"My body is indeed a bit different. The increase in attributes allows me to directly obtain sequences related to attribute values, which is quite powerful."
After consuming 333 energy points, Lu Luo now had 140 points left. He had obtained this energy from killing Xenomorph and absorbing it during the rain.
He had no immediate plans to use this energy. It would be better to break through his attributes after officially becoming a Transcendent. For now, he only needed to form an energy vortex and break through to the First Order.
"Let's continue."
Lu Luo continued to sit cross-legged, using the Devourer to absorb the surrounding free dark energy. This process lasted for a full two hours, until… [Through your unremitting efforts in circulating the two paths, you have successfully converted 0.1 units of Qi from the free dark energy.]
Lu Luo: "???"
That slow? After all that effort, only 0.1? What's going on? Who am I? Where am I? Why am I cultivating? Isn't devouring more enjoyable? Isn't showering in the rain more refreshing? Is there anything more difficult and useless than cultivating?
"Why is this happening? Why is my cultivation speed so slow? Did I make a mistake somewhere?"
[Slow? Do you have some misunderstanding about the cultivation speed of Transcendent beings? First of all, this is inside the wall, where the dark energy is much scarcer than outside the wall.
Furthermore, cultivation is inherently a very arduous and resource-intensive endeavor, a pursuit that requires perseverance.
You converted 0.1 units of Qi in 2 hours. If you were to cultivate tirelessly, you could accumulate 100 units of Qi in just over 80 days, thereby qualifying to attempt to form an energy vortex.
Reaching the First Order in just over 80 days is already countless times faster than others who take several years to break through the First Order.
How about it? Doesn't that make you feel quite exceptional?]
"Alright! That sounds much better."
After the Observer's explanation, Lu Luo suddenly felt that his talent seemed pretty good.
"But if the progress is always this slow, I'll never reach a high order in my lifetime? How much difference can there be between cultivation speed inside and outside the wall?"
[The further out you go, the greater the difference. If you cultivate outside the wall, the speed is at least 4 times that of inside the wall. As for even further outside the wall, there's insufficient information!]
"4 times, and that's just the minimum. No wonder hunters like to stay outside the wall. And even further outside the wall…"
Lu Luo didn't ask how the rich cultivated, because he knew that in this world, besides free dark energy and outside the wall, there was also something called Dark Spirit Stones.
Dark Spirit Stones could directly provide dark energy. As long as they had money, their cultivation speed would only be limited by their talent.
"Money is omnipotent, it's the same in any world."
For the next ten-odd days, Lu Luo behaved much more diligently, spending his days quietly cultivating in a building with a rooftop, and then waiting for the rain.
He had ranked his gains: devouring Xenomorph >>>> cultivating in the rain > tedious cultivation.
He also understood that if he wasn't truly broke and owed 250,000, who would honestly cultivate? Wouldn't it be better to just buy Dark Spirit Stones?
Poor kids could only wait for the rain, or else they had to cultivate diligently. In 14 days, he accumulated a total of 9 units of Qi.
This speed meant that Lu Luo was almost constantly cultivating, except for sleeping—he was undeniably diligent… Gu Fangyi's body was gradually recovering. Although fighting at this point would be difficult for him, daily life was no longer an issue.
Today was the last day of the holiday, and also the day the three of them reunited. The reason for their reunion was that Zhou Kai had rented a storefront for a cheap price of 450 yuan per month, directly opposite the East Ring Wasteland Security Bureau.
Both parties signed a 2-year contract, and Zhou Kai paid the first installment of 1350 yuan in rent.
This was a major event to determine the location of their agency, so of course, the three shareholders needed to be present to supervise the construction site.
Of course, the client and contractor were all three of them, and the construction workers were also all three of them.
"This used to be an art studio. The landlord said that because the paintings weren't selling, they were going to transfer it, but then it fell through, so the landlord sublet it."
Lu Luo looked at the dilapidated words "Yunna Art Studio" on the signboard and turned to ask Zhou Kai:
"Didn't you ask the landlord why the rent here is so cheap?"
"Uh, I didn't ask. I just rented it because it seemed cheap." Zhou Kai scratched his head, embarrassed.
Lu Luo was a bit speechless, but he couldn't bring himself to scold someone for doing him a favor.
In his previous life, he had done similar things, and the consequences were severe—that one time his assistant of ten years betrayed him online, which led to him being thrown into the river.
So even if Zhou Kai had many shortcomings in his work, Lu Luo wouldn't scold him. After all, the person did the work. Although there's a big difference between doing it and doing it well, you can't always demand others meet your own standards, can you?
"This is clearly at the entrance of the Wasteland Security Bureau. Even in the Fourth Ring, it's a prime location. Such cheap rent should have a reason, right?"
Lu Luo walked to the storefront next to the art studio and entered a place called "Aqiang's Tool Shop."
Standing at the counter, Lu Luo directly placed a 10-yuan Alliance banknote and then asked the tool shop owner:
"Boss, do you know why the rent for the art studio next door is so cheap?"
The boss naturally took the banknote from Lu Luo's hand and said with a Southern Ring accent:
"Of course I know, lah. People died there, and more than one, lah. Even my business has been affected, lah. So unlucky."
"Who died then?"
"It was the former art studio owner and his wife, lah. The specific cause of death is unclear, lah. Anyway, the Hunters all came that day, lah, so it shouldn't have been a small matter, lah."
"Okay, thank you, boss!"
"Hey, handsome boy."
"What is it, boss?" Lu Luo walked back with a smile.
"You wait a moment, lah. I can't just take your money for nothing, lah. There's a little something else I didn't tell you just now, lah!"
"Hmm, then tell me, boss."
"In the past ten-odd days, lah, several Xenomorph mutation incidents have occurred in the East Ring, lah. The newspapers have all reported it, lah. Actually, it happened here too, lah, but it wasn't reported. You be careful, lah!"
The boss's accent was very interesting, and Lu Luo also changed his address, bringing their relationship a step closer.
"Okay, thank you, Brother Aqiang."
"You're welcome, lah, handsome boy."
...Walking out of the tool shop, Zhou Kai immediately came over.
"How was it? Did you find anything out?"
Lu Luo's expression was a bit grim. Even in a scientific society like his previous life, properties where people died would see a significant price drop, let alone in a wasteland world with creatures like Wraith-types.
"Two people died here, and the Hunters also came, but they suppressed what happened here. Many people don't know that a murder occurred here, and that Xenomorph might have appeared."
Zhou Kai's face instantly fell: "Then what do we do? School starts tomorrow, and we can't find any other place now."
Gu Fangyi's gaze turned to Lu Luo, his face expressing two words: Ask him.
Lu Luo pondered for a moment and then gestured towards the room.
"Have you been inside yet?"
"No, I was waiting for you guys."
"Then let's go in and take a look first."
"Brother Luo, I'm a little scared."
"You've seen and killed Xenomorph, what are you afraid of now?"
"No, my evil-repelling aura is decreasing."
Zhou Kai's face was contorted like a bitter gourd, but hearing him say that, Lu Luo and Gu Fangyi immediately became alert.
Lu Luo took out the Wraith Blade and handed the mercenary combat knife to Zhou Kai. Gu Fangyi pulled out his revolver. The two walked into the art studio, one in front and one behind, with Zhou Kai following.
According to the landlord, the place was a total of 110 square meters, divided into 2 floors. The first floor was now very dilapidated, with paintbrushes, drawing boards, easels, and spilled paint all over the floor.
Red paint was the most abundant, so much so that when Lu Luo stepped on it, he felt a sticky sensation.
He bent down slightly and rubbed some red paint with his finger.
[Stop rubbing, it's not what you think. This isn't blood. An illiterate like you wouldn't recognize this stuff.
Crimson Dye, a dark spirit material, usually used for painting ritualistic patterns. But to smear it on the ground like this is truly wasteful.
The dyes on the ground seem to be painting something. You'd best tidy this place up and examine the full extent of these dyes.]