A new email?
Lu Xuan's body stiffened as he thought of the idea that had just arisen, and his eyes narrowed.
Would this new choice lead to his death in the future?
He was preparing to seize Xu Long's Earth Dragon Egg.
Would this get him killed?
Filled with doubt, he opened the new email.
[I am Lu Xuan. By the time you see this email, I will already be dead...]
[On May 8, at midnight, after finishing a battle, I received a notice from Jiangnan Martial University while resting in the Wilderness: Xu Long had stolen an Earth Dragon Egg and disappeared, and the Xu Family had put out a bounty.
The Earth Dragon Egg could cure the monster-related condition afflicting my parents.
I was tempted—and even more restless.
For the sake of the Earth Dragon Egg, I chose to enter the Second Ring of Ruins City overnight.]
[I decided to seize Xu Long's Earth Dragon Egg. As long as I obtained it, Mom and Dad could be saved!]
[My little sister could break through to Martial Artist without any obstruction.]
[On May 8, the monsters in Ruins City's Second Ring grew more numerous. This was an effect caused by the Earth Dragon's status as a High-level Monster. I fought my way forward the entire journey.
I swore to obtain the Earth Dragon Egg.
Before long, I found traces of Xu Long and the others in Ruins City's Second Ring.]
[There were five other Martial Artists beside Xu Long. Including him, there were three Fourth-order Intermediate Martial Artists. I had carefully calculated my odds of successfully seizing it at seventy percent.
I didn't act rashly, but neither could I wait too long.
After careful consideration, I decided to lure some monsters into attacking them, then secretly switch the Earth Dragon Egg while they were distracted.]
[That night, I used the flesh of a Blazing Horned Lion to attract one Intermediate Monster and three Low-level Monsters, driving them all toward the place where Xu Long and the others were resting.
The effect was better than expected, and the two sides broke into a fierce battle.]
[Xu Long was guarding the Earth Dragon Egg alone. This was the perfect opportunity to seize it!]
[I didn't hesitate in the slightest. I unleashed both my Psychic Power and blood-and-qi force at once, giving Xu Long no chance whatsoever. I defeated him on the spot and seized the Earth Dragon Egg.
Xu Long was attacked by the monsters and lost both legs.]
[On May 9, the bounty for me arrived as expected.
The Xu Family offered ten million to hunt me down.
They were willing to spend quite a bit.
But I knew no one could discover who I was, because I was wearing a Ghost-faced Monkey mask.]
[On May 10, a massive earthquake struck Ruins City, briefly throwing everyone's plans into disarray.]
[A Beast Lord level monster burst out of the ground, triggering a small-scale beast tide. Three Martial Dao Grandmasters took action and killed it by force.]
[Originally, this was merely a common occurrence in the Wilderness, a monster breaking through after secluded cultivation. But what I never could have imagined was that this matter was actually connected to me!]
[On May 10, after the Beast Lord level monster died, large numbers of Martial Artists swarmed toward the place where it had appeared, because when monsters of this level emerged, they often brought rare treasures with them.
By an incredible coincidence, the place where this monster broke through was Building 3!]
[People discovered the corpse of a Ghost-faced Monkey in Building 3 and instantly connected it to the Ghost Face Martial Artist who had attacked Xu Long.]
[On May 11, someone spread a rumor that the Ghost Face Martial Artist had obtained a great opportunity at the Beast Lord level monster's secluded cultivation site, causing the Beast Lord level monster to revive.
I was numb with disbelief.
The Xu Family raised its bounty by another ten million, while the major companies offered ten million for the so-called "great opportunity."
Overnight, my head was worth over a hundred million.]
[Although I was worried, I didn't lose my head. I didn't believe these people could find me based on a few clues.]
[On May 12, the major companies began purchasing Martial Artists' spoils at high prices. A Low-level Monster sold for the exorbitant price of two hundred thousand.
I knew this was a trap set specifically for me. These people were preparing to lure me into the trap.
Fortunately, I returned to Jinling City under the identity of a logistics worker at Jiangnan Martial University. Most logistics staff were ordinary people, so I wouldn't attract anyone's attention.]
[However, things always turned out contrary to expectations.]
[Class 6's monitor, Xu Xin, slew a High-level Monster, stirring up heated discussion.
The bounties offered by the major companies and the Xu Family were too high. There was always someone who couldn't resist the temptation, and someone informed the Xu Family of what had happened back then.
They learned that the Ghost Face Martial Artist had assisted Xu Xin and the others.]
[On May 13, the Xu Family didn't dare pressure Jiangnan Martial University, but they did dare pressure its students. Xu Xin became one of their targets. Fortunately, her background was also extraordinary, forcing the Xu Family to stop.
I thought the matter had ended there and that I could openly sell my spoils and save my parents. I never expected trouble to arrive so quickly.]
[On May 20, Xu Long went insane. Since he couldn't threaten Xu Xin, he threatened everyone who had contact with her—and I was among them.]
[On May 21, I didn't dare make the slightest move and acted as I usually did.]
[On May 25, my little sister's condition seemed somewhat off.]
[On May 30, the Xu Family finally came after me. They threatened me with my little sister and my parents, using them to test whether I was the Ghost Face Martial Artist.
Before this, more than ten people among those who had been in the logistics department had already suffered the same threats, to the point that their families had been torn apart.
My parents couldn't hold out for long. If the Xu Family continued threatening me like this, their deaths would be inevitable.]
[On June 1, I died.
I died in a bloody battle against the Xu Family.
I was unwilling to accept it. I hadn't saved my parents yet, nor had I helped my little sister break through to Martial Artist. I hated power and influence, and I hated my own weakness even more.]
An overwhelming sense of helpless powerlessness washed over him.
Lu Xuan's breathing quickened slightly, and disappointment colored his voice. "He still couldn't save Mom and Dad?"
He wasn't angry merely because the Xu Family had immense influence and power.
The strong claimed rare treasures. Since he had chosen to seize someone else's opportunity, he naturally had to bear the consequences.
Just as his future self had said.
Everything had happened because he was weak. If his strength hadn't been so lacking, he could have bullied others through the Xu Family's influence. How could he have ended up with a bounty on his head?
"It doesn't matter. Since I chose wrongly, I'll just find a way to avoid it."
At least for now, he hadn't yet gone to seize Xu Long's Earth Dragon Egg.
Lu Xuan didn't rush to make a choice. He continued reading the information farther down the email. Under normal circumstances, there should be some other intelligence afterward.
[I died horribly, but I don't regret making this choice. What I regret is not killing Xu Long back then.]
[My past self, the Earth Dragon Egg can save our parents. Whether you seize it is up to you, but remember this: once you choose to seize it, leave no trace behind. Only the dead can keep their mouths shut!]
[I knew I was certain to die, so I deliberately investigated some information.]
[1. The reason a Beast Lord level monster appeared was very likely the Bronze Gourd. This gourd may have other effects.
2. The reason the Xu Family was willing to fight desperately over the Earth Dragon Egg was to save the Martial Dao Grandmaster of their family.
3. Ruins City contains opportunities of all sizes, including Low-level spiritual items...
4. Xu Xin's identity is not simple. Revealing your identity may save your life.
5. Monster Potion Company discovered a High-level spiritual herb at the Ruins City amusement park, worth a million!
6. The lottery numbers for May 15 were 6, 9, and 11...]
There wasn't much intelligence, but what there was proved useful.
"The Xu Family's Martial Dao Grandmaster needs the Earth Dragon to be cured?"
Lu Xuan's eyes narrowed.
This piece of news was worth more than any other intelligence. Martial lineages were families established after the Great Cataclysm by small groups of people who had become Martial Artists ahead of everyone else.
At the very least, such families had to have a Martial Dao Grandmaster guarding them.
These families possessed more or less a few industries, and they needed powerful experts to protect them. Otherwise, it would be difficult for them to stand firm in this chaotic age.
That was precisely why Lu Xuan found this news useful.
Having industries meant having rivals.
They had to contend with the Federation and other families... If news of the Xu Family's injured Martial Dao Grandmaster were spread, they would be far too busy to concern themselves with him.
In other words, even if he killed Xu Long, nothing would happen.
"What wonderful news!"
Lu Xuan's voice was icy. The firelight accentuated the upward curl of his lips, and madness gleamed in his eyes.
"The Earth Dragon Egg can only be mine!"
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