I Can Control Resources

Of course, Fang Tangtang couldn’t see through Gao Neng’s thoughts.

Because she had already started forming her neutron bomb.

Successfully activating her talent and producing the required isotopes took a little time, but she didn’t have to worry about that.

After all, Gao Neng and Shen Ning’Er were there.

But when Ah Liang saw Fang Tangtang preparing to use a neutron bomb, he was genuinely worried...

Or rather, he was panicking!

He was a high-tier expert, true, but he hadn’t been one for long. He was only Tier Seven Early Stage. And she wanted him to take a neutron bomb head-on?

Whether he would live or die...

He really couldn’t be sure!

Besides, and this was the most important part, it was completely unnecessary.

They had just come to snatch some attribute materials. They had malicious intent, sure, but at least they hadn’t planned on killing anyone. There was absolutely no need for a fight to the death.

We’re all members of the Human Alliance.

We’re all one big family!

"Wait! Stop... STOP! I surrender! I surrender!" Once Ah Liang came to this realization, he immediately started shouting.

Everyone knew that Fang Tangtang had used a neutron bomb at the Huashan Ancient Sect.

This was definitely not a joke!

If she really let loose with a neutron bomb...

Who knew what the consequences would be?

"Surrender? There’s no surrendering... Even if you wanted to, it’s too late. My ultimate neutron bomb, courtesy of Death God Fang Tangtang, is almost ready!" Fang Tangtang paused for a second before breaking into a brilliant smile.

"Don’t! We’re all part of the Human Alliance! We’re family! Really, we’re family! There’s no need for us to kill each other!" Ah Liang yelled again in desperation.

In the distance, the middle-aged man heard this and let out a heavy, helpless sigh.

Because, if he were in the same position, he would have made the same choice. It wasn’t that Ah Liang lacked fortitude; it was that there was simply no need to fight to the bitter end.

After all, their only goal was to get the attribute materials.

Even if, by some miracle, they won an absolute victory, they would never dare to kill Gao Neng, Shen Ning’Er, or Fang Tangtang.

Setting aside Gao Neng and his twenty maxed-out talents, the family backgrounds of Shen Ning’Er and Fang Tangtang alone made them untouchable.

"Gao Neng, we surrender! Let’s talk terms! What will it take for you to stop?!" The middle-aged man knew the score. They had launched a sneak attack, so even if they surrendered now, they would have to pay a price. Otherwise, why would anyone even consider a truce?

"Isn’t it a bit late to be negotiating terms with us now?" the Tier Seven Genetic Weapon spoke, its tone frigid.

Meanwhile, Ah Liang was still shouting, because Fang Tangtang showed no signs of stopping. The aura around her was growing more and more intense.

Ah Liang was certain.

He could be obliterated by a neutron bomb at any moment.

"Gao Neng, I’m a high-tier expert! The Human Alliance is short on high-tiers! If you kill me, the Alliance will punish you! Show some mercy! We’re all family! I’d rather die on a battlefield!" Ah Liang was truly frantic now, backing away continuously, on the verge of dropping his weapon and fleeing.

"Ning’Er, what do you say?" Gao Neng looked at Shen Ning’Er.

"One hundred million in compensation per person," Shen Ning’Er answered crisply.

"No! They attacked Gao Xiaomeng! At least two hundred million per person!" Fang Tangtang was even more ruthless.

"Alright, then it’s three hundred million per person." Gao Neng nodded. He didn’t immediately stop Fang Tangtang, but he gave her a look, signaling her not to actually unleash the neutron bomb just yet.

"..." The middle-aged man.

"..." Ah Liang.

Since they could afford to enter the Underground City, they were naturally wealthy.

They could manage to scrape together one or two hundred million.

But they had only come to snatch some attribute materials. One hundred million per person was already far above the going rate for a surrender.

They had all heard Shen Ning’Er’s terms.

But when it got to Fang Tangtang, it jumped from one hundred million to two hundred million?

What left them even more speechless was...

When it got to Gao Neng, it became three hundred million?!

’Do they have no shame?!’

"We’re willing to pay one hundred million per person! But three hundred million is absolutely impossible!" the middle-aged man said, gritting his teeth.

"Fang Tangtang, hit him with the neutron bomb!" Gao Neng didn’t waste any words.

"Alright!" Fang Tangtang immediately got ready to act.

"No! Boss, save me!" Ah Liang was having a mental breakdown. ’You guys are the ones negotiating, so why am I the one who’s about to get blown up?!’

"Two hundred million! That’s the most we can do! Two hundred million per person!" The middle-aged man’s face had turned pale. He was a dignified Tier Seven Mid Stage expert, and here he was, begging a Tier Six.

’This is so humiliating.’

And yet, there was nothing he could do.

"Three hundred million. This is my final offer. If you try to negotiate again, we’ll just attack!" Gao Neng thought for a moment and decided he couldn’t back down.

’Backing down would mean a loss of four hundred million.’

’Most importantly,’ he thought, ’I can already tell this guy is loaded!’

"Gao Neng, if you really kill Ah Liang, it won’t do you any good! The Human Alliance will have lost a high-tier expert, one less force on the battlefield. For an act like this, the Alliance will surely punish you severely!" The middle-aged man’s lips trembled with rage. Two hundred million was an absolutely terrifying price.

"Hahaha! Punish me severely?" Gao Neng laughed. "You’re too naive. I have twenty maxed-out talents, and my Spiritual Power can take physical form. Besides, you should have noticed what’s standing right in front of you. It’s a Genetic Weapon, specifically dispatched by the Human Alliance to protect me. Do you really think the Alliance is going to punish me severely?"

"Damn you!" The middle-aged man stomped his foot in frustration.

"So? I’ll count to three."

"One."

"Two."

"..."

"Three hundred million! I’ll give it to you! Three hundred million per person!" The middle-aged man finally hung his head in defeat. Money could be earned back, but once a life was lost, it was gone forever.

Of course, the most important thing was...

Just as Gao Neng said.

Gao Neng’s talent was simply too great. He was one of a kind in the Human Alliance.

The idea that the Human Alliance would severely punish or even cripple Gao Neng was impossible. After all, the Gao Neng of the future could very well become the hope of the entire Human Alliance.

"Deal!" Gao Neng smiled.

’As expected,’ he thought, ’anyone who can get into the Underground City is loaded.’

’Three hundred million per person.’

’That’s 1.2 billion!’

’What a massive haul!’

’The only downside is that I have to split this 1.2 billion...’

...

With the terms settled, both sides naturally ceased hostilities.

The 1.2 billion was quickly transferred.

Then, the middle-aged man and Ah Liang carried away their two injured Tier Six Late Stage companions and gradually disappeared into the distance. They no longer had the heart to continue competing.

Two members of their four-man team were injured.

If they still tried to contest the Underground Swamp...

...they would just be asking for death.

Gao Neng and his group quickly finished collecting the attribute materials. After tidying up, Fang Tangtang carried Gao Xiaomeng, and they stealthily made their way toward the Underground Swamp.

Meanwhile, on the path the middle-aged man and Ah Liang were taking.

Li Tiannan and Sword Elder stood waiting quietly in front of them.

"Who are you?!" The middle-aged man was startled. With his level of perception, he hadn’t sensed their approach at all.

"Li Tiannan," Li Tiannan said coolly.

"I don’t need an introduction," Sword Elder said, glancing at Li Tiannan.

"Li... Li Tiannan?! From the Military Department... Oh, no! Elder Li... This junior pays his respects to Elder Li!" The middle-aged man’s expression changed instantly, and he dropped to one knee.

"Greetings, Elder Li!" Ah Liang knelt as well.

Although neither of them knew Sword Elder’s identity, anyone who could appear alongside Li Tiannan was undoubtedly a figure of immense stature.

"Ambushing comrades, plundering resources, and in the end, begging for mercy... You’ve truly disgraced the Shangguan Family!" Li Tiannan rebuked.

"Your rebuke is just, Elder Li!" The middle-aged man lowered his head even further. He had now officially confirmed Li Tiannan’s identity. Only one of the Strongest could approach him completely undetected.

"I am now giving you a chance to redeem yourselves. Will you accept your punishment?" Li Tiannan spoke again.

"Please instruct us, Elder Li!"

"The North District Fortress!"

"The North District Fortress... You want us to... I understand. The four of us will leave the Underground City tomorrow and head for the North District Fortress! We will not let the honor of the Shangguan Family be tarnished by our actions. Thank you, Elder Li, for this opportunity!" The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment, then bowed deeply once more.

"Mm, go on," Elder Li nodded.

"Yes, sir!" The middle-aged man rose and departed with Ah Liang and the others.

At this, Sword Elder shot Li Tiannan a contemptuous look.

"Old Ghost Eyes, you’re getting more and more shameless, aren’t you?"

"Shameless? Those four are quite strong, but their confidence was shattered after their encounter with Gao Neng. If they want to grow stronger, only the battlefield can help them regain their self-assurance. I’m doing this for their own good," Li Tiannan replied placidly.

"Or is it that the defenses at the North District Fortress are struggling?" Sword Elder wasn’t buying it.

"It kills two birds with one stone. Why wouldn’t I do it?" Li Tiannan’s gaze drifted into the distance as he spoke again. "I did promise to send twenty high-tier experts to the North District Fortress. While twenty might be difficult, I have to send at least eight or ten, don’t I?"

"So, you crafty old fox, you’re planning to pick your recruits from the battle up ahead?" Hearing this, Sword Elder finally understood Li Tiannan’s sinister plot.

’How utterly insidious!’

’First, he used these four to burnish Gao Neng’s reputation.’

’Then, he dragged me, an outsider, into the whole affair.’

’And then, once that was done, he conveniently dispatched these four to the North District Fortress.’

’In this vast world...’

’When it came to being shameless, Li Tiannan and Gao Neng were truly cut from the same cloth.’

’They were both monumental, underhanded schemers!’

"If the North District Fortress falls, our losses will be far greater than just a few people!" Li Tiannan gazed ahead, ghostly shadows flickering in his eyes.

"Hmph. Whatever you say, you always make it sound reasonable. But are you really at ease, letting him go to that place up ahead?" Sword Elder also looked toward the Underground Swamp.

"You can’t grow the most vibrant flowers in a greenhouse. The Natural Magnetic Zone... he has to face it eventually." Li Tiannan’s expression was placid, but his palm tightened ever so slightly—a subconscious tension even he himself didn’t notice.