I Can Control Resources

At that moment, Gao Neng felt as if a sword had pierced straight through his heart.

Sword Elder’s eyes were too sharp. A single glance made him feel completely exposed, with no possibility of resistance.

’So, is this it? Am I a goner?’

Gao Neng clenched his jaw.

A voice in his subconscious told him that now was not the time to admit anything, even if it killed him.

But who was Sword Elder?

Gao Neng wasn’t stupid. Just by seeing how Wu Qingjing and Yutian treated this Sword Elder, he could guess that the old man before him was most likely one of the Strongest.

’Trying to be clever in front of one of the Strongest?’

He’d done it before.

But that was with Li Tiannan, and back then, Li Tiannan had been the one to seek him out. The situation now was completely different.

"Sword Elder, could there be some misunderstanding? It’s impossible for Gao Neng’s Spiritual Power to be at Tier Nine. Did you perhaps mistake him for someone else?" Although Wu Qingjing didn’t know what had happened, his heart pounded with anxiety as he saw Sword Elder’s gaze turn to Gao Neng.

"Mistaken him?" Sword Elder raised a hand, and an immense spiritual pressure bore down on Gao Neng. Behind him, a phantom-like image began to materialize faintly.

"Unified Spiritual Power!"

"Is this what one of the Strongest is like?!"

"Fall back!"

Even though Shaximo and the others weren’t directly facing Sword Elder’s spiritual pressure, they too felt a piercing pain in their minds from the sidelines.

Without any hesitation, they all retreated.

Under this spiritual pressure, Gao Neng’s face turned pale, and sweat dripped from his brow like raindrops.

"Sword Elder, you mustn’t!" Wu Qingjing cried out in alarm.

"Sword Elder, please be merciful! This child’s talent is exceptional..." Yutian shouted as well.

"Get out of the way!" Sword Elder’s brow furrowed. A powerful aura burst from his body, knocking away Wu Qingjing and Yutian as they tried to speak.

Then, Sword Elder took another step forward.

"Gao Neng, do you think that just because you don’t answer, I can’t feel your spiritual aura?! Do you really think you can hide this?"

"I never planned on hiding it!" Gao Neng was truly struggling to breathe under the pressure. He had already made up his mind. There was nothing to be afraid of.

’So what if he’s one of the Strongest?’

’At worst, it comes down to one thing...’

’Fight him!’

"Hm? Is that an admission?" Sword Elder’s spiritual pressure intensified.

"So what if I admit it!" Gao Neng was done being timid.

His Spiritual Power instantly materialized.

"VMMMM!"

A long saber appeared.

He swung it directly at Sword Elder in a single slash.

Watching from a distance, Yi Qinglian’s eyes went wide. That familiar aura, that familiar spiritual saber—if it wasn’t Gao Neng who had ambushed her, who else could it be?

’So it really was Gao Neng who spied on me while I was bathing!’

All doubt vanished from Yi Qinglian’s mind.

But in this situation, she felt a strange sense of fear. She was afraid that Sword Elder would actually kill Gao Neng. If that happened, her words from earlier would have been what damned him.

It was a very complicated feeling.

She wanted revenge on Gao Neng.

But she didn’t want him to die at someone else’s hands.

Of course, it was too late for any of that now.

Because Gao Neng had already attacked Sword Elder.

And it wasn’t just Gao Neng. The Tier Seven Genetic Weapon that had been standing by his side attacked at the same time.

Gao Neng unleashed his slash.

The Tier Seven Genetic Weapon’s slash followed suit.

The two slashes, one after the other, flew toward Sword Elder.

Sword Elder seemed a bit surprised, but upon seeing the two Spiritual Power Long Sabers, a faint smile touched the corners of his mouth.

"Materialized Spiritual Power at just Tier Six? I really didn’t mistake you for someone else!" As Sword Elder spoke, he extended both hands, actually reaching out to grab the two sabers.

"CRACK!"

"CRACK!"

Two sharp cracks echoed.

Sword Elder caught both long sabers in his hands.

But he didn’t shatter them with a single sword strike like he did back in the great cavern.

Even so, Gao Neng felt as if his Spiritual Power was about to detach from his brain, completely out of his control.

"One of the Strongest bullying a Tier Six like me, what’s so great about that? If I ever become one of the Strongest, I’ll cut you down with a single slash!" Gao Neng couldn’t be bothered with anyone else now. If he was going to die, he would die on his feet.

The moment he said this, Shaximo and the others around him jumped in fright.

’Provoking one of the Strongest?!’

’Gao Neng actually dared to provoke one of the Strongest?’

That was a sure way to get yourself killed!

It wasn’t just them; even Wu Qingjing and Yutian’s expressions changed drastically. They knew that anyone who could become one of the Strongest tended to have an extremely eccentric personality.

Take Sword Elder, for example...

He’d sat meditating in the forbidden grounds for five years!

What normal person could sit still for that long?

"Cut me down with a single slash?" Sword Elder’s eyes narrowed. Then, he no longer hid the smile on his face. "Hahaha, Gao Neng, is it? You’re quite the arrogant brat, aren’t you? Fine, then. I’ll wait for the day you become one of the Strongest and cut me down with a single slash!"

As Sword Elder finished speaking, he gave a gentle push with his hands.

The two materialized Spiritual Power Long Sabers instantly returned to their original position, floating above Gao Neng’s head.

In an instant, the scene fell silent.

"..." Shaximo.

"..." Yi Qinglian.

"..." Lin Ying.

"..." Zhang Hongying and the others.

’That’s it?! It’s over?!’

’Are the Strongest really this eccentric?’

Everyone was speechless.

Gao Neng, meanwhile, let out a breath of relief, his whole body going limp.

’Did I just survive a disaster?’

’Reverse psychology really works every time. Back when Shen Ning’Er had me pinned, I used the same tactic to stall for time.’

’The effect was fantastic.’

And now, he had used the same trick again.

This time, it truly felt like he had narrowly escaped death.

He glanced down at his clothes, which were completely soaked with sweat. This was the second time today he had sweat this much; he was starting to feel a bit dehydrated.

"Thank you for your mercy, Sword Elder!" Seeing Sword Elder stop, Wu Qingjing and Yutian immediately walked up together. Both of them felt a slight chill run down their backs.

"This kid isn’t bad. Although his Spiritual Power hasn’t reached Tier Nine, it has already materialized. In terms of strength alone, it’s infinitely close to Tier Eight," Sword Elder said with a wave of his hand.

"Sword Elder, you’ve been guarding the Underground City for these past few years, so you might not be up to date on outside matters. Not long ago, it was discovered that Gao Neng possesses twenty 100% maxed-out talents. This news shook the entire Alliance. And I hear the kid’s bones are pretty tough too, right, Elder Wu!" After saying this, Yutian shot Wu Qingjing a meaningful wink.

How could an old fox like Wu Qingjing not understand Yutian’s meaning? Hearing his words, he immediately added, "That’s right. His talent is astonishing, his Spiritual Power has materialized, and his bones have reached the strength of Tier Eight. Most importantly, this kid managed to create a Tier Seven Genetic Weapon in just fifteen days. If you had really killed him, Sword Elder, I’m afraid..."

"Afraid of what?" Sword Elder asked.

"Uh, nothing, hehe..." Wu Qingjing immediately shut his mouth.

"Hearing about it is useless. I’ve always preferred to verify things myself. Besides, talent alone means nothing if I don’t like their personality!" Sword Elder added.

"Yes, Sword Elder is right!"

"Alright, I understand the little scheme you two are cooking up. Since I’m idle anyway, I might as well take this kid as my disciple." After saying this, Sword Elder tilted his head up slightly.

"Take him as a disciple?!"

"Sword Elder wants to take Gao Neng as his disciple?"

"This... doesn’t seem right, somehow? If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve gone up and cursed at him too. When it comes to cursing people out, I’m no slouch, I’m a real pro!" a Dragon List Genius muttered.

"BOOM!"

The moment the words left his mouth.

An blast of aura slammed into his body.

The next thing anyone saw, this "real pro" Dragon List Genius was sent flying. He soared a full thirty meters into the air before crashing into a pillar three or four hundred meters away.

Whether he was dead or alive...

...no one knew.

"..." Shaximo and the others, including Zhang Hongying, all clamped their mouths shut. However, not a single one of them expressed any sympathy for the "real pro" Dragon List Genius.

’He was really asking for it.’

’Are all people the same?’

’Gao Neng can get away with cursing him out, but you think you can too?’

’If you didn’t get beaten up, it would be an offense against heaven!’

"Serves him right!" Wu Qingjing glanced into the distance and cursed, then immediately turned back to Gao Neng. "Gao Neng, Sword Elder wants to take you as his disciple! Hurry up and pay your respects to your new master!"

"Yes, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Don’t miss it!" Yutian chimed in. For one of the Strongest to take a disciple—and for it to be Sword Elder, no less—was an unparalleled event in the Alliance.

"I appreciate Sword Elder’s kind intentions." Gao Neng nodded, but he didn’t immediately kneel, nor did he show any sign of performing the disciple-acceptance ceremony.

"Hm? You’re unwilling, boy?" Sword Elder’s brow furrowed again as he looked at Gao Neng. In his entire life, he had only ever accepted three disciples.

And which of those three wasn’t a peerless, breathtaking talent?

To say nothing of the others...

...the current Commander-in-Chief of the Military Department, Qin Jianfei, was his disciple.

"It’s not that I’m unwilling, it’s just that you use a sword, Sword Elder, and I use a saber... It’s not a good fit." Gao Neng could naturally see Sword Elder’s displeasure.

"Not a good fit?" Sword Elder’s brow furrowed into a deep scowl.

Even a three-year-old wouldn’t believe such an excuse. After all, there was no rule saying someone who used a sword couldn’t teach someone who used a saber, right?

Although Gao Neng hadn’t said it outright...

...the meaning in his tone was clearly a refusal.

In his entire life, Sword Elder had never been rejected when trying to take on a disciple.

In fact, it wasn’t just Sword Elder.

Wu Qingjing and Yutian were also shocked by Gao Neng’s words. This was one of the Strongest, and one known as the number one sword in the Alliance, no less.

The master of the Military Department’s current Commander-in-Chief, Qin Jianfei!

’And you actually refused him?!’

"Gao Neng, stop talking nonsense! Hurry up and accept Sword Elder as your master! With his guidance, you’ll have a much greater chance of becoming one of the Strongest in the future!" Wu Qingjing was genuinely anxious now.

"Yes, Gao Neng, don’t be so willful!" Yutian urged as well.

Meanwhile, Shaximo and the others were completely stunned.

’Sword Elder wanted to take Gao Neng as a disciple?’

’And then Gao Neng actually rejected him?’

’What kind of plot twist is this?’

’We don’t get it anymore...’

"Teacher Wu, Governor Yun, it’s not that I don’t want to accept Sword Elder as my master, it’s that I can’t. If Sword Elder is willing to guide me, like Teacher Wu, and just be my teacher, that’s fine. But if you’re asking me to formally become his disciple... I can’t." Gao Neng was actually a little helpless himself.

"Why can’t you?" Yutian asked.

"Because I already have a master," Gao Neng said with a shrug.

"You have a master?!" Yutian’s expression flickered, but he quickly composed himself. "Gao Neng, people strive for greater heights, just as water flows downward. The fact that you’d admit you have a master at a time like this is already quite commendable. However, you must consider your future. If you accept Sword Elder as your master now, I’m sure your current master would be happy for you if he knew!"

"No, I cannot become his disciple." Gao Neng shook his head again.

"Gao Neng, stop being so willful! Can your master even compare to Sword Elder?" This time, Wu Qingjing really felt like strangling Gao Neng.

"I think he can," Gao Neng said with a firm nod.

"Hm?" Sword Elder, who had been standing silently to the side, narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. "And who might your master be?"

Gao Neng didn’t speak. Instead, he reached into his clothes and pulled out the token Li Tiannan had given him.

On the black token...

...two ghost-like eyes were deeply engraved.

"This token... could it be?"

"Ghost Eyes, Li Tiannan!"

(Please vote with your monthly tickets! The upcoming plot is even more exciting. I recommend a popular xuanhuan novel, "I Carry a Hunting Space," by Qingkong Xiyu. Friends who are interested can go check it out!)