I Can Control Resources

"Gao Neng, I... I can’t seem to hear anything, and I can’t feel any temperature either..." Gao Xiaomeng’s voice sounded out just then.

’Can’t hear anything?’

’Can’t feel any temperature?’

’That’s it!’

Gao Neng’s heart shuddered. He’d also been in that ink-like substance just a moment ago. Then, he had lost his hearing and all bodily sensation.

But then, Gao Xiaomeng had punched him, knocking him out of the ink. His hearing and bodily sensations had immediately returned.

’So, I just need to find a way to pull Gao Xiaomeng out of the ink, right?’

Hmm...

To Gao Neng, this problem didn’t seem difficult.

’What’s certain for now is that this blob of ink seems to be of a very high tier, but its only effect seems to be eliminating perception. It doesn’t have any real destructive power.’

But no matter what, this blob of ink was very dangerous.

’Best not to get close.’

"Manifest: Flying Earth Dragon!" Gao Neng swiftly materialized a Flying Earth Dragon and immediately sent it charging toward Gao Xiaomeng.

And, just as Gao Xiaomeng had instructed him earlier, he shouted and exaggerated the words with his mouth for her to see: "Don’t move, Gao Xiaomeng, don’t move!"

"BOOM!"

The Flying Earth Dragon crashed into the ink, then slammed into Gao Xiaomeng. Throughout the entire process, Gao Xiaomeng remained completely motionless.

However, the result was completely different.

The Flying Earth Dragon instantly exploded.

The steel-based Elemental Energy that composed its body instantly turned into a pool of molten iron, which then silently merged into the ink.

Gao Xiaomeng, however, was still trapped in the ink, not blasted out at all.

’The Flying Earth Dragon plan failed?! It was... absorbed? This blob of ink... is definitely not as simple as it looks on the surface!’ Gao Neng’s mind raced. Finally, he gritted his teeth.

He summoned his Tier Seven Genetic Weapon.

’The Flying Earth Dragon was probably absorbed because it was made of Elemental Energy, not a real body,’ he reasoned.

’In that case, I’ll try the Tier Seven Genetic Weapon.’

’Compared to saving Gao Xiaomeng, even sacrificing a Tier Seven Genetic Weapon is nothing.’

"Gao Xiaomeng, don’t move!" Gao Neng shouted again, then ordered the Tier Seven Genetic Weapon to charge at Gao Xiaomeng.

To maximize his chances of rescuing Gao Xiaomeng, Gao Neng didn’t dare to be the slightest bit careless or reckless this time. He commanded the Tier Seven Genetic Weapon to advance in the same pouncing posture Gao Xiaomeng had used, also targeting her small face.

"BANG!"

The Tier Seven Genetic Weapon’s fist slammed into Gao Xiaomeng’s face.

But Gao Xiaomeng still didn’t move an inch.

Then, the Tier Seven Genetic Weapon’s body shuddered once before violently exploding into a pool of blood, which was similarly swallowed by the ink.

Gao Neng stared, utterly dumbfounded.

’A single Tier Seven Genetic Weapon... it takes half a month to create and is worth tens of millions. On any other day, I’d be absolutely gutted and swearing revenge.’

’But right now, the Tier Seven Genetic Weapon isn’t the issue.’

’The issue is, I clearly had the Tier Seven Genetic Weapon hit Gao Xiaomeng. Why didn’t she fly out of the ink like I did?’

’This doesn’t make any sense!’

’The rule was clearly established, and I followed it, but it just led to a dead end. This is completely unfair!’

’Wait a minute.’

’If that’s the case, then there’s only one possibility.’

’The ink is conscious!’

’When Gao Xiaomeng punched me out of it, that was the ink’s doing—it let me go on purpose. And now, it doesn’t want to let go of Gao Xiaomeng. That means no matter how I attack her, it’ll be useless.’

Gao Neng looked at the ink in front of him.

Once again, he sensed a bone-chilling glee coming from within the ink.

"Gao Neng, just run! This thing won’t let me go!" Gao Xiaomeng seemed to be panicking now, and she started shouting desperately at Gao Neng.

"Run?" A part of Gao Neng genuinely wanted to.

Because he was currently carrying over two thousand attribute materials, plus a huge pile of Magnetic Crystal Ore. If he could successfully escape from the Demon Abyss...

...he could definitely break into the high tiers in one fell swoop.

Moreover, with his 100% Alchemy success rate, in just two or three months, he would possess resources comparable to the entire Alliance.

’How terrifyingly powerful I’d become!’

Also, if Gao Xiaomeng died here, it seemed he wouldn’t have to fulfill the promises he made to her. The threat of the Cat Race’s rise would also be eliminated.

Logically speaking, abandoning Gao Xiaomeng and escaping alone was absolutely the best course of action.

But Gao Neng couldn’t do it.

It wasn’t because Gao Xiaomeng had just saved him and he felt he had to repay her, but because he had long since come to see Gao Xiaomeng as his real little sister.

Even though Gao Xiaomeng was a cat.

But, she was a talking cat.

Human emotions are complicated.

Gao Neng didn’t bother analyzing the philosophy of emotion. All he knew was that no matter what Gao Xiaomeng might do in the future, right now, she was his little sister.

That was enough.

’How could an older brother possibly abandon his own little sister?’

"So you won’t let her go, is that it? Then I’ll just have to beat you until you do!" Gao Neng raised his saber and, under Gao Xiaomeng’s shocked gaze, charged straight into the ink.

Thunder God Domain.

Three Slashes in One.

Laser Saber!

Gao Neng used all of the strongest moves he could muster.

His choice was an impulsive one, but it was also backed by a sliver of logic, because he remembered the Guapi System’s hint.

"Gao Xiaomeng’s true ability can be life-saving!"

Looking at it now, Gao Xiaomeng had, in fact, already saved him once.

After all, it was Gao Xiaomeng who had punched him out of the ink.

But was that really it?

’Was a simple punch the "life-saving method" the Guapi System had so solemnly given as a "friendly tip"?’

’Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t.’

Gao Neng couldn’t be sure.

But, he was willing to take a gamble on it.

"BOOM!"

The moment Gao Neng slashed down, he found the ink surging toward him, enveloping him almost at the exact same instant.

And then, his body felt as if it were bound by thousands of silk threads. All sensation throughout his body vanished in an instant, and the sounds in his ears gradually faded.

He only vaguely heard a single sentence...

"Gao Neng, you... why would you do this?" The speaker was, of course, Gao Xiaomeng. Her eyes were pitch-black, but they were filled with disbelief.

"Because you’re my little sister." Gao Neng smiled. The ink could eliminate his bodily sensations, but it didn’t restrain his movements.

So, he could easily reach out his hand.

And place his palm on Gao Xiaomeng’s small, round face.

’Little sister... little sister...’

’Do you really see me as your little sister?’

’Gao Neng, you idiot!’

The moment his palm touched Gao Xiaomeng’s face, Gao Neng heard her voice in his mind. He knew that he and Gao Xiaomeng had successfully connected once again.

However, it didn’t seem to be of much use.

Because, after connecting with Gao Xiaomeng, he could feel the power of the ink. That power was definitely not something he could contend with at his current level.

’I’m not getting out of this.’

’An older brother and little sister dying together... that’s not so bad, is it?’ Gao Neng tried his best to lighten his mood. After all, he could already feel his body starting to crack apart.

Barring any surprises, he would explode with a BANG, just like the Tier Seven Genetic Weapon.

’But if we both die, then there’ll be no one to take care of Mom, will there?’ Gao Xiaomeng heard Gao Neng’s inner thoughts and silently responded in his mind.

’I suppose so. But I did arrange for Mom to be at Fang Tangtang’s grandfather’s factory. That should count as someone looking after her, right?’ Gao Neng thought back.

’Are you really planning to die here with me?’

’It’s not like there are any other options...’

’I can use the last of my strength to punch you out of here again. You run, don’t worry about me! You’ve already done everything you can. You can’t save me!’ Gao Xiaomeng’s voice was tight with resolve in his mind.

’Even if I can’t save you, there’s no way I’m abandoning you to run off alone!’ These words came from the bottom of Gao Neng’s heart. In a situation like this, he truly couldn’t bring himself to do it.

"Brother!!!" Gao Xiaomeng froze. Her eyes locked onto Gao Neng’s. Then, with a sudden lunge, she threw herself into his arms.