I Can Control Resources

’The Energy Magnetic Heaps didn’t create Gao Xiaomeng—Gao Xiaomeng created the Energy Magnetic Heaps!’ The thought was horrifying to Gao Neng as it surfaced in his mind.

Of course, he couldn’t completely prove this theory just yet.

There were two lingering questions.

First, the Great Cataclysm had occurred a century ago.

In other words, the Energy Magnetic Heaps—both in the Underground Cities and outside—were all nearly a hundred years old.

If Gao Xiaomeng had created all these Energy Magnetic Heaps, how could her power possibly be at its current level?

Second, the Energy Magnetic Heaps contained civilization.

This point no longer needed proof. The Human Alliance had already invented countless pieces of super-technology by relying on the Energy Magnetic Heaps, such as high-dimensional capsules, the military academies’ training rooms, and so on.

But in reality, ever since Gao Xiaomeng had started staying by his side, she had been in a constant state of ’learning’.

That posed a problem.

Under the premise that Gao Xiaomeng created the Energy Magnetic Heaps, she should have been ’teaching’, not learning. Therefore, the logic just didn’t hold up.

Gao Neng truly couldn’t figure out what was going on.

...

’Gao Xiaomeng created the Energy Magnetic Heaps?’

’It doesn’t make any sense!’

But the crucial point was that it was a fact. He had seen it with his own eyes: Gao Xiaomeng had created ten small Energy Magnetic Heaps right in front of him.

Although these Energy Magnetic Heaps didn’t contain much energy, and their volume and capacity were minuscule, the clusters of energy were, without a doubt, Energy Magnetic Heaps.

BOOM!

With a loud bang, the Tier Seven Genetic Weapon finally gave way. It was struck by both the real Gao Xiaomeng and her manifested clones, sending it crashing into the cliff face.

Gao Neng was forced to stop his train of thought.

Because Gao Xiaomeng was already leading seventeen of her manifested clones as they lunged toward him.

"What happened to a one-on-one fight? Gao Xiaomeng, this is unfair!" Gao Neng immediately started to flee. One Gao Xiaomeng was already difficult enough to take down. With seventeen clones added to the mix, this was a death sentence.

"Give me a break! Was it fair when you sneak-attacked me with a genetic weapon?" Gao Xiaomeng wasn’t about to fall for his taunts and give up her chance to defeat him.

"How about this, then? I won’t use sneak attacks, and you won’t use your energy manifestations. We’ll fight head-on, how does that sound?" Gao Neng shouted as he continued to run.

"Head-on?"

"That’s right! No tricks, just a three-move clash. Whoever wins gets to be the boss from now on!" Seeing he was about to be surrounded, Gao Neng had no choice but to play his trump card.

The key part of that sentence wasn’t about the fighting style.

It was the final part: ’whoever wins gets to be the boss from now on’.

Gao Neng was certain.

This was, without a doubt, Gao Xiaomeng’s ultimate dream.

And the truth was...

Gao Neng had guessed correctly.

Gao Xiaomeng was always talking about defeating Gao Neng. And what was her goal? To become ’Her Majesty the Queen’, of course. This was a topic they had discussed during their very first meeting.

It was just that back then, Gao Xiaomeng had been tempted by Gao Neng’s delicious food and ultimately failed to gain the upper hand in that negotiation.

But now, Gao Neng was offering it to her on a silver platter.

Naturally, she had to consider it carefully.

"Gao Neng, are you serious? A three-move clash, and the winner calls all the shots from now on?" Gao Xiaomeng froze, her two jet-black eyes fixed on Gao Neng.

"Of course. I never lie." Gao Neng nodded. Then, he added silently, ’I never lie to *people*. That doesn’t mean I won’t lie to a cat.’

’You’re a cat; you need to be prepared for what that means.’

"Fine! If I win, you have to call me Xiaomeng Queen from now on!" Naturally, Gao Xiaomeng didn’t catch the hidden meaning in Gao Neng’s words.

"Deal!" Gao Neng nodded again.

"And you have to make me delicious food every day! Every meal has to have fish and meat! Oh, right, and I want two extra eggs with every breakfast!"

"Fine."

"Also... you have to dual cultivate with me too, not just with Shen Ning’Er! But I can promise you one thing: I will absolutely not copy your talents. I’m not interested in that stuff."

"Alright."

"And finally, you have to give me massages every day—back rubs, foot rubs..."

"Alright, that’s enough. I already said the winner calls the shots. None of that will be a problem. But are you really sure you can beat me?" Gao Neng cut her off.

’Where did she learn all this?’

’Is she going to ask me to warm her bed next?’

’Dream on!’

"Of course I can beat you!" Gao Xiaomeng tilted her head back, her face brimming with confidence. Then, the seventeen clones surrounding her vanished in an instant.

"Bring it on!" Gao Neng was just as confident.

As long as it was one-on-one, he had the power to defeat her. He had already confirmed that in their previous exchange.

Because he possessed ’Life Element Fusion’, there was no way he could lose.

"Alright!" Gao Xiaomeng said. But instead of charging forward, she grabbed one of the Energy Magnetic Heaps behind her and swallowed it in a single gulp.

In that instant, Gao Xiaomeng’s aura changed once more.

The darkness in her eyes grew even more pronounced.

Moreover, on her white battle-skirt, the dark gold patterns became increasingly distinct, resembling some kind of ancient cloud motif.

"!!!" Gao Neng.

’She can eat them?’

’She gets stronger every time she eats an Energy Magnetic Heap? If she eats all ten of them, will I still be able to beat her?’

Just as he was thinking this, Gao Xiaomeng swallowed a second Energy Magnetic Heap.

VMMMM!

An unbridled wave of energy erupted from Gao Xiaomeng’s body, forming ripples of power that spread out around her like waves.

’I can’t wait any longer!’ Gao Neng was confident, but he wasn’t an idiot. If he really waited for Gao Xiaomeng to devour all the Energy Magnetic Heaps, his victory would become a huge question mark.

So, he charged forward without any hesitation.

He raised his black longsword high.

"Three Slashes in One!"

"Huh?! Gao Neng, you—" Gao Xiaomeng was clearly startled by his sudden attack and subconsciously moved to dodge.

"We agreed to clash head-on! Whoever dodges, loses!" Gao Neng roared.

"!!!" Gao Xiaomeng’s body stiffened for a second. But in the end, she grit her small, sharp teeth, raised her two shortswords, and charged forward to meet him.

But caught off guard like this, how could she possibly be his match?

BOOM!

The two of them collided.

Gao Xiaomeng was sent flying by the blow, crashing straight into a large rock on the cliff face like a kite with its string cut.

The rock shattered with a loud CRACK.

A two-meter-deep crater was left in the cliff face.

"Gao Xiaomeng, you lost the first clash! And you can’t say I sneak-attacked you, can you? I charged you fair and square, but only *after* you agreed and said ’Bring it on’!" Gao Neng raised his black longsword, a brilliant smile on his face.

"Of course it wasn’t a sneak attack!" Gao Xiaomeng climbed out of the crater, stuffing one Energy Magnetic Heap after another into her mouth as she spoke.

She was practically inhaling them.

In just a few moments, she had swallowed another five.

In total, Gao Xiaomeng had now swallowed seven Energy Magnetic Heaps.

Gao Neng could clearly feel a change in Gao Xiaomeng’s disposition. Her usual bright, sunny, and youthful aura had transformed into a kind of shadowed darkness.

Of course, this darkness was not evil.

On the contrary, it felt remarkably pure. If he had to describe it, it was like ’all impurities had been stripped away from existence’.

But none of that was Gao Neng’s main concern at the moment.

The only thought on his mind was...

’Holy crap!’

’Seven Energy Magnetic Heaps make her *this* strong?!’

’Can I afford to wait?’

’Definitely not!’

"Alright, time for the second clash!" Gao Neng charged forward again, giving Gao Xiaomeng no chance to swallow the remaining three Energy Magnetic Heaps.

This couldn’t be called shameless.

It was a necessary sacrifice for survival, for the future of the Human Alliance.

Because only by defeating Gao Xiaomeng did he have any chance of getting out of here alive.

And only if he got out alive could the attribute-bestowing raw materials he carried be put to use. Otherwise, it was all for nothing.

For this grand ideal...

So what if he was misunderstood?

Gao Neng didn’t care in the slightest. Right now, he wanted only one thing: to use the most violent means possible to forcibly subdue Gao Xiaomeng.

"Three Slashes in One!"

Gao Neng raised the black longsword in his hand high.

It drew a blue crescent shape in the air.

"Three Slashes in One!"

At the same moment Gao Neng charged, Gao Xiaomeng also raised her shortswords.

Blue lightning crackled along her two shortswords.

At that moment, Gao Xiaomeng seemed to be bathed in lightning. Her two shortswords slashed fiercely through the air, forming a blue cross.

One longsword and two shortswords collided in midair.

Lightning crackled and roared.

An intensely blinding light instantly illuminated the entire dark Demon Abyss.

Not far away...

a black shadow was flickering in and out of sight.

Gao Neng, of course, didn’t notice the figure in the distance. The only thing he could feel was the terrifying power coming from Gao Xiaomeng’s twin blades.

’So strong!’

’So strong he could barely hold on!’

’Seven Energy Magnetic Heaps make her this strong?! If she swallows all ten, how am I supposed to fight? I can’t lose... I absolutely will not lose this exchange! I have to take down Gao Xiaomeng with this strike, or I’ll never get another chance!’ Gao Neng clenched his jaw.

He knew that this was his only chance to defeat Gao Xiaomeng.

’I have to win!’

’I have to smash her into the wall!’

’I have to—’

"Holy crap?!" What was he seeing? He saw the corner of Gao Xiaomeng’s mouth suddenly curl into a smile. He also saw her gaze slowly drift downward.

In an instant, he instinctively looked down.

And then he saw a small, silver-white metal-clad foot shooting like lightning toward the vital spot between his legs.

BOOM!

Gao Neng was sent flying.

He hadn’t been hit, but he had been distracted.