Chapter 278 : Compensation

Chapter 278: Compensation

“Buzz.” “Buzz.” “Buzz.” …

The blood-colored insect repeatedly vanished into hiding, each time attempting to pierce through the membrane wall of the world. Yet, every time, it was blocked by the now much thicker and sturdier world membrane.

“I’ve long heard that thievery is common in Rainlan City. Seeing it today, their thieving techniques are indeed remarkable.” The three clones of Luo Feng inside his inner world simultaneously watched the blood-colored insect and spoke with a smile.

“Let me go. I won’t bother you again.” The blood-colored insect hovered mid-air and spoke out.

“Haha, you think you can steal at will, sneak into my inner world as you please, and now you want to leave?” The three Luo Fengs looked at the blood-colored insect. “Too late!”

The blood-colored insect grew enraged. Its six pairs of tiny wings flapped at once, and it vanished instantly, reappearing near one of the clones.

That clone was none other than Luo Feng’s ‘Heavenlight Clone’—one of his five clones.

The Heavenlight Clone was the most indestructible among the five, its body akin to a divine secret treasure! Luo Feng placed great importance on this clone, though it couldn’t store much energy.

The more energy it contained, the more it would collapse inward and condense, requiring even greater mental will to sustain.

At onefold Perfect Divine Body energy reserve, the Heavenlight Clone collapsed and condensed once.

At threefold, it collapsed and condensed a second time.

At tenfold, Luo Feng achieved the strongest form he could currently maintain—the clone collapsed and condensed three times. As for a stronger form? Luo Feng’s mental will was insufficient to force another collapse-condensation.

“Bang.”

The blood-colored insect, itself resembling a secret treasure, collided with the Heavenlight Clone.

It was as though two secret treasures clashed—neither sustaining any damage.

“What? It’s clearly the clone with the weakest energy reserve…” The blood-colored insect was astonished.

“Suppress!”

The Heaven-and-Earth Clone merged with the inner world. At that moment, the vast energy of heaven and earth formed a giant grinding disc—one of Luo Feng’s ultimate-level secret techniques created from the Path of Life and Death: Life-and-Death Millstone.

The massive millstone thoroughly trapped the blood-colored insect, attempting to grind it to dust.

However, the blood-colored insect’s body was like a secret treasure—completely unafraid of being crushed.

“This is bad.” Trapped inside the giant millstone and subjected to constant grinding, the blood-colored insect found itself unable to escape.

“Luo Feng! Do you really want to…” the blood-colored insect roared furiously.

Luo Feng’s brows furrowed. These thieving forces had truly impressive intel—he had only just registered his basic information upon entering the city today, yet this thief already knew his name.

“Cut.” Nearby, the Causality Clone immediately cast a curse technique.

Luo Feng’s five clones were: the World Clone, Heaven-and-Earth Clone, Time Clone, Heavenlight Clone, and Causality Clone.

The Causality Clone had innate superiority in causal sensing—naturally suited to causality-type secret techniques. Using the Path of Life and Death, Luo Feng had developed an ultimate-level secret technique: Vitality Severance.

This formless causal curse fell squarely upon the blood-colored insect.

“Ah!”

With a single strike, the blood-colored insect shrieked in agony—its aura instantly weakening drastically.

“Stop! Stop!” the blood-colored insect immediately cried out.

“A little insect like you can withstand one of my strikes?” The Causality Luo Feng was surprised. “Let’s try another.”

“I concede! I concede!” The blood-colored insect cried urgently. This insect was one of the three lifeblood insects the thief had cultivated at great cost. If one were to die, the thief himself would suffer severe injury.

More importantly, his thieving techniques heavily relied on this very insect.

“You think you can surrender and just leave?” The three Luo Fengs stared at him.

“I’m willing to compensate.” The blood-colored insect was reluctant but could only nod obediently. Though lifeblood insects resembled secret treasures, they were especially vulnerable to curse techniques. If struck again, the insect’s consciousness might be annihilated.

“How much can you compensate? If it’s not much, I won’t even bother.” Luo Feng said.

“Ten thousand Hunyuan Crystals. I’m willing to pay ten thousand Hunyuan Crystals.” the blood-colored insect said.

Luo Feng sneered, “This insect of yours—it’s not a clone, but it’s practically one! Far more valuable than ordinary weapon treasures. I won’t ask for much—200,000 Hunyuan Crystals! One crystal less, and I’ll kill it right now.”

“Two… two hundred thousand?” The blood-colored insect gasped.

Too ruthless. That was way too much!

“I’ll give you three breaths to consider. If you don’t agree in time, I’ll destroy it.” Luo Feng didn’t bother to argue. He had browsed enough shops earlier and seen similar insects, even heard attendants describe the costs of cultivating them.

From the battle just now, Luo Feng estimated that the total cost to raise this insect was at least 300,000 Hunyuan Crystals, possibly even 500–600,000.

“Three, two…” Luo Feng stared at the blood-colored insect.

“Fine.” The blood-colored insect clenched its teeth and ultimately gave in.

“Give me some time to prepare. I’ll send the Hunyuan Crystals over shortly.” The blood-colored insect said.

“You should know where my residence is, right?” Luo Feng said. “Bring the crystals to my residence. You give me the Hunyuan Crystals, I give you the blood-colored insect.”

Receiving them outside posed the risk of ambush.

Getting the compensation at his residence was much safer!

“…Fine.” The blood-colored insect had no choice but to respond with bitter resentment.

Luo Feng nodded.

Whoosh.

Luo Feng didn’t continue browsing. He immediately turned into a stream of light and flew at high speed back to his residence. This was a deal worth 200,000 Hunyuan Crystals—he naturally had to take it seriously.

“Making me pay 200,000 Hunyuan Crystals?” The distant short figure ground his teeth in fury, but had no choice. “There’s clearly an issue with the organization’s intel. This Luo Feng’s methods are weird and unpredictable. With so many clones working together, he’s too troublesome.”

He also slipped away quietly to prepare the Hunyuan Crystals.

…

“What? You were targeted by a thief and even captured a special insect of theirs?” Emperor Qing looked at Luo Feng in surprise.

“That insect was rather formidable. It silently snuck into my inner world… But while it could get in, it couldn’t get out.” Luo Feng chuckled. Truthfully, his inner world alone couldn’t have stopped the insect.

It was the Heaven-and-Earth Clone, best suited for merging with a world, that managed to imprison it!

If the compensation wasn’t sufficient, Luo Feng would have simply destroyed the special insect.

“You just arrived in Rainlan City, and yet they already know your name. That implies the force behind them is probably connected to the Elders of the Elders’ Hall,” Emperor Qing mused. “But to target a newcomer like you… no Elder would be that idle. It’s likely an order from someone mid-tier.”

“Brother Luo He, if you take these 200,000 Hunyuan Crystals, they’ll definitely mark you.” Emperor Qing warned.

“You think I shouldn’t take them?” Luo Feng looked at Emperor Qing.

“There’s nothing to fear from a thieving force.” Emperor Qing smiled. “We came from the Source World and have clones! Aside from High-Rank Primordial Lifeforms, what’s to be afraid of? Just be mentally prepared—they will come after you.”

Luo Feng nodded.

Powerhouses from the Source World had clones at home in the Source World. While adventuring outside, only their clones might die or their treasures be stolen.

Only those who had broken free from the Cage could be soul-polluted—killed through the Source World connection.

“Adventuring out here… even if you try to avoid trouble, some will seek you out. A bit of trouble like this is nothing.” Luo Feng didn’t care. Since they made a move against him, they would have to pay the price.

A short while later.

A guest arrived at the entrance of the residence.

“They’re here.” Luo Feng and Emperor Qing both stepped outside.

A figure in a black robe stood there—within the black robe, only swirling mist could be seen. The mist twisted and distorted, clearly observing Luo Feng and Emperor Qing.

“You’re Luo Feng?” The black-robed mist twisted. “Are you sure you want 200,000 Hunyuan Crystals?”

“You can choose not to pay.” Luo Feng looked at him.

Emperor Qing also stood calmly to the side, staring at the black-robed mist.

Powerhouses from the Source World carried innate pride! If it came down to a life-and-death struggle, who would back down?

“Very well.” The black-robed mist nodded. Suddenly, a pouch flew out from within the mist. “Check it. There are 200,000 Hunyuan Crystals inside.”

Luo Feng reached out and received it. His consciousness probed inside, then nodded in confirmation: “That’s correct.”

With a single thought, Luo Feng expelled the imprisoned blood-colored insect from his inner world. The moment it emerged, it vanished without a trace.

The black-robed mist turned and left.

…

“I was ordered to target Luo Feng. Now that I’ve failed, I can’t pay the 200,000 Crystals all by myself.” The short figure and the black-robed mist returned together to the interior of a massive spherical creature.

The black-robed mist glanced at his subordinate and said coldly, “Observing your prey is a basic skill. You failed because of your own lack of ability.”

The short figure felt aggrieved.

In theft, failure was common.

Running into a tough opponent and getting caught—such things happened. But just one failure had cost them a massive sum—200,000 Hunyuan Crystals.

“Remember, never place blind faith in intelligence.” The black-robed mist said.

“He took so many Hunyuan Crystals from me… and it just ends like that?” The short figure was unwilling.

“Emperor Qing is from the Source World. This Luo Feng likely is as well.” The black-robed mist said. “Don’t casually attack God Emperors from the Source World. Striking on impulse isn’t worth it.”

The short figure was irritated.

Of course you don’t care—you didn’t lose anything!

“We’ll wait for an opportunity. When the time is right, strike once… and make Luo Feng truly regret it.” The black-robed mist glanced at the short figure. “Killing a few clones of a Source World powerhouse doesn’t mean much. We must seize their true treasures.”

“Keep a close eye on Luo Feng. If you discover he possesses a true treasure, report it to me immediately. Once we succeed, I’ll give you ten percent.” The black-robed mist ordered.

The short figure nodded.

He had to find prey anyway, so he would naturally keep a close watch on Luo Feng.

…

“I’ve just arrived in Jiugang Holy Realm, and what I need most is Hunyuan Crystals.” Luo Feng was quite pleased to receive this 200,000—together with what Emperor Qing had lent him, he now had a total of 300,000 Hunyuan Crystals.

Now, he could afford to be a little extravagant.

Luo Feng immediately began a large-scale procurement. Each time he went out, he carried no more than 5,000 Hunyuan Crystals. Over three days, he carefully inspected items and made dozens of purchases, spending just over 190,000 Crystals to acquire everything he needed.

“Time to begin secluded cultivation.” Luo Feng gazed at the heap of resources before him. Most were remnants of naturally born Primordial Lifeforms—either a vial of blood, a feather, or a bone. He had bought over 300 samples, each averaging around 300 Hunyuan Crystals.

Compared to the mysteries contained in the Star Tower and the Eye of Life and Death, the mysteries within these low-rank Primordial Life remnants were shallower—just slightly deeper than a complete Origin Path. They were easier to comprehend.

“Time to convert these resources into strength.” Luo Feng began to settle his heart and cultivate.