Yeah, so far Qi Xinzhu, You Xiaoqi, and Ding Peng’s salaries are all 200. You’re really so rich.

Automatically ignoring the Observer, Lu Luo simply kept buttering up the female Wall Guardian. As long as flattery didn’t kill, he would flatter her to the extreme.

The female Wall Guardian pushed aside the grenades and was then faced with a whole pack of bullets. Besides bullets, no other mining-related items could be found.

"And these?"

Gu Fangyi was a bit ashamed and lowered his head, regretting not having bought a hoe.

Lu Luo knew he had to speak up at this moment. If they were denied the visa, it would be awkward.

"Lady of the Wall Guardians, you also know the dangers outside the Wall. We are exploring for minerals, not solely mining. What we need to do is find suitable locations for minerals, so we may need to visit many regions outside the Wall. This Mr. Gu Fangyi is our escort. His strength is formidable. It’s just that he wants to keep his school registration, so he didn’t apply for a mercenary visa."

"I see!"

The Wall Guardian nodded, closed Gu Fangyi’s bag, and then opened Qi Xinzhu’s, taking out two pig-snouted gas masks.

"What are these for?"

"Mines sometimes have poisonous gas. Wearing gas masks is a precaution."

"But I didn’t find any tools related to mineral exploration among your belongings. Isn’t this a bit too fake?"

The Wall Guardian looked like she was going to deny the visas, something Lu Luo couldn’t accept.

"Lady of the Wall Guardians, the instruments used for mineral exploration are more or less flawed. But a precise Sequence never errs. My eyes can see through everything, whether it’s for exploring minerals or understanding people, there’s no problem. For example, you are a Second Tier Wall Guardian with high strength and agility. I guess you are an experienced close-combat Transcendent, right?"

The female Wall Guardian was somewhat surprised. Could it be that Lu Luo really had a scouting-related Sequence?

"Yes, but that doesn’t seem to have much to do with your visa."

"My eyes tell me that you must be a smoker."

Lu Luo passed the cigarette case to the Wall Guardian. She was about to say she didn’t smoke, but Lu Luo immediately emphasized his point.

"Please trust me, lady, you really do smoke."

The Wall Guardian took the cigarette case, her eyebrows slightly raised.

"Alright, my life has been quite stressful lately; smoking does help me relax. Consider yourselves approved, but remember to come back on time."

The Wall Guardian finally stamped their visas.

Although Lu Luo was pained by the 3,000 yuan lost in the cigarette case, losing 3,000 was much better than being denied a visa.

Gliding along the zip line of the Southern Ring, Lu Luo and his two companions arrived at Area C04, as could be inferred from the area code. This area was discovered relatively early and explored more frequently. Both the map and the danger area warnings were already quite comprehensive, so from the beginning of the Exile’s Jungle, the trio’s route was quite fixed.

After passing through the Exile’s Jungle, a vast mountainous area followed: the Initial Mountains. After traversing the mountainous region, the second area was a place where a large number of small lakes gathered, the Thousand Lakes District. At the end of the Thousand Lakes District lay the marshland of Area C04, which was the target of Lu Luo and his companions.

"Let’s move out and see if anyone follows. If they really do, then we’ll take action immediately," Lu Luo said.

"Okay."

Gu Fangyi nodded slightly, and Qi Xinzhu didn’t express any objections.

Having grown over the past few months, Qi Xinzhu might not have a heart of stone, but she had now acquired the essential psychological qualities of a warrior.

It was the same formula, the same tactic: Lu Luo armed with a sword paving the way for Gu Fangyi, while Qi Xinzhu covered the rear.

However, this time they hadn’t gone far when Lu Luo suddenly stopped.

The tracker has appeared.

"They’ve caught up!"

"Should we act now?"

"We’re too close to the Wall. Let’s wait till the mountain region," Lu Luo suggested.

"Alright."

Thereafter, the trio somewhat quickened their pace.

With their enhanced physical strength, it took them only one hour to traverse the Exile’s Jungle.

"Brother Gu, find a high point. I’ll leave some traces for them," Lu Luo proposed.

"Okay."

Gu Fangyi glanced at a distant mountain peak and ran straight towards it.

Qi Xinzhu followed behind him. Gu Fangyi’s close-combat abilities were weak, so he really needed Qi Xinzhu’s protection.

As for Lu Luo, he was rather audacious. In such a region of relatively lower risk, the present him could simply take a stand and think, Beat me if you can; if you manage to touch me, I lose.

After leaving some footprints and traces, Lu Luo also found a place to hide himself.

Before long, ten people dressed as mercenaries, split into two groups of five, emerged from the Exile’s Jungle.

The first group quickly inspected the footprints left by Lu Luo and his companions, then followed the trail Lu Luo had left.

The second group maintained a certain distance from the first.

This method of task distribution was a form of insurance.

Even so, Lu Luo still had no intention to strike. He continued to wait and signaled Gu Fangyi to keep waiting as well.

Only after more than twenty minutes passed did a third group appear!

"A total of fifteen mercenaries. They are quite meticulous," Lu Luo remarked.

These individuals appeared to be just ordinary mercenaries from their attire.

However, both Lu Luo, who had Observer, and Gu Fangyi, who had Hawk Eye, could tell from their firearms that these people were very well-equipped!

Lu Luo raised his hand above his head to make a fist, and then gestured with one index finger.

Although the distance was significant, he knew that Gu Fangyi, with his Hawk Eye, could definitely see his gestures.

"Brother Lu is signaling us to move. Target Team One," Gu Fangyi said.

Qi Xinzhu paused for a moment.

"Do I need to coordinate with the action?"

"Huh?" Gu Fangyi was a bit slow to catch on.

Wasn’t Qi Xinzhu from the Church? It hadn’t been that long, had it? Her personality change was so drastic! Was she influenced by Brother Lu’s medicine?

"No need, just protect me. They’ll have a hard time hitting me at this distance," Gu Fangyi said.

"Got it."

Although Qi Xinzhu was ready for the killing, her mind eased slightly upon hearing that Gu Fangyi didn’t demand her involvement in the killing.

Gu Fangyi swiftly adjusted his scope, aimed, and fired.

BANG!

Before the sound arrived, the lead mercenary from the first team toppled in response.

After he fell, the gunfire echoed from the mountaintop. Bullets travel much faster than sound.

"Ambush! On the mountaintop, a sniper!"

In the chaos, the mercenaries of Team One sought cover, but there wasn’t a single rock big enough to shield their bodies on this hillside path. Where could they find cover?

All they could do was to seek shelter behind some trees in the mountainside forest.

But these trees, at most, were only about ten centimeters thick—barely sufficient to stop ordinary bullets.

It was simply impossible to block the shots from a sniper rifle.

Moreover, Gu Fangyi’s shots were imbued with the power of Shooting Path and the precision of Hawk Eye’s lock-on.

BANG!

The second shot rang out, and the second person collapsed. The team of mercenaries quickly descended into panic.

They were merely Fourth Ring labor dispatch mercenaries. Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals was just a long-term business partner. They were paid to do a job. None of them truly wanted to die here.

As more team members fell, the mercenaries lost their will to fight and fled in utter disarray.

Lu Luo’s orders to Gu Fangyi were simple: kill, kill without holding back.

As for intelligence and captives, those were issues for Lu Luo himself to handle. Gu Fangyi’s job was just to kill, nothing more.

When Team One came under attack, Team Two naturally heard the gunfire.

They usually had two options: first, to move forward to assist Team One; second, to retreat and regroup with Team Three for evacuation.

But whichever choice they made, the outcome was a dead end, because Lu Luo had already appeared behind Team Three.

WHOOOSH! This was the sound of a fierce wind spinning.

The tremendous and exaggerated double-handed greatsword, like a spinning ceiling fan, flew towards Team Three, wrapped in Lu Luo’s Qi He.

Against such a ridiculous impact force, the Entry Level mercenaries were completely powerless to resist.

CRUNCH!

The greatsword cleaved through one person’s chest and continued with unabated force, smashing another’s arm before barely coming to a stop.

The one who died was one thing, but the one whose arm was smashed lay on the ground wailing because his three teammates had already run away.

Not only had his arm been severed, but his ribs were also broken from the force of the greatsword. He could only lie on the ground, manifesting humanity’s most vulnerable side, and crying out loud.

Lu Luo charged fiercely toward the scattered figures, connecting his Qi He to his jet-propelled omnidirectional maneuver gear, activating steam Qi He, and attempting an energy jet.

PSSHH!

The recoil from the jet propulsion was intense. Unaccustomed to this method of movement, Lu Luo nearly stumbled and fell due to the loss of balance.

However, his attributes were high enough that he quickly adjusted.

If this gear were given to Qi Xinzhu or Brother Gu to use, they would probably need a long period of practice!

PSSHH! PSSHH!

Steam Qi He could be called one of the most suitable energies for jet devices because the pressure of steam required almost no additional conversion to become Lu Luo’s jet propulsion.

Using the jet gear, Lu Luo’s movement speed could be increased by several times.

He didn’t use the jet to fly, as the device’s operating time was only ten minutes. It was just meant to test the equipment against a few mercenaries. Anything more was too extravagant.

Lu Luo drew his second greatsword from his back and, with a jet-propelled charge, killed one of them.

The remaining two, facing Lu Luo standing before them, finally mustered their last bit of courage and drew their guns to shoot.

Firearms, undoubtedly, are the most effective weapons for those without great strength.

Unfortunately, they were up against Lu Luo.

Lu Luo deliberately disabled his Qi He defense, letting the bullets hit his face, body, and arms.

But the shots only produced a ringing sound and had no substantive effect.

"High-level Transcendent!"

Lu Luo flung out a Steel Wire Hook, catching the two men by their thighs. He walked forward, kicked their legs, breaking their calves, and dragged the wailing pair toward the man whose arm had been severed.

The whole process took no more than two minutes. Team Three of mercenaries was almost entirely wiped out.

Lu Luo didn’t rush to interrogate them because there was still one more team to deal with.

Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, the three surviving mercenaries panicked even more. Lu Luo hadn’t even asked yet, and they already started spilling everything they knew.

"Boss, we are just acting according to Lan Tian Company’s orders. Oh right, right, I’m a member of a mercenary company affiliated with Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals."

Seeing one of them speak up, the other two hurriedly chimed in.

"I have information too. Lan Tian Company asked us to follow you. There were no specific instructions; just to follow was enough."

"Yes, we didn’t plan on attacking you. We really don’t know anything; at least I don’t know anything. Honestly, boss, please believe me."

Can mercenaries’ words be trusted? Yes. But will Lu Luo spare them? No.

"Don’t be so spineless. You know the rules outside the Wall. If you choose this line of work and take this high salary, you have to be brave enough to face the consequences of your actions. You’re watching me to provide information to Lan Tian. You not harming me doesn’t mean Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals, with my information, won’t harm me. You earn a few thousand a month, while a cleaning lady earns only 165. If you’re just seeking safety, you might as well sweep floors inside the Wall. There’s no need to come out here. Coming outside the Wall is inherently risking one’s life."

"You..." Lu Luo’s words had undoubtedly sentenced the three of them to death. Since there was no way Lu Luo would let them go, they naturally had to fight to the death.

But when they thought back to the moments they had fired at Lu Luo, a sense of despair rose in their hearts.

How can you kill someone who’s not even afraid of bullets?

The mission was reconnaissance in nature. They weren’t equipped with heavy weapons or grenades.

Now, with Lu Luo sitting in front of them without fighting back, the mercenaries couldn’t even find a way to kill him.

The first team of mercenaries had been completely shot dead by Gu Fangyi. And it had taken a long time for the second team, fleeing, to finally arrive before Lu Luo.

But what awaited them was only despair!

The second team was different from the previous Team Three; one of them seemed to be the squad leader.

He told Lu Luo a piece of news that was somewhat unexpected.

"You’re saying, aside from Song Hana of Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals, there was another person who commissioned you to find me? Who is it?"

"If I tell you, can you let me go?"

Lu Luo considered for a moment, then nodded.

"I don’t have to kill you, and I can let you go, provided your information is valuable."

"She had asked us to investigate you before Song Hana found us. I don’t know her name. But I’m pretty sure she’s from the Church because she had the strong scent of the Church’s musk on her."

The names Qi Xinzhu and Han Shiyu flashed across Lu Luo’s mind, but he quickly discounted them both. There was no need for either of them to investigate him.

Plus, these two women only carried a woman’s natural fragrance and a milky scent, not musk.

Excluding the two, the Church women who have had the most contact with the host are Yu Luo at 45 percent, and Lu Shan at 50 percent, with others at 5 percent.

Lu Luo’s mind rapidly went through the images of Lu Shan and Yu Luo, finally resting on the image of a Believer of Light named Yu Luo.

The woman who snipped her own dress?

While Lu Luo pondered this doubtfully, the mercenary asked tentatively, "I’ve told you all I know. Can you let me go now?"

"Mm, I said before I could let you go, and I wouldn’t kill you."

Lu Luo turned away. Just as the mercenary was ecstatic with joy, a sniper bullet found its mark, exploding his head.

Lu Luo collected all the firearms from the three teams and then found a hole to bury them.

They couldn’t carry so much equipment with them now, so they had to temporarily leave it behind.

Whether they could find it again when they came back largely depended on the goodwill of the Scavenger bosses.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, he joined up with Gu Fangyi and Qi Xinzhu. Lu Luo pointed towards the distant Thousand Lakes District below the mountain.

"Let’s go! We’re going to be busy for these twenty days."

After Lu Luo left, a person suddenly materialized from the shadow of the mountain wall.

He ghosted over to the corpses of the mercenaries, did a cursory check on their bodies, and slightly furrowed his brow.

Lu Luo’s progress in strength is alarmingly fast!

According to Song Hana, they were sponsored students from a company, and they should have had very few resources before college.

Even if they had a financial backer providing them with resources like the Dark Spirit Stone for cultivation, it’s impossible for their physical fitness to be at this level.

Physical fitness training is entirely different from energy system cultivation.

The only thing that can significantly enhance physical fitness is the Exotic Species.

The tall and thin man checked the mercenaries’ wounds again. From the clean cut through the waist of one, he could judge that Lu Luo’s strength could reach that of a nearly Third Tier normal strength-based Transcendent, or even a Second Tier force-based Transcendent among the Hunters.

But he was well aware that Lu Luo had used Qi He before, so he couldn’t possibly be force-oriented.

Normal cultivation couldn’t possibly grant such great strength in a few months. This man’s development doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. There’s only one possibility: he has a method to rapidly enhance his own physique. Perhaps Song Hana’s speculation is wrong. There is no company behind him. All the secrets have always been with Lu Luo himself. The life force of the Exotic Species.

After tossing the half-corpse onto the ground, Li Qingshu’s figure faded into a dull gray, then merged with the shadows and vanished once more.

As he appeared and disappeared, Lu Luo’s upgraded Observer issued two alerts:

Detected high-level Sequence Fluctuation. Distance too far, unable to obtain further information!

Detected high-level Sequence Fluctuation. Distance too far, unable to obtain further information!