CHAPTER 318: CHAPTER 198: AT A DISADVANTAGE

Qu Jianlei mainly wanted to compare whether the collections in the research labs of each sub-attribute were all present at the aggregation point.

If they were all there, he wouldn’t need to steal from the other research labs.

He spent ten minutes comparing, and the results showed—they were not exactly the same.

The aggregation point had more rare materials, while some materials in each research lab were not at the aggregation point.

The materials not at the aggregation point did not contain profound mysteries, but had some divergent ideas.

So... he still had to steal from them one by one.

The research labs of the Five Major Attributes had relatively sparse collections, and there weren’t many warning devices.

After all, these Five Major Attributes have been researched thoroughly, making it hard to stand out, and many materials have leaked out.

What surprised Qu Jianlei was that the Fire Attribute data room actually had a very secretive self-ignition device.

This device’s purpose is self-destructive and poses no threat to outsiders, but a small carelessness could indeed cause trouble.

Thankfully, Qu Jianlei had exceptional Spiritual Perception and was careful, quickly discovering this device.

"Could it be that because Old Bai is Fire Attribute, there are extra precautions for Fire Attribute?"

Lastly, there was the solitary works collection room outside the cultivation materials.

Since he was already there, and there was space in his Storage Ring, why not pack them all up and take them?

Qu Jianlei didn’t expect to accidentally trigger an alarm in this collection room.

Strictly speaking, he didn’t trigger the alarm but a solitary work placed inside a box with its own alarm device.

This collection room had a limited amount of materials, about seventy to eighty books in total.

More than twenty of them looked very valuable, either in exquisite boxes or vacuum and anti-strong light packaging.

Qu Jianlei first retrieved those packaged materials, causing the alarm to blare instantly!

He raised a hand and stored the other materials in his Storage Ring, only then realizing... he was trapped in the collection room!

The defense mechanisms of this collection room reacted extremely fast; once the alarm sounded, alloy bars sprang up all around.

Qu Jianlei had no choice but to condense a Flame Saber and heavily chop at one bar, simultaneously conjuring a Golden Armor for protection.

With just one slash, he broke an alloy bar, thankfully having reached A-level; when he was B-level, he wouldn’t dare to risk it.

Then he gathered himself and collided with that bar, charging out directly.

However, even such a brief delay had allowed someone to arrive, shouting, "Thief, halt!"

The person who arrived was none other than Bai Yansheng, dressed in pajamas and swinging out a ball of flame, "Fire Cage!"

That ball of flame exploded, and the firelight shot swiftly in all directions like meteor showers.

This was a large-scale technique.

As the sparks scattered, those tiny Mars quickly stretched out long, eventually forming a Fire Cage to trap the opponent.

Bai Yansheng want to first trap the opponent to ensure the thief couldn’t escape, then think of ways to gradually deal with them.

His plan wasn’t incorrect, yet regrettably, he underestimated them.

He assumed the opponent was a B-level Warrior—A-level Warriors doing this kind of thing would be disgraceful.

Qu Jianlei’s face showed a strange expression: a range technique, who are you looking down on?

For the same warrior, the larger the range of the technique, the smaller the average unit power, that’s Energy Law.

He ignored the Fire Cage and flicked his hand to unleash a Thunder Dragon, "Seeking death!"

"Lightning... You’re Jian Lei!" Bai Yansheng realized immediately, urgently sending out fire dragons one after another.

However, the lightning’s attack was simply too swift, and before the fire dragons could fully form, the Thunder Dragon had already pierced them.

With just one strike, Bai Yansheng was charred black all over, and his pajamas turned to tatters!

"I’ll spare you today," Qu Jianlei raised a hand, summoned a Water Dragon from the sky, drenching his opponent thoroughly.

Then he pinched a technique, "Ice Seal!"

Bai Yansheng, just recovering a bit from his rigidity, was instantly frozen into an ice block.

At that moment, someone shouted, "Thief, take this... Stone Cone!"

It turned out a Guardian Team Member arrived, a Rock Attribute B-level Warrior.

Seeing Bai Yansheng trapped, he was terrified and, without thinking, launched his strongest strike.

A stone cone weighing dozens of kilograms heavily struck Qu Jianlei.

Yet, Qu Jianlei’s body only lightly swayed, then he pointed a finger at the opponent, "Move again, and I’ll kill you."

The warrior was dumbstruck, watching Qu Jianlei vanish into the night, unable to believe it, asking, "A-level?"

"Yes, A-level," came a soft sigh as Bai Yansheng broke free from the icy confinement.

His eyes showed a hint of confusion, "How could that guy... level up so quickly?"

The Rock Attribute warrior also wore a puzzled expression, "Is it Jian Lei?"

"Ah~" a piercing scream was heard; it was a female warrior just arriving.

Covering her eyes, she angrily spoke, "Boss Bai, have some dignity, will you?"

Bai Yansheng looked down and realized his pajamas were already shredded to pieces, leaving him stark naked!

He shook his head with a wry smile and vanished instantly, saying, "Check on our losses."

The losses were reported quickly; Jian Lei had come to the institute and took all of its data with him.

"Is this guy a bandit?" Bai Yansheng was dumbfounded. "Did he not leave a single scrap?"

Soon, news spread that Jian Lei had returned to the gorge.

The institute reported the losses, and then someone came to investigate, "What are the casualties?"

"No casualties," Bai Yansheng replied bluntly, adding that he was the only one slightly injured.

However, he wasn’t willing to admit it, as the incident was truly embarrassing.

"That shouldn’t be," someone else said in confusion. "That guy is usually ruthless... How many did he kill last time?"

Bai Yansheng’s face darkened hearing that, saying, "Do you think I shouldn’t have survived, or do you suspect we’re colluding?"

The person speaking was an A-level Warrior, not afraid of Bai Yansheng’s anger at all.

"Don’t overthink. I’m just puzzled. Why would he suddenly show mercy?"

The rock attribute warrior couldn’t bear it, "I attacked him with stone cones, yet he didn’t kill me."

Given his state and cultivation level, stone cones are undoubtedly a powerful attack method.

Upon hearing this, someone became interested, "Is it because he was in a rush to escape last time and acted harshly?"

A middle-aged man couldn’t hold back, saying, "He came to steal the data; he’s already in the wrong. Why would he need to act harshly?"

The person who had spoken earlier was stunned, asking, "But he also stole from the spare library. Why would he act harshly?"

The middle-aged man, having clearly thought it over, responded with a cold laugh, "Because some people stole his A-level crystals!"

His statement really hit the nail on the head regarding Qu Jianlei’s psychology.

Qu Jianlei robbed the spare library without any qualms, killing when necessary.

The people from the gorge who went to Central City treated him this way, taking all two and a half A-level crystals.

But when robbing the institute, he hesitated to act ruthlessly – it was a research institution, why go to such extremes?

"Steal his A-level crystals?" Bai Yansheng winced, "Sander really overdid it."

"It wasn’t Sander who took action," the middle-aged man chuckled upon hearing Bai Yansheng. "The one who took the A-level crystals is right here."

The person seemed taken aback and replied, "If you keep spreading rumors, do you believe I’ll deal with you?"

The middle-aged man ignored him with a smile, "Feel free, but Jian Lei might not know who took his crystals."

The other person was startled and then forced a smile, "I was just joking. Surely you didn’t take it seriously?"

"Hmph," the middle-aged man snorted, too lazy to respond.

The previous speaker expressed frustration, "Now with his cultivation level, we can only confront him with someone above A-level."

"Those above A-level aren’t responsible for such matters," another person stated coldly, "We just emphasized following rules. Do you plan to violate them?"

The man felt troubled, "If not someone above A-level, who else can deal with him?"

"You’re on your own," someone scoffed, "Taking whatever they fancy."

The man became increasingly irritated and suddenly alert, "He has a nemesis— the Douglas Clan!"

No one picked up on that topic, clearly uninterested in it.

After Qu Jianlei left the institute, no one could stop him, quite different from his previous hasty escape.

Unless faced with someone above A-level, regardless of attributes, facing this attributeless warrior, all would have no choice but to surrender.

Moreover, in the gorge, there wasn’t an A-level Wind Attribute Warrior, so no one could catch up to him.

A direct confrontation... basically don’t joke about it, unless a Supreme Warrior intervenes.

However, the actions of a Supreme Warrior are restrained, as Xiao Moshan clearly explained.

Only when the gorge faces a systemic crisis might a Supreme Warrior intervene.

The title "Supreme" indicates that petty disputes among mortals aren’t worth intervening in.

In any case, Qu Jianlei’s robbery of the institute went extraordinarily smoothly this time.

If not for a little unexpectedness, it could be considered a perfect operation.

So he didn’t delay, took a large detour, and returned to his starting point.

"I’ve gained something to help you calculate your way to A-level cultivation methods... but this place can’t be stayed in."

"A-level cultivation methods?" Youyou’s eyes lit up.

Having come from the base, she knew the difference between B-level and A-level, an insurmountable chasm between ordinary and elite people.

"Why can’t we stay?" Xiao Moshan was concerned about something else, "Is it unsafe now, how many did you kill?"

"Not a single one, just froze old man Bai," Qu Jianlei casually replied, "but completely looted the institute!"

"As expected of the boss!" Youyou raised a thumb, "Refreshing!"

(Two updates done, end of the month, requesting monthly votes for the final three hours, with a routine additional update at midnight, scheduled bottom votes for August.)