Cultivation Online

”Go ahead. Absorb the energy in this Unknown Ore and Unknown Crystal.”

Yuan accepted them and held one in each hand before absorbing their Eternal Essence.

”Done.”

A moment later, he handed them back to the individual in white.

”That fast?!”

They didn’t dare to believe it, but after examining the Unknown Ore and Unknown Crystal, they had no choice but to believe it.

”I don’t get it. If you absorbed so much Limitless, why hasn’t your cultivation shown any results?” one of them questioned out loud.

Yuan shrugged and said, ”I don’t know. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even realize my physique had this power until you dragged me here.”

”What now, Senior Zhang?” asked another individual in white.

”...”

”We will need some time to decide what to do with this information,” said Senior Zhang.

”Until then, we’ll have to keep you here,” she added while looking at Yuan.

Mei Feng then said, ”Sorry, but that won’t do. He’ll be heading to the assembly with the Supreme General in three days.”

”You can just find someone else to go.”

”That won’t be possible, either.”

”Why is that?” Senior Zhang asked.

”That isn’t something I can disclose to you,” Mei Feng replied.

”Even though we have the same Credential Rank?”

”We may have the same Credential Rank, but our clearances are still different. While there is information within this facility that I’m not authorized to access, there is also military-related information that you’re not authorized to know, since you’re not a soldier.”

”...”

”Three days, right? He’ll remain here until then. I doubt we’ll need any longer than that,” Senior Zhang said.

”I can accept that, but what is there even to consider? He possesses a never-before-seen physique, and while it’s true that he’s been turning in defective Unknown Ores and Crystals, he claims he wasn’t aware of it. I believe him, too. After all, how could he have possibly known when the Unknown Ores remain completely unchanged in appearance even after their energy has been drained?”

”I’m not going to argue with you here. Three days. You’ll have your answer in three days.”

As much as Mei Feng wanted to free Yuan, there was truly nothing she could do in this situation.

”Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” Yuan said.

Mei Feng nodded and left shortly after with Ironwoman.

Meanwhile, Yuan was taken to another room, already furnished like a bedroom.

”You are prohibited from leaving until we say so,” Senior Zhang said to him.

After locking Yuan inside the room, Senior Zhang and the others left to discuss the situation.

Inside Mei Feng’s office, she and the Ironwoman also had their own discussion.

”What do you think?” Mei Feng asked. ”Is Sergeant Yuan telling the truth?”

The Ironwoman closed her eyes to recall everything she’d seen in the Black Zone.

”Hard to say, since we don’t know much, if anything, about the Perfected Heavenly Refinement physique. However, I do believe he was lying when he said he didn’t know until today,” Ironwoman said.

”Is that so?”

Despite declaring she believed Yuan, Mei Feng also doubted it.

”It’s obvious that he’s hiding a lot from us, but who doesn’t have secrets? I’m sure he has his reasons,” said the Ironwoman. ”Most importantly, I don’t feel worried even knowing that.”

”The biggest question right now is what they—the Extractors—will do about it.”

The Extractors were the individuals dressed in white. Although they weren’t soldiers, their Credential Ranks were higher than those of most military personnel due to the importance of their work, which involved extracting Limitless from Unknown Ores and Unknown Crystals.

Of course, this wasn’t a job that just anyone could apply for. One could become an Extractor only through a personal invitation from the Supreme General, after undergoing a lengthy and rigorous vetting process.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

”Damn it... I thought this would be a simple decision...” Senior Zhang sighed as she sank back into her chair, looking defeated after they failed to reach a decision on how to deal with Yuan.

”Quite frankly, I think this is beyond us. Let’s just speak with the Supreme General and have him decide,” one of the Extractors suggested.

”I agree.”

”Fine. I’ll speak with the Supreme General,” Senior Zhang sighed aloud.

Some time later, she called the Supreme General and revealed the entire situation to him.

The Supreme General did not speak for several minutes as he pondered.

Eventually, he responded, ”Let him go. I’ll deal with him myself.”

”Understood.”

Senior Zhang did not question the Supreme General’s decision and immediately released Yuan.

”Am I free to go?” Yuan asked.

”I guess so,” said Senior Zhang, not revealing everything.

Yuan had expected them to at least warn him against touching any more Unknown Ores or Unknown Crystals, but to his surprise, they said nothing and simply let him leave without another word.

After leaving, Yuan went straight to Mei Feng, who was just as surprised by the outcome as he was.

”What? They simply let you leave without saying anything? There’s no way they’d let this matter go so easily. Something is definitely going on, so don’t let your guard down,” she warned.

”What now?” Yuan asked a moment later.

”Until we have a clearer understanding of the situation, all you can do is carry on as usual. In any case, your escort mission has already been approved, so you’ll be accompanying the Supreme General to the assembly.”

”Alright.”

”Also, I shouldn’t have to say this, but refrain from touching any more Unknown Ores and Unknown Crystals from now on,” Mei Feng added.

”Of course.” Yuan calmly nodded.

Even without Mei Feng’s warning, he had already decided to stop absorbing their energy—or at the very least, stop turning in the ones he had drained. After all, he could obtain far more Eternal Essence by defeating Void Specters in the level 2 Black Zone.

”Head to the Parade Deck within the next hour,” Mei Feng said shortly later.

”Alright. See you later.”

Yuan bid her farewell and left the office.