Chapter 44: Ill-Gotten Gains

Jiang Xincheng hadn’t expected the beautiful young woman who just boarded to be… doing that kind of work. He glanced at her, a flash of pity crossing his face before he shook his head. “Sorry, I’m not interested.”

“Sister not pretty enough?” The lovely young woman gave him a dazzling smile. “We’re on a train with lots of people around. It would be thrilling. Aren’t you tempted?”

Jiang Xincheng simply closed his eyes. He resumed practicing Devouring the Cosmos, making his refusal clear through action. The young woman’s expression darkened. She went back to her bunk in a huff and stayed silent.

Ignoring her, Jiang Xincheng remained deep in his cultivation as time slipped by. Strangely, no other passengers arrived for their section of the train. Clearly, only he and the beautiful young woman occupied this four-person compartment.

Night fell. The lights went out. A tempting, mysterious fragrance filled the compartment, emanating from the young woman. It was particularly alluring, especially remembering the earlier incident.

Minutes ticked past. The young woman kept stealing glances at Jiang Xincheng, specifically at the black bag beside him. Soon it was close to 11 PM. Most passengers were asleep, and the compartment lay in dim shadow.

Seeing Jiang Xincheng still sitting stiffly cross-legged in meditation, the young woman muttered softly, “Obsessed cultivator.” She then dialed a number. “What’s your progress? Come over here.”

“Not bad,” a man’s smug voice came through. “Got three bags. Five Yuan Crystals, plus a few thousand Credit Points. What about you? How many hits?”

The young woman frowned. “Zero. I hit a tough one. Plan A didn’t work. Come use Plan B.”

Their whispers were low. Jiang Xincheng’s senses were decent, but he still couldn’t catch every word.

“Plan B?” The man paused, then chuckled. “Ran into a saintly gentleman? Alright, I’m coming. But after this, you owe me some fun tonight. Been too long.”

The young woman spat softly into the phone. “You scoundrel. Fine. Get here.”

A few minutes later, the young woman checked her phone. Seeing a message, she smiled brightly, slid off her bunk, and approached Jiang Xincheng.

As she drew near, Jiang Xincheng sensed her movement. His eyes snapped open, taking in the scantily clad woman now inches away. “Need something?”

“The night is long. Can’t sleep.” The beautiful woman oozed flirtation, her beauty captivating. “No charge for you. Want some fun?”

Jiang Xincheng frowned coldly. “Don’t interrupt my training. Leave.”

“You—” The young woman was stunned. Offering it for free, and this cultivation-obsessed guy still ignored her? Her face turned stormy.

She glared fiercely at Jiang Xincheng. Then she suddenly lunged towards him. “Help! He’s trying to r—!”

Her cry for help cut short. Jiang Xincheng struck faster than she could finish. His fist slammed out. The young woman, at the Late Muscle-Tempering Stage, had no time to react. She flew backward onto the bunk opposite, her body utterly limp, unable to move.

Using a special technique, Jiang Xincheng had loosened all her muscles and bones. It would take hours for her to recover.

BANG!

The compartment door burst open! A fierce-looking, muscular middle-aged man stormed in. He yelled at Jiang Xincheng, “You dare attack my—?!”

He never finished his threat. Jiang Xincheng struck faster than he could think. Just like the young woman, the man crumpled to the floor beneath the bunk with a single punch, knocked out cold.

Jiang Xincheng walked over to the paralyzed pair. Seeing their shock, he smiled faintly. “Explain. What was this about?”

“We apologize!” The young woman blurted instantly. “We were fools! Just tried to scam you, sir! Please let us go!”

The muscular man on the floor snarled weakly. “You cheated! Snuck up on me! If it was fair—”

Thump!

Jiang Xincheng silenced him with a swift kick to the head. The man passed out. Without sparing him another glance, Jiang Xincheng extended his hand towards the young woman.

Seeing his hand reach out, instead of fear, hope flickered in her eyes. “Sir? I know I was wrong. Do… whatever you want to me. I can’t move anyway. Do anything. Just let us go once, please?”

Jiang Xincheng gave a non-committal smile. Ignoring her seductive expression, his hand searched her clothes. Quickly, he pulled out five sparkling pieces – all Level-1 Yuan Crystals.

Yuan Crystals were stones of Primordial Force purified beyond 99%, with almost no impurities. Below that purity, they were just worthless Yuan Stones.

Because Primal cultivation on Earth was still young, barely started, Earth’s Primordial Warriors could only absorb the Primordial Force from Yuan Crystals. Yuan Stones contained too many impurities. Trying to absorb their Primordial Force risked energy deviation, body explosion, even death. So, Earth’s Primordial Warriors avoided Yuan Stones completely.

Jiang Xincheng, however, could absorb Primordial Force not only from Yuan Crystals but also from the common Yuan Stones littering the ground.

Yuan Crystals were incredibly precious. Yuan Stones? Utterly worthless. Level-1 Yuan Stones were like dirt, tossed everywhere, not worth a penny.

But Level-1 Yuan Crystals? Market value: 10,000 Credit Points each. That showed the gigantic difference. The young woman’s five Yuan Crystals were worth 50,000 Credit Points.

Seeing Jiang Xincheng pocket her precious stones, despair washed over her face. “Sir… leave me one? Just one? For food money?”

Jiang Xincheng didn’t answer. He searched the unconscious man next. From him, he pulled out six more Level-1 Yuan Crystals and over 10,000 Credit Points in cash.

Total haul: Eleven Yuan Crystals plus ten thousand Credit Points. Value? Roughly 120,000 Credit Points. Truly, robbery paid best. Especially stealing ill-gotten gains like these.

Carefully storing all the Yuan Crystals and Credit Points, Jiang Xincheng glanced at the woman’s tear-streaked face. He faintly smiled. Without a word, he sat cross-legged again. He activated Devouring the Cosmos, steadily refining his power.

Seeing Jiang Xincheng submerge once more in cultivation, then glancing at her unconscious partner under the bunk, the beautiful young woman settled back helplessly. She dared not disturb him again.

The train sped on, carrying them ever closer to Nanhai City.