Gulles

In the distance, two figures floated high in the air. They were Gulles and Balaro, who had once tracked Ede and the other man. The two had not joined forces with Ede; according to Gulles, they intended to reap the fisherman's profits.

"I'm exhausted. Let's go down and rest for a while." Gulles tossed back her long hair, a trace of fatigue showing on her pretty face.

Balaro looked around. This was an open stretch of grassland—a farm, lush and green. He liked it.

Beep beep beep beep.

Just as the two landed, their Personal terminals gave a soft chime. "Huh, 2,100 battle power. There's a student here." Gulles looked into the farm in surprise.

"A student? Only 2,100 battle power? Let's take a look," Balaro said indifferently.

Gulles nodded and slowly walked toward the farm.

Inside the farm, Lu Yin was troubled.

It only took a few Star Energy Crystals to advance from the Gaze Realm to its peak, but going from the early Probe Realm to its peak required hundreds of times the Star Energy needed for the Gaze Realm. He had now absorbed roughly one cubic meter of Star Energy, yet after raising his battle power beyond 2,000, a considerable portion of that Star Energy had been expelled as impurities. To reach peak Probe Realm battle power, he would need to absorb at least another four cubic meters' worth of Star Energy Crystals.

With so many Star Energy Crystals, even if he specifically robbed the strongest students at the academies, he might not be able to obtain enough.

"Looks like I won't be able to reach peak Probe Realm anytime soon. Still, battle power above 2,000 is enough," Lu Yin muttered as he recalled Bailie's strength.

At that moment, Gulles and Balaro were approaching.

Lu Yin noticed them and looked beyond the farm, staring at Balaro in astonishment. What was this? Had a plant gained sentience?

"Whoever's inside, come out!" Gulles shouted delicately, tossing her long hair with a distinctly haughty air.

Lu Yin walked out of the farm and stared curiously at Balaro.

Gulles was displeased. "Hey, why are you staring at a man? I'm the one calling you."

Lu Yin pointed at Balaro. "A plant gained sentience?"

Balaro's brows shot up, and he flew into a rage. "Insolence!" As he spoke, he kicked at Lu Yin. As an outstanding student of the Great Yu Empire's Space Academy and a powerhouse second only to Gulles, his battle power was as high as 2,900. He did not take Lu Yin's 2,100 battle power seriously at all.

Lu Yin used the Roaming Step and directly evaded him, appearing at Balaro's right side. He pressed a hand against Balaro's abdomen, his voice icy. "Robbery." With that, immense force burst from his palm. The air struck Balaro like a cannonball, blasting him away, while the Void Splitting Palm cracked open the surface of his body.

Gulles's pupils contracted. A uniquely shaped bow suddenly appeared in her hand, aimed at Lu Yin as thunder rumbled through the void.

In an instant, Lu Yin sensed danger. He used the Roaming Step to dodge, and an arrow tore through the air beside his ear and shot into the distance. The next moment, the ground shook, thunder soared into the sky, and violent shockwaves swept in all directions.

Lu Yin did not look back, because Gulles had already aimed another arrow at him. Lu Yin raised a hand and grabbed toward Gulles. Gulles sneered. Lightning coursed across her body, enveloping her graceful, exquisite figure in thunderbolts that violently shook the surroundings and distorted the air. Lu Yin frowned. Stars appeared in his palm. With a bang, two stars shattered, and the enormous impact barely tore through the lightning, striking Gulles herself.

Gulles was shocked. She had not expected Lu Yin to break through her lightning defense. This was the defensive armor her brother had given her; few in the Probe Realm could break through it. Yet the man before her had torn it apart. Gulles was sent flying back in a sorry state and crashed to the ground, her bow falling beside her.

"Don't touch her!" A roar came from nearby. Balaro knelt on one knee, strange green patterns emerging across his body and surging outward like waves. The next moment, the green plants all around began to writhe. The grass beneath Lu Yin's feet seemed to come alive and bound him, while countless hostile presences filled the surroundings.

Lu Yin was surprised. Star Energy erupted from his body, shattering the plants as he charged at Balaro and struck out with his palm. Balaro roared, his arms wrapped in weeds as he smashed them toward Lu Yin. With a bang, shockwaves spread, tearing up the earth and kicking up dust. Lu Yin's palm slammed Balaro into the ground, making him spit out blood, his arms twisted at unnatural angles.

"I remember now. You two were also hiding in Capital City," Lu Yin said calmly. He grabbed Balaro and threw him toward Gulles, then appeared in front of Gulles.

At the same time, the regional network issued a notification: "Gulles and Balaro have been defeated."

In the distance, Ede was shocked. "Even Gulles was defeated?"

On the grassland, Gulles glared at Lu Yin. "You're that Interstellar Thief."

Lu Yin frowned. "Don't spout nonsense. I'm a good person."

"Bullshit!" Gulles shouted angrily, her language exceedingly crude.

Lu Yin was intrigued. "A beautiful woman curses this smoothly? You've got quite the temper."

Gulles snorted.

Balaro glared at Lu Yin. "Kid, I warn you not to touch her. Her brother is Gulbah, one of the strongest of the Great Yu Empire's Young Generation. If you dare hurt her, there won't be a place for you anywhere in the universe."

Lu Yin pursed his lips. "I said I'm a good person. I don't hurt people." As he spoke, he snatched Gulles's Void Ring, wiped a little blood from the corner of her mouth onto it to open it, and began searching for Star Energy Crystals.

Gulles and Balaro stared blankly at the scene. This was a good person? His movements were far too practiced. He had definitely trained for this!

"Hey, don't rummage around! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you. Don't go through my things! You can't touch a girl's belongings!" Gulles shouted, constantly kicking at Lu Yin with both feet.

Lu Yin rolled his eyes. "A pile of useless junk." Suddenly, his eyes lit up and his breathing quickened. What did he see? A pile of Star Energy Crystals—at least two cubic meters' worth. Lu Yin looked at Gulles in surprise. "You're really rich."

Gulles gritted her teeth, her face flushed red with anger. "You bastard."

Lu Yin tossed the Void Ring back to Gulles and began searching Balaro's.

Balaro was rather quiet. This person was only robbing them. As long as he did not kill anyone, it was fine.

Although Balaro's Void Ring did not contain as many Star Energy Crystals as Gulles's, it was not much less. Together, the two had a full two cubic meters' worth of Star Energy Crystals. What rich targets!

Lu Yin was very satisfied. "You two are quite good. If fate allows, we'll meet again." With that, Lu Yin prepared to leave.

Gulles shouted, "Bastard, leave your name!"

"Call me Seventh Brother." Lu Yin waved and began to rise into the air.

Gulles was furious, but then her eyes shifted. "Wait. Do you want even more Star Energy Crystals?"

Lu Yin had just flown into midair, but upon hearing those words, he immediately landed and looked at Gulles. "What do you mean?"

Gulles smiled slyly. "Follow us. I'll take you robbing."

Lu Yin was surprised.

Balaro's face twitched. Here she went again. Gulles's inability to ever accept a loss was acting up. This woman was good in every way except that she refused to suffer losses. Once she did, she would definitely find someone to share the burden. In any case, she would never be the one who lost the most.

Lu Yin looked at Gulles strangely. "You want to take me robbing? Do I look like an idiot?"

Gulles snorted. "Believe it or not, without a Personal Terminal, you can't find the other students. Those students will attack Capital City in seven days at most. How many can you run into by luck within seven days? I'll lead the way—every encounter will be a sure thing."

Lu Yin sneered. "What if you lead me into a trap?"

Gulles raised her head. "I, Gulles, am not that kind of person. Go ask around—who in the Astral Academy doesn't know about Gulles's character and credibility? My brother is Gulbah. Would I harm you?"

Balaro was speechless.

Lu Yin narrowed his eyes. After thinking it over, he knew that with his current strength, he could escape even if he fell into an encirclement. "Fine, lead the way. But I'll confiscate your Void Ring and return it after we're done."

Gulles gritted her teeth. "Fine."

Half a day later, the three flew north. In the sky, Lu Yin said, "I've been meaning to ask—did this guy evolve from a plant?"

Balaro flew into a rage. "I was born on a pure plant planet. Everyone on our planet looks like this. Got a problem with that?"

Lu Yin was amazed. "The universe really is vast. There are all kinds of people."

Balaro turned his head away. The way this bastard talked sounded like an insult.

Gulles rolled her eyes. "What's so strange about that? You've met Bailie too. On their Third Gravity Planet, the tallest people are only 1.6 meters, while the average is 1.2 meters. He counts as a tall, rich, handsome guy there. On some planets, people have scales covering their bodies; some have four arms; some are dozens of meters tall. There are all sorts of bizarre forms."

"You're not an Astral Academy student?" Balaro suddenly asked, looking at Lu Yin suspiciously.

"Of course not," Lu Yin said. "I'm from Earth."

Gulles and Balaro stared wide-eyed, feeling utterly humiliated inside. They had been robbed by a native.

Half an hour later, Gulles said excitedly, "They're here! Two students are coming!"

Lu Yin grew excited and glanced at Gulles. This woman was even more excited than he was. "Hey, bastard, tell me how we're splitting the loot."