After negotiating with Nato Company, he was escorted back.
###
It wasn't for any other reason. The defenses at Tianxia Group were simply too weak right now.
###
Feng Baobao had stormed Tianxia Group, leaving three executives badly injured. Jia Zhengyu had also been expelled from the Tianxia Association by Feng Zhenghao, so they had no choice but to summon him back first.
###
As soon as he returned to Tianxia Group, Feng Shayan led him to Feng Zhenghao. Feng Xingtong was there too, making it clear this wasn't just a simple redeployment.
###
"The young people these days are full of energy. In just two days, I've heard your name several times, Mr. Ode. You're truly an impressive young man!"
###
Feng Zhenghao laughed and gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder, wearing an expression that said, "I like you."
###
"Chairman Feng, you flatter me. It's all thanks to the young lady's excellent leadership."
###
He respectfully took two steps back. This was all just polite talk. There was no way the old fox Feng Zhenghao would praise him in front of Feng Shayan and Feng Xingtong over such a small matter.
###
"Now, don't be so formal, Mr. Ode. We're all family here. From now on, just call me Uncle Feng. Xingtong, you should spend more time with Mr. Ode when you can. Learn from him."
###
Feng Zhenghao's glasses flashed as he glanced at the young man Feng Shayan had invited to sit down. He nodded, then gave Feng Xingtong a meaningful look.
###
"Uh-huh, sure. I'll welcome Big Brother Ode tonight."
###
Feng Xingtong nodded obediently, looking guileless and sweet.
###
"Ode, I heard you can refine equipment. Truly impressive for someone so young!"
###
Feng Zhenghao returned to the seat of honor with a kindly expression, but his eyes were on Feng Shayan.
###
Shayan had said the young man could refine equipment. That was a useful skill, but Feng Zhenghao needed to find out whether Ode had made the equipment himself or had someone else make it for him.
###
He knew the real reason for the meeting had finally arrived. If he said he couldn't do it, he probably wouldn't get off lightly. That had to be why they'd summoned him today!
###
"Yes, Uncle Feng. But refining equipment takes a lot of materials. Here's the list. Take a look. Once everything's gathered, I can make something for the young lady whenever you like."
###
As he spoke, he presented the list he'd prepared in advance. Most of the materials on it were ores that Tianxia Association already had.
###
Only two of them were materials of recognized quality in Cycle Paradise.
###
[Mysterious Turtle Shell]
###
Origin: The Outcast
###
Type: Material
###
Green: 20
###
Description: A hard shell from a century-old mysterious turtle. Can be used in alchemy, equipment refining, or medicine making.
###
Price: 2,800 Paradise Coins (can be taken out of the Derivative World)
###
###
[Darksteel]
###
Origin: The Outcast
###
Type: Material
###
Green: 25
###
Description: Darksteel from the deep sea, with extremely high density and hardness. It can be used in forging and is an excellent material.
###
Price: 3,000 Paradise Coins (can be taken out of the Derivative World)
###
###
Both were excellent forging materials. If he took them and forged something with them, he'd have a legitimate reason for the result.
###
"Oh, let me see. Hmm. Xingtong, go fetch these materials for Mr. Ode. Ode, what kind of equipment are you planning to make for Shayan?"
###
Feng Zhenghao glanced over the list and grew somewhat interested. It seemed this young man might really know a little about equipment refining. He was worth cultivating.
###
"Gauntlets. The young lady's best fighting style is boxing. With Hundred Paces Divine Fist, Shrinking Ground Footwork, and her Space Shuttle ability, gauntlets are the best fit."
###
He'd already prepared that explanation. According to the story, Feng Shayan's Space Shuttle could only transport her own body, at most along with the clothes she wore.
###
So gauntlets were the best option, and her leather gloves were the ideal base. He wasn't a true equipment refiner, after all, so he needed something to work from.
###
Feng Xingtong returned with all the materials. At Feng Zhenghao's signal, Ode immediately stored them in Mark Space.
###
That imitation "Sleeve Universe" trick caught all three of them by surprise. After some more pleasantries, he also got the leather gloves.
###
After leaving Tianxia Group, he checked into a nearby hotel. He didn't want anyone watching him work through a camera. He could easily give himself away.
###
###
That night, in the suite.
###
[You used a Characteristic Card: Hard, granting the leather gloves a characteristic.]
###
The card turned into a streak of light and entered the black leather gloves.
###
The gloves gradually melted away, and a pair of scale-covered gauntlets slowly emerged, their layered scales shimmering in the glow.
###
The scales on the fingertips were especially dense and tough, glinting with a faint, cold light.
###
[You obtained Scale Gauntlets*1]
###
Scale Gauntlets
###
Origin: The Outcast
###
Type: Gauntlets
###
Restriction: Female
###
White: 10+ (exceeds the white-rating limit)
###
Equipment Requirement: 8 Strength
###
Attack: 5–6
###
Durability: 30/30
###
Characteristic: Hard. When using Innate One Qi, Strength +2.
###
Description: An excellent female boxer often needs only one punch!
###
Price: 2,000 Paradise Coins
###
###
After inspecting them, he finally let out a sigh of relief. They were only White Equipment, but their effects were no worse than Green Equipment. They were more than good enough to hand over.
###
Once he'd finished "refining" them, he took out [Life Essence].
###
From leaving the subspace to negotiate with Nato Tong, then meeting Feng Zhenghao, he hadn't dared to absorb it, just to be safe. After all, being injured could lower people's guard and earn him preferential treatment.
###
The Life Essence turned into a warm current that flowed into his body. Its immense vitality rapidly healed him. The bruises on his chest and back vanished, and many of the scrapes across his body quickly scabbed over and peeled away.
###
[Notice: Innate One Qi has an 80% compatibility with your class. It has been added to the skill bar.]
###
[Notice: Life Force restored by 100. Current: 100/105.]
###
[Notice: You have obtained the passive skill Innate One Qi. Current: 10/10.]
###
In a daze, he seemed to see scenes of Liao Tietou practicing. They flashed past one after another.
###
When he came to, he could feel a new energy flowing through his body, steady and balanced.
###
Innate One Qi, Level 1, Passive
###
Skill Effect: Unlocks the energy system of "Qi." Current: 10/10.
###
###
The description was simple, with no benefits listed, but it gave him another way to fight—if he could get his hands on a cultivation manual!
###
Right, a manual!
###
He immediately thought of Iron Head Skill, but after taking it out, he put it away again. It wouldn't be much use to him.
###
He still didn't know what limitations came with learning manuals, so naturally, his first one should be the best fit for him.
###
Holding his breath, he focused and silently sensed the flow of Qi in his body, but he couldn't seem to control it.
###
He tried for a long time, then finally gave up. It seemed he'd have to wait until he got a manual before trying again.
###
After absorbing the Life Essence, he took out three Treasure Chests. First was the one from the zombie old man.
###
[You opened a Treasure Chest (White)*1]
###
[You obtained Mummy Powder.]
###
Mummy Powder
###
Origin: The Outcast
###
White: 5
###
Type: Material
###
Effect: Can be used to make potions or incantations.
###
Description: Powder from a mummy transformed by the power of Cthulhu.
###
###
He put the powder away. It was probably a spellcasting material related to the Cthulhu world, though its use was unknown. He continued by opening the "mentor's" chest.
###
[You obtained Phantom Sound Wave Skill Book.]
###
Phantom Sound Wave (Skill Book)
###
Origin: The Outcast
###
White: 10
###
Type: Skill Book
###
Requirements: Innate One Qi unlocked, Intelligence 6
###
Skill Effect: Consumes 50 points of Innate One Qi to use low-frequency sound waves to inflict hypnosis, slowness, dizziness, and other effects on enemies within a five-meter radius (requires an Intelligence/Stamina Check).
###
Description: Easily controls ordinary people and puts them under hypnosis.
###
Price: 2,000 Paradise Coins
###
###
This was a sound-wave skill focused on control. It used sound waves to achieve its effects.
###
It was probably the green Qi the mentor had released during battle—a wide-area crowd-control skill.
###
Last was the Green Treasure Chest from the Formless Child. It was the first Green Treasure Chest he'd gotten since entering Paradise. He hoped it would contain something good.
###
[You opened a Treasure Chest (Green).]
###
[You obtained Summoning Scroll—Formless Child.]
###
Summoning Scroll—Formless Child
###
Origin: Enkai World
###
Type: Consumable
###
Green: 30
###
Effect: Summons a Formless Child to help you fight for 10 minutes.
###
Description: A kin of Sathogua.
###
Price: 4,000 Paradise Coins
###
###
Clutching the parchment scroll, he tapped his fingers against the edge of the table. He had a feeling that the scroll had another use.
###
But he had no information about the Formless Child, so he had no way to analyze it.
###
Besides, he knew nothing about the Formless Child, Enkai World, or Sathogua!
###
To find out what they were, he'd need to learn about the Cthulhu mythos—or at least about Enkai World. He needed the relevant knowledge.
###
Knowledge...
###
Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind.
###
His gaze fell on the black-and-red stone tablet. After a moment's silence, he lit the [Spirit Calming Incense].
###
After thinking it over, he tucked a [Rainbow Fruit Candy] under his tongue and began carefully reading the text on the tablet.
###
A murky aura drifted from the stone tablet.
Before you continue