Chapter 137: Chapter 127: Is Old Pusheng Gone?

“Well, Brother Li Zheng, we’ll be heading out first.”

Li Chun smiled at Li Zheng and waved, leading the Five-Colored Giant Spider to the door on the ground.

Li Zheng was curious about how they would descend, so he got up and approached: “Let me see you off, oh right!”

He called Li Chun back, went to his capsule dwelling, and came back with a pile of Genetic Potions, placing them all in front of Li Chun.

“These are Black Iron Level Genetic Potions, capable of boosting up to Black Iron 3+, with two types having slightly fewer quantities. Later, when I earn some materials, I’ll specify to trade them with you in the trading hall.”

Considering that Li Chun used all resources to cultivate the Five-Colored Xuan Poison Spider, Li Zheng added, “Don’t worry, I’ll charge you the cost price for these, a total of 108 vials. Later, just give me eleven Black Iron Level Active Cores in return. If you don’t have them yet, it’s fine to owe them and repay when you can.”

These potions were made last night when he casually took the commission, specifically set aside to give to Li Chun today.

She had devoted nearly all her resources toward nurturing her pet, but her own capabilities remained that of a typical person, leaving her defenseless against treacherous techniques, such as the Gas Bomb released by Lin Feng this time, with no chance to resist whatsoever.

She couldn’t even send out a distress or warning signal before suddenly perishing.

Li Zheng couldn’t bear her plight, thus he found an excuse to give this batch of potions to her.

Anyway, Black Iron Level potions are entirely useless to him now, and trading them in the world channel only worries him that they might get snatched up by some malicious players, inadvertently aiding the enemy.

Still, seeing Li Chun as a pleasant person, he opted to gift her with some goodwill, knowing she might later offer some of her surplus pet feed for him to give Little Sakura to eat.

Li Chun was overwhelmed by gratitude looking at the potion pile, with the last person showing such concern for her being her grandfather.

Having lost her parents at a young age, she lived with her grandfather in the countryside, where the living conditions weren’t affluent.

The land distributed to them was barely sufficient for their annual provisions, while the rest had to be supplemented by her grandfather collecting rubbish for recycling during off-peak farming seasons.

Some years they only made a few hundred bucks.

Even with those few hundred bucks, they had to support Li Chun in her schooling.

Thankfully, due to the national nine-year compulsory education, Li Chun studied up to junior high school without much expense.

Afterward, she achieved excellent grades, ranking among the top ten in her grade, eventually enrolling in a prestigious high school in the city.

This left her grandfather worried sick about affording the tuition!

After a year in high school, Li Chun dropped out to start working and contributing to the household.

Given the family’s harsh circumstances, the girl couldn’t even afford a mobile phone and rarely spent time online.

Focusing solely on work to earn money, her social circles were very limited, remaining untouched by the “chaotic information.”

Over time, influenced by her grandfather, she developed this pure kind-hearted disposition.

“This… um… I…”

Stunned by the grand gesture, Li Chun stammered for a while unable to complete a sentence, and finally bowed deeply: “I will surely gather the Power Core to repay Brother Li Zheng as soon as possible!”

Li Zheng chuckled: “No worries, don’t rush; your safety is the most important.

You have the pocket watch made by Phoenix Mountain too, right?

Be careful while exploring, prioritize safety.

If you encounter players, make sure to let the little spider stand in front to block, don’t easily trust strangers, alright?

You also heard about Chu Di’s encounter yesterday, which is a nearby example, be cautious.”

Li Chun nodded vigorously: “I understand, thank you, Brother Li Zheng.”

“Good, take care, and remember to drink the potions.” Li Zheng patted the young girl on the head and stepped back a few paces.

“Then… goodbye, Brother Li Zheng.”

Li Chun stored all the potions safely, then turned to pat her pet: “Little spider, let’s go.”

“Hiss!”

The Five-Colored Xuan Poison Spider softly exclaimed, raising its head to shoot out sturdy spider silk, which stuck to the cave ceiling.

Li Chun climbed atop the little spider’s head, embracing the connecting part between its head and abdomen to stabilize herself.

Once she was seated, the little spider pulled the silk, lifting itself up.

Hanging above the door, it gradually extended the web until disappearing into the light curtain.

Shortly, the web automatically detached, falling down along the light curtain, disappearing together.

“Hmm, this method is quite interesting.”

Li Zheng observed the entire process, nodding, and turned to resume his breakfast by the fire.

“Hmm? Did I forget something?”

Li Zheng touched his nose, sheepishly opened private chat, and sent Li Chun a message.

“I forgot to mention earlier; when you have time today, can you make me two sets of clothes? The last set is unwearable now.”

Li Chun quickly replied: “Leave it to me. Coincidentally, the little spider stored up some materials these past two days, just enough for two sets.”

“Thank you then.”

Li Zheng closed the private chat panel.

Initially, it was because he wanted to contact Li Chun about making clothes that he discovered her anomaly. In the end, after several fights, he ended up forgetting this small matter.

“With so much happening every day, I’m constantly slipping up.”

Shaking his head, Li Zheng sat by the fire, Little Sakura still dealing with the Ghost Lion Heart, about to finish it off.

At this moment, Liu Jiale rose to bid farewell: “I should go too. Remember to call me next time there’s a dungeon.”

Picking up the grappling hook, he released a bit of rope, “whoosh whoosh whoosh,” and began to swing.

“Hold on!”

Li Zheng immediately halted him: “Let’s make a trade.”

“Trade?” Liu Jiale didn’t stop swinging the grappling hook, which kept whizzing. This thing needed to spin to be thrown far.

Li Zheng quickly said: “I’ll trade Spear Mastery’s technique with you for Swordsmanship technique, and I can even share how to achieve mastery without self-training.”

The terms were the same as with Zhan Zhouzhou, except Liu Jiale needed less in return.

Li Zheng felt he was sincere enough and Liu Jiale should agree.

However…

“Not trading!” Liu Jiale rejected without thinking, “Without my master’s permission, my exclusive Swordsmanship technique cannot be shared, sorry.”

Unlike with Zhan Zhouzhou, Liu Jiale learned his Swordsmanship through apprenticeship. As long as his master forbids him from sharing it, he doesn’t dare to disclose it.

Even if Liu Jiale wanted to apprentice someone, he’d have to wait for his master’s approval that he’s qualified enough to teach others.

“Is that so? That’s truly unfortunate.”

Li Zheng didn’t push, merely expressed some regret and then said, “If so, I won’t hold you back, take care.”

“Goodbye.”

As his words fell, Liu Jiale released the rope, the grappling hook flew toward the cave top.

Ding!

The grappling hook embedded into the stone wall inside the cave top, and Liu Jiale executed a sharp tug to ensure a secure grip, then climbed the rope.

Liu Jiale’s climbing was swift; within twenty seconds, he had ascended the seven-to-eight-meter height.

Looping one leg around the rope for stability, he tapped a card single-handedly.

When the door opened, he untangled his leg and slid down halfway, then rocketed himself up using rope swings.

With a few back-and-forth swings, he sharply thrust his waist and dove through the light curtain above.

Just before passing through, with a flick of his wrist, the grappling hook detached from the stone and was pulled through the door, rope still attached.

Li Zheng was stupefied: “That actually works…”

It’s only because Liu Jiale is himself a martial artist, and this cave isn’t too high that he could feasibly use the grappling hook to ascend and open the door.

Any ordinary player, despite having such equipment, couldn’t be as proficient as Liu Jiale.

Especially the final wrist flick, without long-term practice, is hard to master.

“Really the Eight Immortals crossing the sea; too bad I couldn’t see how others ascend and descend.”

Shaking his head, Li Zheng stopped dawdling, promptly finishing off his breakfast.

“Still half an hour left, shall I take some commission?”

Just as Li Zheng was about to get up, Little Sakura swallowed the last morsel of the Ghost Lion Heart, then was enveloped by a surge of golden light from within.

Five minutes later, the golden light subsided, and system notifications came timely.

[Pet Little Sakura’s Tier elevated, current Tier: Silver Level Elite.]

Leveled up!

Li Zheng rejoiced for a moment, now waiting for Little Sakura to reach adulthood, then think of ways to boost its Genetic Ability.

By then, Little Sakura will undoubtedly be a significant asset.

“Yay!”

Little Sakura habitually expends its surplus upgraded vigor, while Li Zheng returned home to undertake some commissions, until Old Prel finished upgrading.

[Prelis’ Eye upgrade completed, please retrieve promptly.]

“Finally done.”

Excitedly opening the upgrade panel to glance, Li Zheng’s smile froze.

On the system upgrade panel,

utterly vacant!