Chapter 100 Punching Power is Power (3 more updates, seeking 12,000 full subscriptions)

Ludie’s voice remained calm, but Lu Luo noticed that the iron bars under his hands had been silently crushed. "In the report brought back from the Church, I saw the bouquet on Qiu Guling’s body—the mark of the ’flower of death’ you mentioned. They told me Qiu Guling escaped. Maybe she became a Specter Species and is still alive; that’s the only thing I’m thankful for!" "And then what?" Ludie’s expression became somewhat vacant. "And then? I originally thought that would be the end of it. But afterwards, a series of bride incidents occurred one after another within the Walls. Lu Mengna from your store was one of them. The bouquet marks that appeared in these places were exactly the same as the one on Qiu Guling, and all these incidents had some connection to the Church. So I knew the incident back then wasn’t that simple! I wanted to investigate, but I was restricted by the Alliance and couldn’t take action." When Ludie said this, Lu Luo already understood his meaning. "So you want me to help you investigate the bride incidents? You think highly of me!" "Yes, yes, you’re so capable. We don’t need to engage in mutual flattery, right? Besides, you’re not considered part of the Hunter system now. As a student, those who watch me will hardly notice you. That’s the advantage of your identity." Lu Luo nodded. Actually, I’ve pretty much agreed to Ludie’s request in my mind, but there are still some details that need to be confirmed. "What exactly do you want me to find out?" "I don’t ask for much. I just want to know what she went through to turn into a Specter Species." Hearing Ludie’s calm voice, Lu Luo suddenly turned his head. "You’re not thinking of taking revenge, are you? You told me to stay calm earlier." "If I said it was for revenge, would you still help me?" "Why?" "Because she was my fiancée. They call me the King of Hunters, yet I didn’t even see my fiancée’s last moments. What kind of king is that?" That answer was very real. Lu Luo nodded. "Understood. Have you been holding these words back for a long time?" "Many years. This is the first time I’ve spoken about these things to someone else. It feels good." "Alright, I’ll keep this matter in mind. After all, we share something of a master-apprentice connection. Investigation is something I’m good at, and this task won’t be too difficult." Hearing Lu Luo agree, Ludie grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, but he still had some words of caution for him. "Don’t brag; self-praise is pointless. If it’s just you alone, I’m afraid it won’t be enough." "You don’t believe me?" "It’s not that I don’t believe you. But have you ever considered why such a powerful organization as the Hunters can only live in the Fourth Ring?" Lu Luo didn’t understand why Ludie had suddenly changed the topic, but he still shared what he had learned from textbooks, along with his own ideas. "Well, the Hunters’ function is to explore beyond the Wall. They possess great military power and need to explore the frontiers of the new world, so they must reside continually in the Fourth Ring?" Ludie shook his head again. "Wrong. It’s because the Hunters are weak that they live in the Fourth Ring." "Weak? What do you mean?" In Lu Luo’s mind, the Hunters had always been the most powerful force. Moreover, according to textbook descriptions, the Hunters, the Church, and the Constitution Guard Corps were the three major combat powers of the Wasteland. How could such a force be considered weak? "Weak means weak—the literal meaning. Don’t believe your so-called textbooks, especially those the Alliance prints for you to read. Do you think I wasn’t angry? That I didn’t want to rebel when I learned about Squad 13 and the news concerning Qiu Guling? Of course, I did. I want to know the truth. I want to live to investigate it thoroughly. But I have no way to resist because they are stronger than me!" "Even being Sixth Tier isn’t good enough?" "Sixth Tier is indeed decent in the Fourth Ring, but in the Inner Ring, there are Seventh Tier masters. The true controllers of the Wasteland Alliance are the Dawn Church and the Alliance’s Council of Thirteen—these two gargantuan powers. They wield the most powerful military forces, dividing the Wasteland Alliance’s population into four classes: first, second, third-class, and special-class citizens. "I am a person from the Fourth Ring, what these people call a ’muddy-leg’ or ’country bumpkin.’ If ordinary people from the Fourth Ring lack Transcendent abilities, they can advance without any worries. They can rely on clerical work to become second-class citizens, or even first-class citizens, and enter the Inner Ring. "But for a Transcendent from the Fourth Ring, generally speaking, the only high-level path to advancement is to become a Hunter. And the end of this path is the position of Hunter Captain. Hunters already face an extremely high mortality rate, constantly fighting for the Wasteland Alliance—for honor, for strength, for the people. From ’Wait for me to come home,’ to ’Take me home,’ and finally to ’Take my place and go home,’ countless Hunters experience the same tragic cycle." Hearing this, Lu Luo’s expression also turned serious. Ludie paused, lit a cigarette, and then continued. "And so, in this endless cycle, if you truly overcome all dangers and become a Captain, they will offer you a choice. The first is retirement: you can directly join the Inner Ring and become a member of the Council or the Church Group, becoming one of the elite in the Inner Ring. The second choice is to continue struggling outside the Wall until, one day, you die in the jaws of a Black Tide or a high-tier Exotic Species. Don’t even think about the upper echelons of the Wasteland Security Bureau; the Bureau’s Director has never been someone from the Fourth Ring." It struck Lu Luo with sudden clarity: the Inner Ring of the Wasteland Alliance is nothing less than a cabal of slave owners, feasting on the flesh and blood of the Fourth Ring! After layers of selection, only a few Transcendents from the Fourth Ring remain. Those who are left either join the Inner Ring or are forced to eke out an existence outside the Walls. "What’s so great about the Inner Ring anyway? The books don’t provide clear records. Why does everyone talk about the Inner Ring as if it’s paradise?" Lu Luo never really understood why this Inner Ring everyone spoke of was supposedly so great. If it’s about cultivation speed, shouldn’t the area outside the Wall be the best place? "Lu Luo, you’ve been outside the Wall once, so you should know: the base cultivation speed out there is four times that within the Walls." Lu Luo’s pupils suddenly contracted. An idea formed in his mind. "You’re talking about cultivation speed... Could it be that..." Ludie nodded. "That’s right. It’s exactly what you’re thinking. The concentration of Dark Energy on the very edge of the Third Ring is four times higher than here. Not only that, but the Dark Energy in the Third Ring is also gentler and purer, making it very easy to absorb. It’s safe, quiet, and you never have to worry about sudden attacks from Exotic Species or other humans. It’s an excellent place for cultivation. "And that’s merely the efficacy of the Third Ring. Inside the Third Ring lies the even stronger Second Ring. Although there are restrictions between the Second and First Rings, the conditions are still vastly superior to ours. No one truly knows how powerful they are. People from the Fourth Ring have no way to reach the Inner Ring. Without channels for advancement, their only option is the perilous expanse outside the Wall, where they fight and battle until death." [Knowledge base extensively expanded. Recalculating and analyzing the Inner-Wall energy system...] Lu Luo bit his finger. If Ludie is right, the baseline difference between the Third and Fourth Rings is fourfold. Without any enhancements, the Second Ring would be sixteen times faster, and the First Ring sixty-four times! This means someone from the First Ring with the same talent, even without considering the superior teaching resources and complete Cultivation Technique systems within the Inner Rings, would cultivate at a speed at least sixty-four times faster than someone from the Fourth Ring! It’s as if they’re constantly consuming Dark Spirit Stones! How could anyone ever catch up? What an insane concept! I can only hope the multipliers for the inner rings aren’t quite that absurd. "So, does that mean someone in the First Ring cultivates sixty-four times faster?" "You’re overthinking it. There’s no one in the First Ring. The gap is significant, but not as extreme as you imagine. In reality, the Inner Ring and the area outside the Wall are quite similar in terms of energy concentration. The only difference is that outside the Wall is dangerous, while inside is safe." "Oh, so they’re similar? That’s a relief." Lu Luo finally relaxed. I quite like it outside the Wall anyway. Exotic Species are so adorable. Why would I want to go to the Inner Ring? "Actually, regarding the exploration beyond the Fourth Ring’s Wall, the Inner Rings now consider it somewhat dispensable. Humanity has occupied the Fourth Ring for over one hundred and forty years. In all that time, we haven’t even found the outer limits of the lands beyond. Many people are starting to wonder if a Fifth Ring even exists. If there’s no fifth Wall, there’s no need to continue exploring. The resources within the existing Walls are more than sufficient for them to live lives of debauchery and excess. "What those in power truly want is the stability of the Wasteland Alliance. They are all quite content with the current exploitative four-ring structure of the Alliance and will absolutely not allow anyone to challenge these established rules. "If you want to investigate these ’bride’ incidents, don’t try to do it alone. Whether you infiltrate the Church or join the Hunters doesn’t matter to me; I just want an answer. Therefore, the prerequisite for this investigation is your own safety. And you don’t have to worry excessively, because the Hunters—at least Squad 13 of the Hunters—will be behind you." After Ludie finished speaking, Lu Luo remained silent for a long time. Ludie had made his points very clear. "Alright. So, your point is to investigate as much as possible, and call for help if things get dangerous?" Ludie nodded, taking another drag from his cigarette. He clearly had a serious nicotine addiction, as this was already his third cigarette in their short conversation. "Yes, that’s roughly it. I can’t speak for other places, but Hunters definitely have influence in the Fourth Ring. It wouldn’t be entirely wrong to say this is our domain." Lu Luo looked at Ludie, somewhat puzzled as to why such a seemingly carefree person could be so fixated on one particular matter. "She turned into an Exotic Species, and it’s been over seven years. Why are you still so fixated?" "That which all of you despise and fear is the very person I long for day and night!" Lu Luo was slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected Ludie to make such an emotionally charged statement. Nevertheless, he nodded again, agreeing to Ludie’s request. "Okay, fine. But as you said, investigating this carries certain risks. Could you perhaps provide an advance on the reward? For example, thirty to fifty thousand dollars, and maybe some Secret Techniques, moves, or manuals? That would give me some means of self-defense and potential for growth. Otherwise, a rookie like me might not last long dealing with the Church." Ludie turned his head, staring at Lu Luo with his characteristic dead-fish eyes. "My cigarette. Hand it back." "Hey! What kind of principle is there in taking back something you’ve already given away?" Despite Lu Luo’s protest, Ludie still snatched the cigarette from his hand. Ludie brought the cigarette butt to his lips. Then, without the end quite touching them, he took a sudden, deep drag. "HA!" A massive curtain of ash erupted from Ludie’s mouth, obscuring the air and seeming to vibrate in some peculiar way. Even from a distance, Lu Luo felt he could sense the power contained within it. With a roar from Ludie, the ash curtain detonated violently. Lu Luo, standing on the rooftop, was instantly blown away and crashed to the ground. His Toughness and formidable damage reduction effects prevented him from getting hurt, but Ludie’s attack had been far too outrageous and casually delivered. Damn, a Sixth Tier Transcendent... terrifying indeed! The cigarette butt had now turned to mere ash. Ludie looked at Lu Luo, a smirk playing on his lips. "Do you know why people from the Fourth Ring, even if they have the same strength and aside from differences in energy levels, are still weaker than those from the Inner Ring?" "Is there some hidden reason?" "It likely comes down to the disparity in education. The Church and the Council control all the powerful Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques, leaving us Fourth Ring folk with no proper path to cultivation. We can usually only learn some techniques and moves passed down among Hunters. But given the high mortality rate of Hunters and the abysmal educational system in the Fourth Ring, these legacies are severely lacking. It’s also very difficult for a comprehensive, powerful, and refined system of techniques, like those possessed by the Church and Council, to emerge here." Lu Luo nodded, understanding the implication. "So, you’re saying the Wasteland Alliance isn’t particularly strict in its control over ordinary people. But when it comes to Transcendents, they maintain tight control, not only monopolizing Transcendent resources but also restricting Transcendent education. Under such circumstances, it’s indeed difficult to develop." Ludie gave Lu Luo a look that seemed to say, This kid is teachable. "Exactly. A fist is might. To clench your fist is to grasp authority. To strike with a powerful fist is to wield power. The Church and Council possess supreme martial force, and therefore, they hold supreme authority. If you want to carve out a share of that power for yourself, Lu Luo, you will need absolute strength." Lu Luo listened silently. This is valuable experience from Ludie, a senior and a teacher. "Understood. That move you just demonstrated was incredibly powerful. Is it a method of using Qi He? What’s it called?" When Lu Luo praised his earlier move as powerful, Ludie nodded in vigorous agreement. "That move just now, Dust Devil, is indeed an exceptionally powerful skill. It definitely doesn’t fall short when compared to the Church’s techniques!" "Oh? Something that powerful? Where did you learn it? Did you steal it?" "How could I possibly resort to such a crass act? Dust Devil is a Secret Technique of my own creation." Seriously, he’s just boasting! Fine, you’re a genius, whatever. But we know each other well enough; there’s really no need for this. "Here, take this. I’m leaving." Just like last time, Ludie had scribbled down the Dust Devil technique into a small, handwritten booklet and simply tossed it to Lu Luo, showing no intention whatsoever of carefully instructing him. Lu Luo was very dissatisfied with this irresponsible attitude from someone who barely qualified as a teacher. "Leaving so soon? Aren’t you going to teach me how to practice this thing?" Ludie looked at Lu Luo with disdain, his expression clearly saying, Are you as dumb as a pig? "Teach you? Do I look like the teaching type? Can’t you learn it yourself?" "What if I suffer cultivation deviation and go mad while practicing?" "Have you been reading too many martial arts novels? There are no ’heroes’ in today’s society." Lu Luo was rendered speechless by Ludie’s retorts and didn’t want to engage with him any further. He took the booklet and sat on the edge of the hospital rooftop, looking as if he might jump. "Fine then. You can go." According to Ludie, he had no one to teach him; he created Dust Devil through his own insight. So, I, Lu Luo, who fancies himself a genius, haven’t even been asked to create my own technique. With a ready-made one right here, what more could I ask for? If I could break through to First Tier in just forty days, then practicing Dust Devil shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll just have to practice it myself. Good thing I have the Observer. Practicing Cultivation Techniques? For me, that should be a piece of cake, like the saying: ’Little Bao playing with his Ding Ding—effortlessly done!’ Just as I thought, with the Observer’s detailed analysis and interpretation, even unfamiliar and complex Cultivation Techniques, skills, and moves shouldn’t be a problem for me. What I need to do now is carefully read this little book, then expend some energy and wait for the Observer to optimize and analyze it. So, should I sneak a peek first? Experience the allure of a Secret Technique manual?