Harvest, Leaving the Underground Cave

The two chatted politely for a while.

Su Yi asked curiously, "Uncle Qin, are you getting ready to lead a team out?"

"Yes. It's their first time entering the Abyss, so I'm taking them to familiarize themselves with the environment first."

Su Yi briefly sized up the students behind him. There were four in total: two Third Grade Mid Stage students and two Third-Rank High Stage students.

He did not recognize any of them and had no idea whether they were sophomores or juniors. They might even have been in their senior year.

Those four students also watched him with curiosity and awe—curious about his cultivation speed and how he had created the Tempering Method, awed by his strength and accomplishments.

Qin Nansheng estimated the time and said, "Go exchange your resources first. I need to take them to familiarize themselves with the military outposts and supply stations within ten kilometers. You're planning to leave the Abyss right after the exchange, aren't you?"

"Yeah. I've been in here for more than ten days, so I'm planning to head back and rest up."

"Go back and get some rest. Staying tense every day in the Abyss really is exhausting. Remember to visit home often."

After saying that, Qin Nansheng exchanged a few words with Hua Normal's team leader before leading the group out of Hope City.

Home?

He had not been home in a long time. It really was about time for a visit.

While Su Yi had been talking with Qin Nansheng, Fu Yinghao had not left, silently listening from the side instead.

Only after Qin Nansheng left did he say to Su Yi, "Junior, how about we form a team next time?"

Finding suitable and trustworthy teammates in the Abyss was no easy task, but Su Yi was quite a good fit—an exemplary Magic Martial Academy prodigy with formidable strength. Fu Yinghao had heard that he could confront a Fifth-Rank Mid martial artist head-on; he was already on Fu Yinghao's level.

Besides, he must have some trump card hidden up his sleeve. Otherwise, how could he have killed a Fifth-Rank Peak martial artist?

Hearing Fu Yinghao's words, Su Yi raised an eyebrow. "Senior, don't you have a team?"

"My team disbanded some time ago. We're in our senior year, after all, and everyone's gone their separate ways. I've decided to stay at the academy. Of the other three, one plans to return to his hometown to fight the Abyss, while the other two joined the Investigation Bureau and the military."

He had decided to stay at the academy? That was not a bad option. Being alone in the Abyss sometimes made him so lonely he could go mad.

Food was not an issue, though. Just because he could not cook there did not mean Su Yi could not bring cooked food with him.

The food in his storage space would not spoil. Ever since entering the Abyss, he had been eating damn well—braised pig trotters, poached chicken, roast suckling pig, saltwater duck, rotating through them all.

But if he went with Fu Yinghao, he could not use that storage space, and he really could only bring dry rations.

Fu Yinghao had a fairly good reputation at the academy. Though he had a bit of a rebellious streak, it was nothing excessive. Still, you could know a man's face but not his heart; Su Yi would need to ask around properly.

"Senior, how about we exchange contact information? I'm preparing to leave the Abyss now and don't plan to come back in for the time being. Let me think it over for a few days first."

The next time he entered the Abyss would probably be after he broke through to Fourth Grade. He had obtained quite a few resources this time.

Fu Yinghao was not surprised. Such matters did need careful consideration. With a light laugh, he said, "Of course. Junior, take your time to think it over after you return. Then I won't keep you from exchanging your resources."

He had only just entered the Abyss and was only preparing to leave the city gates. It would naturally be best if Su Yi agreed, but if not, he could just muddle around on his own for a while, or team up with an instructor when the time came.

With that, he left cleanly and decisively.

Military Logistics Department.

Su Yi unpacked his bundle and handed over his Martial Arts Certificate.

The logistics officer stared at Su Yi in astonishment. So many weapons and so much loot—just how many Abyss Warriors had he killed?

And what shocked him most was that Su Yi had actually managed to bring it all back.

After doing a bit of sorting, Su Yi separately packed the Cultivation Energy Stones, Hundred-Tempering Fruits, and Vein-Shaping Flowers. He intended to use those things himself.

The logistics officer said nothing. Whether Su Yi exchanged them or not was his own business. Besides, such things were generally kept for personal use anyway.

Only after Su Yi had finished sorting did he ask, "Are you exchanging all of these?"

Su Yi nodded and began recounting the area where he had operated in the Abyss and his achievements.

"Over this period, I killed a total of thirteen Fifth-Rank martial artists: one at the Peak, two at Mid stage, and ten at Initial stage. A total of twenty-two Fourth Grade martial artists: four at the Peak, five at High stage, seven at Mid stage, and six at Initial stage. A total of forty-six Third Grade martial artists..."

He had killed a Fifth-Rank Peak martial artist?

The logistics officer gave him a long, deep look. How could he not recognize the famous Su Yi?

Five days ago, the news of him killing a Fifth-Rank Initial martial artist had caused quite a stir.

"Thirteen Fifth-Rank Energy Hearts, for a total of 12,000 Credit Points. Twenty-two Fourth Grade ones, 6,200 Credit Points. E-Grade alloy weapons, 420 kilograms in total, 2,800 Credit Points. D-Grade alloy weapons, 310 kilograms in total, 4,133 Credit Points. C-Grade alloy weapons, 160 kilograms in total, 4,266 Credit Points. One B-Grade alloy weapon, 13 kilograms, 866 Credit Points."

Basic Energy Stones: 3,400 grams. Most were low-purity, worth 4,200 Credit Points.

And these seventeen scattered medicinal herbs were stored fairly well, worth 2,700 Credit Points."

"The total comes to..."

By the time the logistics officer finished calculating, he could hardly imagine it. The resources Su Yi had obtained were enough to tempt even a Grandmaster.

"A total of 37,165 Credit Points."

He found it hard to imagine how Su Yi had brought back so many resources.

Before dying, most Abyss Warriors would choose to contaminate their Energy Stones and shatter their own hearts.

Even in death, they would not let the enemy benefit.

More than thirty-seven thousand Credit Points—converted into Huaxia currency, that was already over a billion.

Over thirty thousand Credit Points?

Su Yi nodded to himself. Not bad. It should be enough to sustain his cultivation for quite some time. It only looked like a lot; once he exchanged it for a Sixth Grade inner armor and an A-Grade Alloy weapon, there would not be much left. He still needed to cultivate.

Oh, and the medals.

Forget it. He would keep them as mementos. If he needed to, he could exchange them later.

Once the Credit Points had been counted, it was time to exchange them for resources. Su Yi looked at the officer and asked, "Do you have any soft armor made from the hides of Sixth Grade Abyss creatures?"

Su Yi's own Leather Armor had long since ceased to meet his needs. The opponents he fought were all mid-grade Abyss Warriors.

"We haven't killed many Sixth Grade creatures, to be honest. We currently have three pieces left: one from a Sixth Grade Peak creature, one from a Sixth Grade Mid creature, and one from an early Sixth Grade creature.

"According to the exchange rates, Sixth Grade creature Leather Armor is worth between 5,000 and 10,000 Credit Points."

There was one from a Sixth Grade Peak creature?

Su Yi had not expected that. Sixth Grade Leather Armor was already relatively rare and in high demand.

"I'll take the Sixth Grade Peak Leather Armor."

Su Yi spoke without the slightest hesitation.

His decisiveness surprised the officer, but when he thought of Su Yi's haul this time, he quietly gave up on trying to dissuade him.

On his first trip into the Abyss, he had earned over thirty thousand Credit Points. No—he had not even handed over the Cultivation Energy Stones. He probably had more than forty thousand Credit Points in total.

"The Sixth Grade Peak Leather Armor costs 10,000 Credit Points. You have 27,165 Credit Points remaining. Is there anything else you need to exchange for?"

Su Yi shook his head. The school could customize weapons and shoes for him, and they would be more convenient to collect there.

"Alright, then that's settled. The remaining Credit Points will be transferred to your account later."

A few minutes later, Su Yi received a piece of soft armor, though it looked more like a vest.

It had no sleeves, but a martial artist's arms were not vital points. A penetrating wound to the internal organs was what truly mattered.

Soft armor worth ten thousand Credit Points—three hundred million, just like that, worn on his body. What a luxury.

After returning to his lodging, cleaning himself up, and changing clothes, Su Yi prepared to leave the Abyss.

The moment he stepped out of the Energy Passage, Su Yi felt as though a lifetime had passed. His experiences over these past days were truly unforgettable.

As he passed through the alloy gates, Zuo Gang saw him emerge and said with a smile, "It's rare for someone's first trip into the Abyss to last this long. How was it?"

The Tall Martial Artist also smiled and nodded.

Su Yi looked at Zuo Gang and said leisurely, "It was pretty good. There were quite a lot of resources."

"Oh? Looks like you did pretty well for yourself!"

Su Yi raised his head and said proudly, "Of course. I slaughtered nearly two hundred Abyss brats."

"Haha, that's impressive! Good! Those Abyss brats deserve to be slaughtered without mercy!"

Zuo Gang's face was wreathed in smiles as he praised him.

It was Su Yi's first time entering the Abyss, and he had only been down there for around half a month. Yet he had killed nearly two hundred Abyss Warriors—an average of more than ten a day.

The Tall Martial Artist also gave him a thumbs-up. Well killed. Worthy indeed of being a Human Prodigy.

Su Yi did not return to school immediately. Instead, he went home first.

The prolonged slaughter and constant tension had been manageable while he was in the Abyss, but once he left, he felt as though he was about to collapse.

When he returned home, despite having been away for two months, there was hardly any dust in the house.

Even the memorial tablets in the living room were the same.

Had Aunt Qin come by?

Probably. No one else had the keys to his home, and even a thief would not clean his house for him.

Su Yi shook his head. He would not think about that for now. All he wanted was a good night's sleep.

Lying on the bed, Su Yi felt an inexplicable sense of peace. Perhaps it was just psychological—returning home felt like taking off the shackles of vigilance all at once.

Only at home could he be his truest self.

Whenever he went out, he still had to put on a mask from time to time.

Maintaining his friendliest demeanor to earn Energy Points was one thing, but more than that, he simply didn't want those who cared about him to worry.

Life was hard enough as it was. There was no need to add to someone else's burden.

Especially people like them—who knew when they might die in the Underground Cave.

Even those Grandmasters sometimes found it difficult even to die.

They had to wait for the right moment, submit an application, get approval, and only then could they go die.

Sometimes, living was more painful than death. The living still had to endure the pain of losing family, beloved ones, and closest friends.

Hope was actually more terrifying than despair. It looked beautiful, yet it was even more ruthless. It could make people willingly accept despair, all for the sake of waiting for that sliver of light.

He, too, wanted to truly be himself without restraint, but now was not the time.

As he thought, Su Yi closed his eyes. Sleep. At least for now, this time belonged to the real you.