Chapter 14

The girl became increasingly disgusted and also very disdainful. How could outsiders meddle in the affairs of the Tenth Academy of the Starry Sky? Even if they were powerful enough to wander the stars, so what? There were many such strong individuals in the universe.

"Wait, how can I be sure you're not a native?" the girl stared at Lu Yin and said.

Lu Yin raised his hand, and his right palm rapidly trembled, as if grabbing a curtain of air and slamming it into the ground. Instantly, a huge crater was formed in the earth.

"Wave Palm?" the girl looked at Lu Yin in surprise.

Lu Yin was pleased, "What do you think? Is this proof enough?"

The girl narrowed her eyes. The Wave Palm was not something ordinary people could master. Although it was a common combat technique, one's physical strength had to reach a certain level to use it. The girl admitted she couldn't use it herself, and she never expected a mere Gazing Realm practitioner to be able to use it. For a moment, the girl felt a bit wary of Lu Yin.

"Being able to use the Wave Palm proves you're somewhat useful. Help me seize Jinling, and your performance will be credited," the girl's tone softened slightly as she said.

Lu Yin was surprised, "You want to seize Jinling? I heard there's a powerful Execution Saint there, a Probing Realm practitioner."

"I know. Alden was defeated by him, but I'm not Alden, that waste of space. With you and me working together, we can suppress that native," the girl said coldly.

"How do you know a student was defeated by a native?" Lu Yin asked.

The girl said indifferently, "Before the trial, students from the same academy would make agreements to team up if they landed in the same area. No one came to you? That makes sense, you're so weak."

Lu Yin secretly rejoiced. Fortunately, he didn't pretend to be Asta. This woman knew Alden, so she might know Asta too. Since this woman knew Alden, perhaps Alden fled north after being defeated by Zhou Shan to find this woman? But why did he go east halfway?

Lu Yin didn't ask more. The more he asked, the more likely he was to expose himself. The fact that this woman was now seeking his cooperation indicated a conflict with Alden, or perhaps Alden had found someone else. In any case, Jinling was in danger.

"Alright, I'll help you, but I need to improve my strength," Lu Yin said.

The girl frowned, "No need."

Lu Yin sighed, "At least let me recover from my injuries."

The girl stared at Lu Yin, then grabbed him and flew toward the gathering place.

Asta's Body Shaping Technique could only be used three times. Asta had used it twice to break through from a normal person to the Gazing Realm and then to the Probing Realm. The last time, Lu Yin used it to break through to the Gazing Realm. To break through to the Probing Realm, he needed a new Body Shaping Technique, which was why he tried to get close to this woman. He had to obtain the Body Shaping Technique to break through.

The small gathering place in the county had few survivors, only about 200,000, but there were many soldiers, most of whom wore Execution Camp uniforms. These were likely frontline soldiers under this woman's control.

"The Execution Saint in Jinling is quite capable. He has 80,000 evolved beings under his command, with 20,000 at the front line trying to establish contact with other regions. Six Gazing Realm practitioners came, and I killed two. One died in the mouth of a mutant beast, leaving three," the girl said as she brought Lu Yin to the top of a high-rise building.

Lu Yin asked, "I don't know your name yet."

"Granny," the girl said indifferently.

At that moment, a figure approached the high-rise and respectfully said, "Madam, an Execution Camp army has been spotted 30 kilometers away."

Lu Yin turned his head and saw the person. His gaze changed, and the person also saw Lu Yin, looking puzzled. Lu Yin suddenly rushed at the person, extending his Wave Palm. Before Granny could react, it struck the person's chest. The person spat out a mouthful of blood and was blasted off the rooftop, crashing heavily to the ground, causing a loud commotion.

Granny stared at Lu Yin and said sternly, "What are you doing?"

Lu Yin angrily said, "It's him. When I first landed, this bastard led people to ambush me. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been injured."

Granny asked coldly, "When?"

"The day we landed," Lu Yin replied without hesitation.

"Where?"

"About 100 kilometers south," Lu Yin said, then looked at Granny, "Do you doubt me? Or are you reluctant to part with this native?"

Granny snorted, "Watch your words. I don't care about a mere native, but you can't kill my people at will."

Lu Yin didn't care, "It's just a native."

"That's still my person," Granny said angrily.

Lu Yin sighed, "Alright, alright, I understand. It won't happen again. By the way, the army 30 kilometers away is mine. Should I bring them over?"

Granny turned and looked toward Jinling, then glanced at her personal terminal, ignoring him.

Lu Yin looked down at the ground and sighed. The person was named Li Hongliang. He was there when Asta was killed and had seen Lu Yin, knowing he was an Earthling and even that he had killed Asta. If Lu Yin hadn't acted, it would have been troublesome if Li Hongliang had recognized him.

This woman wasn't Asta. Lu Yin could sense her strength exceeded Asta's, and he might not have succeeded in a sneak attack. He decided to wait.

The front line was gone. Granny's presence had caused the Execution Camp's front line to collapse, with soldiers either being absorbed or fleeing, with a slim chance of survival. And since that morning, contact with Jinling had been lost, which troubled Lu Yin.

He brought Luo Yun, Xu San, and nearly 10,000 evolved soldiers to the gathering place, sternly warning the remaining two battalion commanders who had joined Granny. That night, he sought out Granny again.

"What? You want to borrow Star Energy Crystals?" Granny looked at Lu Yin in surprise, finding it strange.

Lu Yin nodded, "Don't worry, I'll return ten times the amount when we get back."

Granny sized up Lu Yin, "You have Flame Crystals but no Star Energy Crystals?"

"Used them up," Lu Yin said.

Granny hesitated. Star Energy Crystals were not the same as the energy crystals found in Earth's mutant beasts. Each planet or ecosystem had its own energy, which was not entirely the same as Star Energy, leading to countless cultivation methods. However, they all ultimately aimed to cultivate to the level of the universe, and Star Energy Crystals contained absorbable Star Energy.

These energy crystals could be absorbed and cultivated by anyone. Generally, only ecosystems integrated with the cosmic ecosystem could produce them. Currently, Earth could produce Flame Crystals, Ice Crystals, and other unique crystals, but not Star Energy Crystals, which were what these students needed most.

"Don't trust me? How about a trade?" Lu Yin said.

Granny looked at Lu Yin, "How?"

Lu Yin poured out a pile of Flame Crystals from his Condensing Air Ring, "For these."

Granny's eyes lit up, recalling the exchange ratios of various energy crystals in the universe. However, there was no standard ratio, as it varied depending on the location in the universe. Now, on Earth, the exchange ratio with Lu Yin, who desperately needed Star Energy Crystals, would naturally need adjustment.

"I can give you five Star Energy Crystals," Granny said indifferently.

Lu Yin's eyes widened, "You're too greedy. These Flame Crystals can at least be exchanged for twenty Star Energy Crystals. You're only giving me five, compressing the price fourfold."

"Take it or leave it," Granny said coldly.

Lu Yin sighed, gritted his teeth, and said, "Alright, but I have a condition. Let me test the power of a combat technique."

Granny sneered, "Anytime."

Lu Yin took the five thumb-sized transparent Star Energy Crystals and left.

After Lu Yin left, Granny excitedly collected the Flame Crystals. These unique crystals could both assist in cultivating combat techniques and enhance their power when used, making them treasures many people dreamed of. They were especially valuable to her because her combat technique required Flame Crystals. She had made a good deal, "Tata Planet? Never heard of it. Could it be a planet that produces such unique minerals?" Granny wondered.

Leaving Granny's residence, Lu Yin's lips curled up. Although the exchange was disadvantageous, it was like getting something for nothing. The important thing was that no one on Earth, except these students, had Star Energy Crystals.

Asta didn't even have a Condensing Air Ring, so he couldn't carry these crystals. This Granny's family background was much stronger than Asta's, and perhaps he could get something else from her.

Returning to his residence, which was just an abandoned villa, Lu Yin buried Flame Crystals around the perimeter to prevent intruders.

Back in the living room, he waved his hand, throwing away the abandoned furniture, then took out an energy crystal and crushed it. Instantly, a surge of Star Energy filled the living room.

Using the Body Shaping Technique to cultivate allowed direct absorption of the Star Energy floating in the void, but the absorption speed depended on the cultivation method. Many powerful forces collected these Star Energy Crystals to accelerate absorption by making the Star Energy burst in a confined space, increasing the absorption rate. This was one of the reasons why major forces vied for Star Energy Crystals.