Starting Cultivation in Wasteland-Chapter 503 - 375: Exposed

Besides Kushnier sending people to search for someone whose existence is uncertain, Star No. 2 is also a hotbed of hidden activity.

A Supreme and eight A-levels are quietly inquiring about the whereabouts of "Tian Hei."

These people are from the Quantum Pioneer Team, and they have finally guessed that something may have happened to Zheng Ziyang for some reason.

After all, on that night of the surprise attack, White Clothes informed quite a few team members, asking them to relay to the captain to watch out for Black Heaven’s Body Technique.

When Zheng Ziyang first disappeared, the Quantum Team couldn’t find a target, but as time went on, the clues became increasingly clear.

The Quantum Team even confirmed through channels that the one who made fake certificates for "Tian Hei" was old Ivan.

Unfortunately, the old man is already dead, but they highly suspect that old Ivan was silenced by Black Heaven.

Given how ruthless Black Heaven is, the Quantum Team has reason to believe that Zheng Ziyang’s chances of encountering a mishap are high.

Those team members who have interacted with Black Heaven have also identified that Tian Hei bears a 70-80% resemblance to Black Heaven.

Through the passenger starship records checks, the Quantum Team can confirm that Tian Hei flew to Star No. 2.

Considering Black Heaven might have mastered the highly valuable "Electromagnetic Body Technique," the Quantum Team has dispatched a large camp.

A Supreme is fine, but there are also eight A-levels—considering the team on Zarif Star has only two rotating A-levels.

Because Black Heaven is highly alert and possesses the Electromagnetic Body Technique, his escape speed won’t be slow, so the investigation is conducted covertly.

Considering this person could have killed Zheng Ziyang, an A-level investigating alone is dangerous, so the eight A-levels have been divided into four groups.

On Star No. 2, Green Water City is the only super metropolitan area, housing about one-sixth of the population.

Moreover, being the Central City, the supplies are abundant, aiding cultivation, making it highly probable for Black Heaven to hide here.

Therefore, two groups are searching in Green Water City, with the Supreme stationed here, ready to provide support at any time.

The remaining two groups are filtering other medium and small cities one by one.

There is a slight shortage of personnel, but this is not a major issue.

The influence of the Quantum Team is expansive, and the forces behind the team’s funding are strong, gaining much support in medium and small cities.

On the contrary, Green Water City has a mix of dragons and snakes, limiting the help the Quantum Team can obtain.

There are many foreign powers here, and the local scene is not lacking in formidable local snakes, requiring careful investigation to prevent leaks.

Currently, the Quantum investigation’s suspect list has been narrowed down to over twenty thousand, with "Panda" conspicuously among them.

However, Panda’s rank is not high, apart from the different name, and because there are rumors saying this person supposedly has a Wind Attribute.

These news should have been inadvertently leaked a bit by Teng Wenli while helping Qu Jianlei find work.

Even the people in the library aren’t aware of Qu Jianlei awakening an attribute, yet the Quantum Team can ascertain some details, showing their remarkable information ability.

Panda has drawn attention mainly for four reasons.

Similar appearance, matching age, sudden appearance, relatively wealthy background.

There are many factors conducive to elimination; the most crucial point is: this guy has an unusual obsession with books.

The existence capable of killing Zheng Ziyang occasionally reads books, which is normal, but reading from dawn to dusk consistently... is this madness?

However, the next step involves some Quantum Team members who’ve seen Black Heaven coming to Star No. 2 for identification, making it more assured.

If this still isn’t enough to find the person, there’s only one possibility left: that guy used Star No. 2 as a transit to change identity and went elsewhere.

Qu Jianlei has no idea that currently, two parties are searching for him.

He skims through books at work leisurely and practices and studies arrays after work; his days pass very peacefully.

In another ten days, his completion of the Defense Array has shown preliminary results, and even leisurely book reading at work seems somewhat distracted.

On this day, he was reading at the door and suddenly felt the area darken.

He looked up, only to see it was Xiang Xue, with a B-level middle-aged woman following behind her.

Xiang Xue’s left arm was still bound in a sling hanging from her neck, clearly not fully healed, but her spirit was quite good.

She greeted very courteously, "Hello, I came to thank you for saving my life and also apologize for the rashness that day."

"Apologize?" Qu Jianlei was really a bit surprised hearing this; you still know to apologize?

But dwelling on such a minor issue has no meaning; he waved his hand and casually replied, "Just a small favor in passing."

Xiang Xue smiled slightly, "It’s a minor help for you, but for me, it was a matter of life and death."

Pausing for a moment, she then spoke with a smile, "I want to offer a small token of appreciation, wondering what the master fancies?"

To hear her call him "master" is rather rare indeed.

Qu Jianlei lazily yawned, "No need, not needing your little token of appreciation."

"Why are you like this?" Xiang Xue couldn’t help but exclaim, her arrogant attribute sprouting slightly.

However, in the next moment, she controlled her emotions, "My life is not ’that little,’ I’m very concerned about it."

Qu Jianlei glared at her, responding lazily.

"If you want to show gratitude, just bring something over... asking me what I want, are you planning to give or not?"

This was the honest truth, but precisely because it’s honest, it shows he really doesn’t care about the other’s feelings.

Xiang Xue blinked twice, paused for a moment, then smiled, "Can I give you silver notes instead?"

In her opinion, the other party should be more concerned with cultivation resources, or something like divine inscriptions.

For a powerful superpower warrior, silver notes mean little—who lacks ways to earn money?

"Sure," Qu Jianlei answered without hesitation, then lowered his head to read.

The silver notes on him now were less than two million, so replenishing a batch of notes wasn’t a bad idea.

Seeing him lower his head again, a trace of annoyance flashed across Xiang Xue’s face.

However, in the end, she snorted unwillingly, "Fine, I’ll get you a sum of money next time."

Qu Jianlei focused on his book, showing no intention of replying.

This time, he was quite absorbed, and after an unknown amount of time, his vision dimmed again.

He waited for a while, found no one talking about borrowing anything, and reluctantly raised his head, "Isn’t this over... Granny Jia?"

Standing in front of him was Granny Jia from the Rare Books Tower, staring at him expressionlessly.

Was something wrong? Qu Jianlei wasn’t very sure, but the person who had just been with Xiang Xue wasn’t Hilton.

So he looked at Granny Jia in confusion, waited for quite a while before asking again, "Do you have something to discuss?"

Granny Jia finally spoke slowly, her voice a bit hoarse and dry, "How did you get entangled with these people?"

"Which people?" Qu Jianlei was a bit confused, did those two have any noticeable traits?

Unexpectedly, Granny Jia said something startling, "The book thieves at the Rare Books Tower!"

Qu Jianlei, who was fairly capable of managing his expressions, was also shocked upon hearing this.

"N-no way! That young woman is called Xiang Xue, she is..."

"I didn’t mean her," Granny Jia interrupted him, "I’m talking about the other one."

Qu Jianlei looked at her in confusion, constantly murmuring internally: you find an Earth Scholar but don’t act, are you kidding me?

Granny Jia’s voice became a bit smoother, "That earthy smell on them, I can smell it from afar."

Superpower... with a scent attribute? Qu Jianlei found it a bit unbelievable, "Then why didn’t you act?"

"Pick on kids?" Granny Jia’s wrinkled face surprisingly displayed obvious disdain, "I can’t afford losing face like that."

Qu Jianlei hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Then last time when they stole books, why didn’t you detect it in advance?"

"After all, it’s A-level," Granny Jia replied indifferently, "That guy was cautious, it’s normal that I couldn’t detect it."

Doesn’t seem right, Qu Jianlei couldn’t hold his tongue, "You detected it in advance, didn’t you?"

"Hmm?" Granny Jia was stunned, looking at him expressionlessly, "Why do you say that?"

Qu Jianlei had many reasons, but he chose a relatively harmless one, "Just a hunch, I guess."

Are you kidding me? Granny Jia’s gaze clearly conveyed this message.

The next moment, she slightly shook her head, "A theft is also fine, otherwise how would new changes occur?"

So it was intentionally stolen! Qu Jianlei understood: the old lady’s anger that day was also an act.

Yet, this made him even more puzzled, "What kind of changes... applying for funds to update security equipment?"

Can’t blame him for thinking this, Director Kadani, although B-level, was full of government affairs.

Even when she called him for questioning, she did so in an entirely bureaucratic manner.

"What are you saying?" Granny Jia was a bit exasperated by the question, "Is that kind of thing... worth emphasizing?"

Seeing her natural reaction, Qu Jianlei’s eyes turned, thinking of another possibility.

But this possibility was really inconvenient to ask, so he just laughed dryly, "Then I really don’t understand."

"I think, you should understand," Granny Jia’s old eyes fixed on him, slowly speaking, "What should an awakened be most concerned about?"

"I’m not an awakened," Qu Jianlei muttered under his breath, then tentatively countered, "Cultivation level?"

Just then, someone came over to process a loan, and Granny Jia turned and walked out, "Come find me once you’re done."

The borrowing procedure was quick, and half a minute later, Qu Jianlei walked out the front door.

Granny Jia hadn’t returned to the Rare Books Tower but stood under a tree not far from the door.

Qu Jianlei went over and asked in a low voice, "Granny Jia, you wanted to..."

"Stop pretending with me," Granny Jia sharply cut him off, "Do you really think your concealing aura technique is that great?"

"This..." Qu Jianlei was stunned for a moment, then laughed dryly, "Granny Jia, I don’t quite understand your words."

Granny Jia cleared her throat, "At your age, reaching A-level, do you not know the importance of cultivation level?"

Who leaked my details? Qu Jianlei looked baffled, "A, A-level?"

"Not only A-level, but also a rare attributeless one," Granny Jia looked at him with a hint of a smirk.

"You’re a hidden true favorite of the heavens, am I wrong?"

(Updated, please switch for monthly votes, subscriptions, and recommendations.)