Chapter 181: All Good People, Spatial Enhancement

Lin Xue and her sister watched the row of red characters on the large screen in amazement.

Among the five figures, a woman clad in black armor, tall and with long hair tied up in a high ponytail, asked curiously, "Is this the Chen Chu that you mentioned?"

Lin Xue nodded, her gaze somewhat complex. "If nothing unexpected happened, then yes, it should be him.

"A few days ago in the group chat, he’d mentioned breaking through to the Fourth Realm and coming to the battlefield. I didn't expect him to cause such a stir right after arriving."

Xia Youhui had tagged Chen Chu in the group chat, and that was where they had talked. Even with a day’s delay, the Lin sisters’ phones had eventually synced, letting them see those messages and know that Chen Chu was coming.

The news of him breaking through to the Fourth Heavenly Realm before everyone else had spurred Lin Xue even more. These days, their battles with the mutated beasts outside had become even more intense. She couldn't help it; being overtaken as the class monitor had diminished her authority.

However, during this time of frenzied battling with the mutated beasts and squeezing their limits for absorbing resources, they had made progress. Their auras were churning, on the verge of breaking through to the later stages.

Lin Yu smiled gently. "This sounds like his style—quiet most of the time, then suddenly making a huge splash."

Lin Mei nodded slightly, also smiling. "No wonder Little Xue works so hard in her cultivation. Having such an exceptional classmate does bring a lot of pressure.

"I met Zhang Lin once. He's at the late stage of the Fourth Heavenly Realm, with a profound aura indicating at least two secret arts, as well as transcendent armor and weapons. With that kind of strength, he could easily take on beasts at the beginning stage of level 5. To defeat him, this junior's combat power must be at least in the middle stage of the Fifth.

"

Tsk tsk!

Freshmen these days are truly remarkable. Crossing from the beginning stage of the Fourth Realm to the middle stage of the Fifth in terms of combat power, that's terrifying."

Among the five, another woman, with a robust figure, nodded solemnly. "Indeed, it's quite frightening."

In the mutated beast battlefield, there were many geniuses capable of fighting beyond their levels. But individuals like Chen Chu, who could overturn geniuses from a higher year with such a significant disparity in strength, were few and far between, perhaps even nonexistent elsewhere in the battlefield.

These individuals were all geniuses in their respective martial arts schools. As long as they didn't die, they would soon make a name for themselves on the battlefield.

It wasn't just Lin Mei and others; many who saw the row of red words on the big screen remembered Chen Chu.

Compared to the sixth rank in the first year Genius List, the top one thousand on the Achievement List held more weight and could better prove one's strength, indicating that he was more than just a fast learner.

"Formidable youngsters." An upperclassman at the Second Heavenly Realm had an aged tone in his voice as he sighed.

"These newbies are too abnormal," another one said. "It took me nearly two years to reach the late stage of the Third Realm, while they can already challenge senior students in the late stage of the Fourth."

The gaze of an upperclassman in a second-rate school base was complicated. "I completed Foundation Building in a week back then, and the teacher said I was a rare genius. But it's been nearly two years, and I still haven't broken through to the Fourth Realm. True power transformation, Martial Will... How should one break through these things? True martial arts are just too difficult..."

Many envied as they watched the big screen, but some senior geniuses also showed a hint of fighting spirit.

"Too bad he's only at the beginning stage of the Fourth. If I were to challenge him, it would seem unsporting."

While many were discussing rankings, Chen Chu was laboriously carrying the heavy mountain bear’s body along the forest path. He slammed the body to the ground, panting.

"Can't do this. I'll need to exchange for disks when I get back."

Although one anti-gravity disk cost 10 contribution points, could only reduce five tons of weight, and required a replacement of Energy Crystal Shards after five uses, it was still very useful.

This mountain bear weighed dozens of tons, was twenty meters long, and its body was over four meters high even when laid down. Even though Chen Chu was walking through any open area he could find, dragging the bear's body still proved very laborious, only covering dozens of kilometers in an hour.

On top of that, he still had to deal with attacks from ordinary mutated beasts along the way. While Chen Chu could easily obliterate these level 2 mutated beasts with a single slap, it was still somewhat annoying when they popped up while he was on the road.

Leaving their bodies behind also felt like a waste. Even though they were small, they still had value, but unfortunately, he couldn't take them with him.

If he had four anti-gravity disks to suspend the mountain bear's body half a meter in the air, however, even if it still weighed twenty to thirty tons, it would be much easier to drag it and run.

Thinking of this, Chen Chu sighed. He lacked contribution points, so the only thing he could do was to go out and kill another mutated beast to earn some more contribution points to survive.

Chen Chu hoisted the massive head of the mountain bear again and continued dragging its huge body toward the base. He had set out early in the morning and had quickly run hundreds of kilometers, but by the time Chen Chu appeared at the foot of the mountain where the base was located, it was already past four in the afternoon.

"Damn, who's this powerhouse? He's actually carrying back a beast's body without any anti-gravity disks!"

"That bear's body must weigh at least a dozen tons. To just drag it back like that, his basic strength has to be incredible. He might have reached a limit of ten tons."

"The true power aura emanating from him is only at the Fourth Realm, though. How could his physical strength possibly reach the ten ton limit of the Fifth? Does he have some kind of innate physical talent!?"

Watching the huge bear's body moving like a small hill on the cement road, and the tiny figure carrying it underneath, passing upperclassmen marveled one after another.

Because of Chen Chu’s helmet, no one knew who the person carrying the bear's body was. Many seniors also only knew that their base had produced two outstanding new students, both of whom had broken into the top one thousand today, but they had no idea what An Fuqing and Chen Chu looked like.

As a result, these people only glanced in surprise as they passed by, then went about their own business.

The base’s logistics warehouse was at the foot of the mountain, with a large warehouse area on the left and a row of offices on the right, along with some of the latest regulations scrolling on screens at the back. Many workers were busy coordinating with students who were exchanging mutated beasts.

Bang!

As a student clad in transcendent armor deactivated the anti-gravity disk, the body of a mutated beast measuring over twenty meters long thudded to the ground, sending out a heavy tremor.

"Old Hong, come over here and register this for me."

"Coming, coming. It's a beginning stage level 5 mutated Three-horned Beast. The body is quite damaged, so it's worth 125 contribution points."

"What about mine?"

"Here you go. Your Single-horned Python is eighteen meters long. Judging by its size and the intensity of the energy within its flesh, it's at the middle stage of level 4. However, due to its damaged state, I can only offer you a base price of 50 points."

"Fine, I'll take the 50. It couldn’t be avoided, this python was too fast; there was no way I could hold back on that."

Amid the hustle and bustle, the Third Heavenly Realm students working there dragged the massive bodies into the warehouse to start the next step of the process.

Every part of these high-level mutated beasts had value. Some had horns on their heads or scales akin to armor, which could be used as special industrial materials, while their flesh and blood could yield valuable essence.

For mutated beasts with less sought after essence, their scales, horns, skin, flesh, and bones would be separated and used individually.

The flesh was especially in high demand. The consumption by students and personnel in the base alone was significant, to say nothing of the military bases in the rear.

The ordinary mutated beast flesh would also be processed, transported out, and sold to civilians to earn a large amount of money for other industrial developments. Metal factories, ammunition production, research institutes, and others all required a large amount of money to operate, forming a complete and vast commercial chain.

After years of research, the hard, tough, and energy-rich scales, horns, and bones had other industrial uses. Many of the materials used to make immensely powerful inscription missiles, anti-gravity fighter jets, energy cannons, and more came from the purified and tempered materials of mutated organisms.

Some of the most cutting-edge scientific experimental equipment even integrated inscriptions and transcendent materials, allowing researchers to finally perform many previously theoretical experiments.

Bang!

Chen Chu dropped the bear's carcass to the ground, took a breath, then shouted to the busy workers in the distance, "Someone, help me exchange this body!"

"Coming."

A middle-aged man at the Third Heavenly Realm jogged over and warmly said, "You, young man, you seem unfamiliar. Did you just arrive yesterday?"

Chen Chu, who had removed his helmet and stored it in his bracelet by now, was a bit surprised. "Is it that obvious?"

The middle-aged man chuckled. "Not obvious, but I know almost everyone who has been to the warehouse. I'm Hong Shan, the person in charge of warehouse registration. You can just call me Old Hong from now on."

With that, the middle-aged man handed an electronic device to Chen Chu. "Here, enter your student ID for registration. I'll get this beast’s measurements in the meantime."

Chen Chu nodded. "Sure."

While Chen Chu did as told, Old Hong used a data measurement device to obtain the bear’s length with a quick scan. He then forcefully inserted a probe into one of the wounds, quickly obtaining the data on the flesh content.

"Young man, this mutated bear is 19.8 meters long, with flesh content at the peak of level 4. Its body has some damage, though, and due to the consolidation of Life Crystals, the energy contained throughout the body is relatively weak. Therefore, the suggested price from the warehouse system is 60 contribution points. If you have no objections, I'll transfer it to your account."

"Okay." Chen Chu nodded.

This value was close to his estimate. With the higher value of the level 4 Life Crystal, the overall gain from this mutated bear was around 140 points, about the same as that of an ordinary level 5 mutated beast.

Contribution points used to be precious to Chen Chu, but this was the mutated beast battlefield. As long as he was powerful enough (and, of course, as long as he survived), these once scarce points would come in easily.

"Chen Chu." Hong Shan’s gaze paused when he saw the name pop up, and then his smile became even warmer. "Young man, the contribution points have been transferred. Just call me directly next time you bring something in."

"Okay, thank you." Chen Chu nodded politely.

With the newly acquired 60 contribution points in his account, Chen Chu walked out of the warehouse and followed the signs to the logistical supplies area halfway up the mountain, where there were quite a few people.

Each of these students had a heavy aura that they didn’t bother to conceal, allowing Chen Chu to sense their realms. The weakest started at the late stage of the Third Heavenly Realm, while the majority were in the Fourth. There were even two who were in the Fifth.

These were the elite geniuses of Nantian Martial Arts High School, selected from each batch of students and now standing here.

Despite how powerful most of the students here had become, however, Chen Chu hadn’t seen any fights, quarrels, or even life-or-death duels over trivial matters. On the other hand, this was normal; even if there weren’t any school rules banning that or teachers to enforce those rules, everyone was spending everyday fighting powerful mutated beasts.

Who even had the time or energy for petty grudges?

Soon, it was Chen Chu's turn in the queue. He politely said to the staff behind the counter, "I'd like to exchange for four anti-gravity disks pre-equipped with Energy Crystal Shards."

"Sure, please wait a moment."

The staff inside were efficient. Soon, they came over with four black disks, each ten centimeters thick and forty centimeters in diameter, filled with advanced technology.

According to available information, these anti-gravity disks were made from a mineral containing powerful magnetic field forces. The manufacturing process, however, was intricate and otherwise classified information, as it was also the core material for those advanced anti-gravity fighter jets.

This magnetic ore was also only found in the mythical world, and the areas it was mined from were dangerous. This was the reason why everyone had to pay 10 or more contribution points for items made of the material, even though a large amount of it could be produced every year, and even if the items in question were used for moving mutated beast corpses and nothing more.

What Chen Chu would have preferred was spatial equipment with more storage space. If he had a bracelet or ring with several hundred cubic meters of space, it would be very convenient for him to hunt mutated beasts or transport resources.

Unfortunately, such equipment was incredibly rare and invaluable; they weren’t available even for high-level cultivators. As such, Chen Chu had to make use of what he had, squeezing the four disks into his bracelet with a thought.

His Sumeru Bracelet could still be upgraded to increase its internal space, similar to refining transcendent weapons. However, it required the incorporation of Ethereal Crystal Ore containing spatial energy, with even a small piece costing 100 contribution points. Adding in labor costs, expanding one cubic space would cost about 150 points.

At least so-called labor costs could be ignored, as Chen Chu could upgrade and enhance it himself.

He suddenly thought about his rapid enhancing speed. What if he helped enhance and expand others’ Sumeru Bracelets for 40 points each?

However, he just as quickly dismissed the idea. It wouldn't be profitable; enhancing transcendent level items would increase the attribute point cost by at least several dozen points each time, and charging 40 contribution points would be just enough to cover the costs, without much profit.

He could charge 50 points, but at that price, what reason would there be to go to him over the school?

The staff member politely said, "Student, please enter your ID."

"Alright."

"

Hmm!

"

Glancing at the name information that popped up, the staff member's face broke into a smile. "Chen Chu, you have a thirty percent discount, which will put the total price at 42 contribution points for the four anti-gravity disks."

"Thank you," Chen Chu replied, a smile appearing on his face.

Even if the level II+ access didn’t seem like much, such discounts would save Chen Chu a significant amount of contribution points in the long run. The high-level dragon essence was worth 300 contribution points; combined with the 200 needed attribute points, enhancing the Dragon Elephant Tyrant Body to the fifth stage was estimated to require 500 contribution points.

With the discount, however, he would only need to pay a little over 300 contribution points.

With his items exchanged, Chen Chu left the logistical supplies area, preparing to venture into the mountains once again. Despite his victory over Zhang Lin earlier in the morning, and securing a place in the top one thousand of the Achievement List at just the beginning stage of the Fourth Heavenly Realm, Chen Chu couldn’t afford to relax.

While he didn’t rank at the very bottom upon arrival, with so many other geniuses around, he wasn't particularly strong either. He planned to quietly develop and push all of his aspects to their limits.

As he prepared to descend the mountain, however, three figures approached from ahead.

"Lin Xue, Lin Yu."