Illusion Technique!

"Open the door! Open the door! Hurry up and open the door!"

"Flame Shrine, open the door quickly."

"Are there any strangers in the house? No? Then who are you?"

"Dare to run? Kill him, shoot! Shoot!"

In the Hate Mountain human settlement, house after house, the courtyard doors were either shouted open or smashed open by the mixed forces of Flame Shrine's Gray Robes and Predators.

They were like bandits, oh, they were bandits.

These bandits charged in, searched the houses, then groped the people, even prying open their mouths to check their teeth for strength. As they left, they casually pocketed anything they considered valuable.

Some took goods, some took people.

Struggles were met with beatings, resistance with death.

The residents of the settlement were used to it. As long as the fists didn't land on them, everyone minded their own business, caring not for others' troubles.

Everyone was trying their best to survive!

However, why did the people from the Flame Shrine today feel a bit like Predators?

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The courtyard door of a small stone house was heavily pounded. A middle-aged old woman's voice came from inside, "Coming, coming. Who is it?"

"Flame Shrine," the Gray Robe outside shouted loudly. "Open the door quickly, don't make us break it down."

The thick wooden door was pulled open from the inside. A middle-aged old woman with a face full of wrinkles stood at the doorway, smiling obsequiously. "So it's the Divine Envoys gracing us with their presence. What are your orders, sirs?"

"Why does it stink so much?" Several Gray Robes involuntarily took two steps back.

They looked at the old woman before them and found her black-faced, her hair messy like a bird's nest, her clothes tattered like straw. She wore a patched garment, and a strong, nauseating sour smell emanated from her entire body.

Even more disgusting, a swarm of flies buzzed around her head, chirping incessantly.

"Don't come any closer," a Gray Robe pointed at the middle-aged old woman, covering his nose and asking, "What's that smell? How long has it been since you bathed?"

"Replying to the Divine Envoys, my daughter and I haven't bathed in a month and a half. It might even be two months. You know, the entire Hate Mountain settlement only has one water source, and it's too far from us. Every time my daughter and I carry two buckets back, it's only enough for drinking and eating. We can't bear to use it for bathing," the middle-aged old woman replied with a look of "simple honesty."

"You have a daughter?" A Gray Robe's eyes lit up as he asked.

"Yes, yes, her name is Ningning." The middle-aged old woman turned and shouted into the house, "Ningning, Ningning, come out quickly, we have distinguished guests!"

Then, a thin, dark-faced girl, also emitting a sour stench, walked out. She waved away the flies in front of her, her voice a mosquito's hum. With a timid glance at the Flame Shrine's Gray Robes, she said, "Mom, what's up?"

"Esteemed Divine Envoys, this is my daughter Ningning. My daughter and I depend on each other," the middle-aged old woman introduced with a smile. "Ningning, come and greet the Divine Envoys."

When the Gray Robes saw the terrifying, jagged scar on Ningning's face, the light in their eyes instantly vanished. Their expressions turned awkward, and they repeatedly backed away, saying, "No need to come over, just stand there and talk. Besides you two, is there anyone else in the house?"

"No. It's just my daughter and me. No one else wants to come," the middle-aged old woman said. "Divine Envoys, you can come in and search."

"You stink this much, who would want to come?" a Gray Robe cursed. "No search, what a waste of time. How could a master of Qi Control Technique hide in a place like this? We'd die of the stench."

"Let's go, let's go, next house. What bad luck."

"Exactly, I've never seen such an ugly woman."

"I thought any woman would do, but it seems that's not the case after all."

After the group of Gray Robes left, grumbling, the middle-aged old woman slowly closed the courtyard door.

After bolting it, she slumped weakly against the door, gasping for breath.

"I was so scared, truly terrified."

"These people from the Flame Shrine are too fierce. They're capable of anything."

"What's there to be afraid of? Don't they also have one nose and two eyes?" An Ning snapped her fingers, and the flies surrounding her instantly vanished.

Illusion Technique!

These flies were all conjured by her secret art.

"Oh dear, you didn't see what they did. It's not something humans would do. They're worse than pigs and dogs."

The middle-aged old woman cursed, then, as if worried about being overheard, she unconsciously lowered her voice and whispered, "Strange, they rarely searched house to house before. What are they looking for this time? Did something happen at the Flame Shrine again?"

"I don't know," An Ning shook her head, but her expression was thoughtful.

She had just heard them say, "How could a master of Qi Control Technique hide in a place like this?" Were they searching for a Qi Control Realm expert?

"Girl, what are you thinking about?" the middle-aged old woman asked.

"I'm going to take a bath," An Ning said.

"Oh dear, what bath are you taking? Those Gray Robes are still around. If you wash off the skunk juice and those Gray Robes come knocking again, what then?" the middle-aged old woman said. "It's so chaotic outside, and Tang Fei might not even pass by our door today."

"I'm washing."

"That darn girl. Doesn't even listen to her mother anymore."

Tang Fei was carving a wooden bird, and Phoenix watched him from beside him.

When the wooden bird was assembled in Tang Fei's hands and then wobbled into the sky, both Tang Fei and Phoenix jumped up excitedly, shouting and yelling, as happy as children.

When the wooden bird's rear end smoked and it plummeted rapidly, scattering its parts everywhere, burning fiercely, their expressions turned dejected and sad, like pitiful children about to face a hundred math problems or be beaten up by classmates.

Phoenix realized she had gradually adapted to life on Old Earth. She wore Old Earth's clothes, ate Old Earth's "delicacies," and had friends and companions here. She ate and slept with them, fought and hunted with them for water, and felt joy and sorrow with them.

She had even learned a few curse words.

Like: "You scoundrel!"

But dogs were cute, weren't they? She had a dog on New Star. It was a snow-white Bichon Frise named Qiuqiu.

However, Tang Fei said it was an insult, so she decided to go with his answer.

When the escape pod first crashed here, her heart was filled with tension and fear, as well as uncertainty about the future. Fortunately, she met Tang Fei, and he carried her back. Little Fatty used the word "carried."

Then, she lived like a child who had grown up in the Wasteland.

Before, she prayed constantly, praying for the people who would pick her up to appear quickly.

Now, she still prayed, but not with the same urgency and panic as before.

In this chaotic world where life was as cheap as grass, she had actually developed a sense of safety and warmth.

"Another failure," Tang Fei said with regret, looking at the charred wooden strips at his feet. "I don't know when it will be able to fly, or if it ever will."

"It's already amazing. Look how fast it flew just now, it even reached the treetops," Phoenix said, trying to comfort him. She looked at Tang Fei curiously and asked, "Tang Fei, how did you learn to do this?"

"Self-taught," Tang Fei replied.

"That's incredible?" Phoenix's eyes widened. "On New Star, mechanics who understand mechanical production and design are highly respected. Tang Fei, you have to keep trying. Maybe you'll become an excellent mechanic in the future."

"What? Are you going to take me to New Star?" Tang Fei asked.

"I don't have that kind of ability."

"If I can't even go to New Star, how can I become a mechanic? Here on Old Earth, there's no systematic knowledge base, no practical equipment, not even a decent tool to be found," Tang Fei shook his head. "It's better to just stay alive. Making these little things is just my personal hobby to pass the time when I'm bored. What else can I do? I can't just hunt all the time or, like Little Fatty, keep hitting rocks."

Tang Fei looked at Phoenix and asked, "What do young people on your New Star usually do?"

Phoenix thought for a moment. "Students have classes, and adults have jobs. But in our free time, we go karaoke, go clubbing, and watch celebrity concerts. Sometimes we meet up with friends for a cup of coffee or afternoon tea. Of course, we also often go to the Illusion Paradise. That world is so vast, it feels endless."

"What do you like doing the most?" Tang Fei asked.

"I love watching movies the most," Phoenix said, smiling with narrowed eyes. "I like watching all kinds of movies. Action, romance, comedy, and sci-fi movies."

"Oh, and you can use AI technology for face-swapping, to put your own face onto movie stars, making it seem like you're in the movie. You can also use a brain-computer interface to enter games or videos, increasing the sense of immersion."

Tang Fei was dumbfounded. After a long silence, he said with great envy, "It's only been a few hundred years since we left Earth, and I never expected New Star to have developed to this extent. It's truly wonderful."

Tang Fei pointed to the ancient forest in front of them. "Look at us here. We have acid rain and monsters. Even these inconspicuous flowers and plants are highly poisonous. A slight mistake can cause injury..."

"There are no laws to restrain us, no morals to guide us. There is only people eating people, people killing people. This planet is beyond saving. We who live on this planet are also beyond saving."

"Perhaps one day, everyone on this planet will die, and humanity will go extinct. But that's no longer important. Humanity's hope and continuation are on New Star."

"Tang Fei." Phoenix felt a wave of melancholy welling up in her chest. She wanted to comfort him but didn't know what to say.

Because she knew Tang Fei was telling the truth.

Moreover, the anthropologists on New Star had studied and written countless analytical reports on the environmental degradation and human living conditions on Earth.

All the reports ultimately pointed to one conclusion: humanity on Earth would go extinct.

"You don't need to comfort me," Tang Fei said with a smile. "While we can still live, we should enjoy life. For example, I make small crafts, An Ning draws, and Little Fatty hits rocks. Oh, Little Fatty hitting rocks isn't a hobby; he does it to survive."

"I probably won't live to see the day humanity goes extinct. Even if I did, I couldn't change anything. This is just our fate. Who made us born on Earth?"

"There has to be a way," Phoenix said firmly.

Tang Fei shook his head, put the cleaver in his hand into its sheath, and said, "Let's go hunting. If we don't bring anything back today, we won't have anything to eat tomorrow. You haven't experienced hunger yet, have you?"

Phoenix shook her head. "No, I haven't."

"Then we need to work hard," Tang Fei said. "However, you still need to be careful. Try not to use that whip of yours as much as possible."

"Are you worried they'll follow the trail back to us?" Phoenix asked.

"When you use the whip, you'll naturally damage the plants and trees in the jungle. The Hate Mountain District wouldn't have such sharp weapons. If they find those cuts, they'll know we live nearby."

"I understand," Phoenix nodded. "Even without using the whip, I'll definitely catch more prey than you."

"Impossible. I'm an old hunter, and you're just a novice rookie."

"Then let's have a competition."

"Alright. What happens to the loser?"

"The loser has to prepare a gift for the winner."

"Anything is fine?" Tang Fei asked.

"Anything is fine," Phoenix said. "But it has to be a gift you genuinely want to give the other person. You can't just pick something up casually to get by."

"Of course, we need to prepare carefully," Tang Fei said. He had originally planned to pick some wildflowers from the grass if he lost.

"Then let's begin," the Phoenix said.

Tang Fei nodded, then galloped ahead, leaving everyone else in the dust. He knew where to find prey.

The Phoenix was not to be outdone and followed closely behind Tang Fei.

She knew Tang Fei knew where to find prey, so she intended to get there first and snatch the prey for herself.

She wanted to show Tang Fei through her actions and impressive results that his boasted hunting skills were nothing compared to someone in the Qi Control Realm.