Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

The sky began to pale in the east.

The three of them sat on rocks in the wilderness.

Just moments ago, they had been on the back of the wolf, a blur of speed and fury.

Now, they had arrived on the outskirts of Four Seas Camp.

The woman had given in.

She proposed an alliance with Tang Wen and his companion.

Tang Wen: "Give me a reason."

The Childlike Lolita had clearly been thinking this over for a while. "You’re from outside Ganshan City, but I’m an Elder of the Thief Sect. I’m a local power here. If we work together, we both benefit. But if I don’t make it back, you’ll have gained a new enemy. An enemy in the shadows."

Tang Wen and General Zhao exchanged a look.

The general nodded, signaling for Tang Wen to make the decision.

"Tell me about the Thief Sect."

"The Thief Sect was once a major power in Ganshan City, but our influence waned after a conflict with the Huang Family. I can recommend you two to join us."

Saying this, the Childlike Lolita turned to Tang Wen. "You practice the Night Divine Fist, which has multiple Profound Techniques."

"For example, there’s Ghostly Shadows and Instant Step."

"Ghostly Shadows can reduce the damage you take."

"Instant Step allows you to teleport a short distance."

"No one outside our Thief Sect possesses these two Profound Techniques."

Tang Wen’s interest was piqued.

’Strength is the root of everything,’ he thought.

"If these abilities are so powerful, why didn’t you use them?"

He had hit a sore spot.

The Female Extraordinary’s face flushed red. She glared at him hatefully, baring two rows of small white teeth as if she wanted to take a bite out of him.

Tang Wen met her gaze without flinching.

She had no choice but to tell the truth.

"I haven’t mastered them! And I doubt you’d have much luck either!"

"Has anyone ever mastered them?"

"Of course! Over a dozen masters from the previous generation of the Huang Family fell to a surprise attack using Instant Step."

Tang Wen nodded. "That’s not enough. Cooperating with your Thief Sect is the same as offending the Huang Family. We would become their sworn enemies."

"I also know many of Ganshan City’s secrets. For example, what lies underground."

"What’s underground?"

"If you agree to cooperate, I’ll tell you. It concerns the entire city, maybe even the safety of everyone in the whole Southwest region."

Her claims sounded overly dramatic, and Tang Wen was about to make a sarcastic comment, but then he suddenly remembered something. He asked probingly:

"Does this underground secret have anything to do with the disappearing Beastmasters?"

The woman was surprised. "You’re investigating that as well?"

’Investigating?’

He shook his head.

"I wouldn’t call it an investigation. But since you’re a local power, your information network must be quite extensive, right?"

As he said this, Tang Wen exchanged another glance with General Zhao.

They were both thinking the same thing: they could use the Thief Sect to investigate the Bai Family.

"It’s so-so."

Tang Wen kept his eyes fixed on the woman, trying to bluff more out of her.

The woman ground her back teeth. "One last thing, and if this doesn’t work, then forget it! You might as well just sell me off."

Tang Wen smiled. "There you go, getting worked up again. Our cooperation is a win-win. Not only do you get to save your life and gain your freedom, but you also immediately get our support. See? Between the men and the wolf here, you have three Extraordinaries right in front of you."

At this, the Sand Wolf King cast a lazy glance in her direction.

The woman sighed and reluctantly spat out three words:

"Marrow Protection Potion."

After saying this, she closed her eyes as if she had given up all resistance.

Tang Wen and the general’s expressions didn’t change, but inwardly, they were ecstatic.

Flame Camp had at least ten Peak Martial Artists who were in desperate need of Protective Marrow Liquid.

When Miss Bai had hired Tang Wen to come to Ganshan City, the price she had offered to convince Zhou Bing to agree was a bottle of Protective Marrow Liquid.

It was what could help Zhou Bing smoothly cross the immense threshold from Martial Artist to Extraordinary.

"How many bottles?"

Tang Wen asked calmly.

"How many bottles?" The woman’s face was full of scorn.

"Alright! So it’s just one bottle."

"Hah! I’m not talking about bottles. I’m talking about a formula."

Tang Wen froze.

Then, his breathing grew ragged.

"The formula for the Protective Marrow Liquid? Are you sure?!"

Even General Zhao couldn’t help but interject.

"Heh heh." The woman lifted her small chin, looking at them proudly.

’Finally! I’ve stunned them!’

’This really is a huge gift!’

Tang Wen steadied his breathing and gently helped the Childlike Lolita up from the ground.

At the same time, he relaxed his mental pressure, letting her lean against a rock.

A wide, benevolent smile spread across his face as he extended a hand. "Let’s introduce ourselves properly. My name is Tang Wen. And what should I call you, miss?"

"Li Zi."

"A fine name."

"What’s so fine about it?" Li Zi was still in a sour mood.

Tang Wen chuckled. "It sounds nice and it’s easy to remember. Maybe it’s even tasty."

"Pah!"

’The formula for the Marrow Protection Potion. I have to get my hands on it, no matter what!’

’Still, I can’t trust her completely.’

Tang Wen thought for a moment, then said, "I need to get the formula for the Protective Marrow Liquid first."

Li Zi eyed him. "What’s in it for me?"

Tang Wen said, "If I’m not mistaken, the Thief Sect doesn’t have many masters left, does it?"

"Where do your people conduct their Martial Arts Training?"

"How do they make a living?"

"If they have children or families, are they safe in Ganshan City?"

His questions were relentless.

Each one struck a soft spot in Li Zi’s heart.

The Childlike Lolita’s eyes dimmed.

She knew she had said too much and revealed her hand.

"Agree to help me with one thing, and I’ll immediately give you the formula for the Protective Marrow Liquid."

"Name it."

"An assassination! I want you to kill an Extraordinary."

"Someone from the Huang Family?"

"Yes. He’s also a traitor to the Thief Sect. His betrayal cost us dearly."

"Fine! But this will require careful planning."

Tang Wen agreed readily.

"I hope you’re a man of your word!"

After saying this, Li Zi began to recite a series of medicinal ingredient names, followed by preparation methods, heat control, temperatures...

Tang Wen and General Zhao hurriedly committed it all to memory.

After memorizing it, they repeated it several times under their breath.

"We’ll verify the formula’s authenticity as soon as possible. As long as it’s real, we’ll give you your freedom."

But Li Zi shook her head. "Brewing the potion even once will take at least a month or two. That’s too long. I’ll tell you how to use these Night Traveler’s Clothes. You have to release me sooner."

Tang Wen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’If my guess isn’t too far off the mark... this woman probably has a lot of people to take care of. Besides, after we fought, she thought she had me under control, but she never showed any killing intent.’

Tang Wen decided to trust her this once.

He nodded. "Alright, I agree."

Li Zi didn’t hesitate and spoke directly, "These Night Traveler’s Clothes are also called Moon Traveling Clothes. You need to lay them out flat on a moonlit night, with the top facing Polaris. It will attract the moonlight. But be careful; it will be very conspicuous when it’s drawing the moonlight down, so you’ll need to use a Dark Ability to conceal it."

"So this is one of the Curiosities?" It was the first time General Zhao had seen one.

Li Zi looked at him, and her heart sank. "I’ve told you everything I should. What about you? Who are you people, really? And why have you come to Ganshan City?"

Although Tang Wen, his companion, and the wolf were all Extraordinaries, how could this General Zhao have never even seen one of the Curiosities?

’They couldn’t be from some backwater corner of the world, some remote mountain village, could they?’

"Uh," Tang Wen glanced at General Zhao. "We’re from a camp. We came to Ganshan City to find someone."

Li Zi’s big eyes showed her dissatisfaction. "And? That’s too simple an explanation."

Tang Wen cleared his throat. "Our camp has existed for a hundred years, isolated from the world. Our ambition is to build a fair and equal environment for survival."

General Zhao looked down at the sand.

’Does our Flame Camp have this philosophy? This kid has only been out in the world for a short while, and he’s already a master of spouting bull.’

Looking at Li Zi, she was even more suspicious.

She had a look on her face that said, ’If you’re going to lie, at least put some effort into it.’

’Just ask that Extraordinary Exotic Beast next to you if it’s willing to eat grass!’

Tang Wen looked into her eyes and said in a low, serious voice, "Our camp has no slaves. In our camp, not even the king can execute someone at will. In our camp, farmers only need to turn over seventy percent of their harvest. We teach literacy for free, and anyone who becomes a Guard can receive Martial Arts Training."

"That... Is that true?"

Li Zi found it even harder to believe. ’How could a camp like that even survive?’

General Zhao said, "If you don’t believe it, I can take you to see for yourself."

Li Zi hesitated.

Tang Wen said, "Now, tell me what’s going on underground in Ganshan City!"