Chapter 73: Exchange Competition (V)

Chapter 73: Exchange Competition (V)

Edward and the other two left, and the live broadcast camera followed them.

Afterward, Cang Cheng said to Fu Congfei and Sang Ning, who were assigned to stay behind, "You two go and rest for a while. The people from the Giant Rock Star Region won't attack here so soon. Rest up and get ready for the next battle."

Both of them had no objections and accepted the arrangement.

But Fu Congfei looked uneasy, which Cang Cheng noticed but didn't say much about.

Finally, Cang Cheng said to Mo Yu, "Follow me."

Mo Yu followed Cang Cheng into his room.

Cang Cheng said, "Give me the signal emitter."

Mo Yu obediently handed over the signal emitter.

He looked at Cang Cheng eagerly, his face full of curiosity.

He was eager to know how the little flag-planting robot, designed by Cang Cheng, was created.

And how did Cang Cheng know that there was an issue with the team member's equipment?

Before Mo Yu could ask, he watched as Cang Cheng did it.

Cang Cheng input mental energy into the ground, and a small figure, as high as an ankle, appeared out of thin air.

After another fluctuation of mental energy, the small figure changed its appearance from dirt to a metal robot.

Cang Cheng handed the signal emitter to the small robot and commanded, "Go wander outside."

The small robot nodded and then quickly burrowed away.

Mo Yu: !

A shape-shifting robot!

The robot was made of dirt.

No… Cang Cheng actually has mental energy?

Mo Yu was momentarily confused, surprised that "Cang Cheng is an Awakened," but also pondering, 'Is the ability to create robots out of nowhere a new technology from the Canglan Star Region?'

Mo Yu's eyes widened, and his thoughts raced.

The fact that Cang Cheng could give away ANKEN's precious Spirit Rune so easily.

The miraculous control over mental energy...

The small dirt figure that could change its form at will...

This all felt like something only a powerful Spirit Rune Master could do.

Sometimes, the most unlikely explanation is the right one.

Mo Yu suddenly realized, and he opened his mouth, "A, AN, ANK..."

He was so excited he couldn't finish saying the name.

Cang Cheng smiled faintly and raised his index finger to make a 'shh' gesture.

Mo Yu suddenly clapped both hands over his mouth, but his astonishment still showed in his eyes.

Holy crap!

The Spirit Rune Master ANKEN, who everyone’s been speculating about online, was actually the well-known useless fifth prince?

Cang Cheng was the mysterious Spirit Rune Master!

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it.

No wonder… no wonder his master was willing to follow Cang Cheng to mine. If it were him, he’d be willing too!

This was the ANKEN who had revolutionized the entire military force structure of the Canglan Star Region!

Mining for ANKEN? No big deal!

Mo Yu looked at Cang Cheng with shining eyes full of admiration.

After Cang Cheng participated in the Exchange Competition, he had considered that his identity might be discovered.

He was quite calm about Mo Yu’s enthusiastic reaction.

Cang Cheng: "I have a task for you."

Mo Yu nodded excitedly: "I will definitely complete the task!"

Is it designing weapons, repairing weapons, or maybe making an anti-tracking device?

He could do it all!

Cang Cheng handed Mo Yu his remaining capsule bombs and hoverboard, and gave him a coordinate.

"The general is here, go rescue him."

After hearing the task, Mo Yu was stunned for a moment.

"Me? I’m going to rescue the general?"

A weapon designer like me, defenseless, is being sent on a rescue mission?

Wait… how did Cang Cheng know the general’s coordinates?

"Based on the afternoon’s battle, it appears the Giant Rock Star Region only sent a B+ class Spirit Warrior to guard Base 0. Your spiritual strength is higher than theirs, you just need to find the room where the general is held and release him. I believe you can do it."

Cang Cheng patted Mo Yu’s shoulder kindly.

Originally, Cang Cheng had planned to rescue Hilmeth himself. But plans changed quickly. Given the current situation where the Canglan Star Region was being attacked from both sides, he couldn’t leave Base 0 for the time being.

So he had no choice but to rely on Princess Xixi to save herself.

"The Giant Rock Star Region is coming at us hard in this Exchange Competition. We need the general’s combat strength."

"Alright, I understand."

Mo Yu nodded and accepted the task: "I guarantee I will complete the task, Cang Cheng."

With that, Mo Yu headed back to his room to gear up and head out.

At this point, everyone in the Canglan Star Region was carrying out orders under Prince Cang Cheng's command in an orderly manner.

No one raised any objections to Cang Cheng's words. They didn’t even realize that, in the midst of despair, his words had quietly restored their confidence, and they were unconsciously following his orders.

This was Cang Cheng's innate leadership ability.

After arranging everything and confirming that Mo Yu had set out, Cang Cheng messaged Hilmeth via the stone tablet: "Sent someone to pick you up, Princess Xixi. Stay put."

Soon after, Hilmeth replied on the small stone tablet: "I thought you'd come. Is everything okay?"

Cang Cheng: "Something came up..."

Just as Cang Cheng was about to summarize the situation, a loud boom echoed outside, followed by the roar of thunder breaking through the sky.

Amidst the thunder, a desperate cry for help could be heard.

"Help! Prince Cang Cheng, save me! Fu Congfei is trying to kill me!"

It was Sang Ning's voice.

Cang Cheng understood, and wrote, "Busy, talk later," before heading towards the end of the first floor where the sound came from.

The drama was unfolding.

There stood Sang Ning in a white casual outfit, her hair disheveled and her face pale.

A bullet had just grazed her cheek, and a trail of red blood was flowing down her face.

In front of Sang Ning, Fu Congfei held her gun with a solemn expression, the smoke from the gun's muzzle still emitting a faint haze.

As soon as Sang Ning saw Cang Cheng, she pleaded for help: "Prince, save me. Fu Congfei has gone mad."

Fu Congfei, standing in front of Sang Ning, shouted, "Mad? I am mad! I cannot understand why you would betray the Canglan Star Region!!"

Sang Ning pursed her lips, her eyes lowered, looking genuinely hurt. "I didn't. You're framing me, Feifei."

Fu Congfei: "I'm framing you? That metal ring with a signal tracker was clearly yours!"

Fu Congfei was dumbfounded when Mo Yu detected the tracker in the metal ring.

Others might not know, but she had seen this metal ring in Sang Ning's backpack before.

She had wondered why Sang Ning would wear something more suited for men and thought maybe she had a boyfriend. She snapped a photo, intending to ask Sang Ning about it, but then thought better of it, deciding it was none of her business.

And then... Fu Congfei saw the metal ring again, but this time it was in Wu Ling's backpack.

"You don’t have any proof. You're trying to frame me."

Sang Ning refused to admit it.

"Prince, you must believe me. I've been at Base 0 all afternoon. There's no way I could have alerted the enemy with a signal transmitter. If we investigate further, Fu Congfei, who was out all day, would be more suspicious."

Sang Ning appeared innocent. In contrast, Fu Congfei, aggressive and quick to harm a team member, seemed more suspicious.

Cang Cheng glanced at the helpless and pitiful Sang Ning, then turned to the enraged Fu Congfei.

If he were just any other prince, he would probably side with Sang Ning, as she appeared fragile and in need of protection, something that resonated with him having experienced bullying himself.

Unfortunately, after witnessing the delicate and seemingly fragile Sylvie shoot her own cousin on the spot, Cang Cheng realized that the more fragile a woman appears, the less trustworthy she might be.

"So, Fu Congfei, do you have any evidence? If there's no evidence, given that both of you are suspects, I’ll have to lock both of you up until the other team members return from their missions, and we can determine the truth together."

Cang Cheng appeared to be solving the problem from a neutral position, but his gaze wasn’t one of suspicion as he looked at Fu Congfei.

Fu Congfei gradually calmed down under his gaze.

"Of course, I have evidence."

Saying this, she opened her communicator, revealing the inventory photos taken before she and Sang Ning entered the Exchange Tournament. In the jewelry box, there clearly lay the metal ring that had appeared in Wu Ling's bag that afternoon.

Sang Ning panicked for a moment. "When did you take those photos?"

"Fu Huai asked me to document all items before and after missions to calculate the item consumption for each mission.

That day, when you went to take a shower, I asked if you wanted me to document your belongings. You might not have heard me clearly and just hummed, so I took photos of your luggage as well."

Who would have thought that this simple habit would become crucial evidence now.

"It could still be yours! We’ve always shared our belongings."

Fu Congfei’s face was cold. "Arguing further is pointless, Sang Ning."

Sang Ning looked at Cang Cheng again, her expression pitifully helpless, attempting to stir his compassion.

However, although a faint smile remained on Cang Cheng's face, it didn’t reach his eyes. He seemed gentle and easygoing, but his heart was cold and indifferent.

Seeing this, Sang Ning also withdrew her gaze.

She thought to herself that it was no wonder he was part of the royal house of the Canglan Star Region; they were all cold-blooded at their core.

"Why, Sang Ning? Why would you betray the Canglan Star Region?"

Sang Ning dropped her pitiful expression.

She pushed away the gun pointed at her with a cold expression and stood up.

"Why? Because I just want to live."

"I envy you, Fu Congfei. You were born into a family of military and political elites, with wealth and power. Your family loves you dearly. How could someone like you, raised in love, understand how difficult life is for rats in the sewers?"

Sang Ning sneered. "My mother was a purchased exotic hostess, and I was born into that world of glitz and glamour. Every day, I had to work hard just to earn a cheap nutrient solution. Otherwise, a single mistake would earn me a lash from an electric whip.

Later, a client took a liking to my face, and bought me. He gave me the best education, introduced me to elite circles, and allowed me to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. But in return, I had to do things for him.

I agreed.

All I wanted was to live a normal life. What did I do wrong?"

"But that doesn't justify what you did..."

"Never mind, there's no point in talking to someone like you, a rich miss."

Sang Ning leaned against the door behind her. She looked up, a strange smile appearing on her blood-stained face.

"Someone offered a high price for the fifth prince’s life and wanted you to be discredited. I originally planned to place the signal device in the fifth prince's backpack, but since he didn’t go on an external mission the next day, I found a scapegoat to reduce the Canglan Star Region's forces."

"Now, with only the two of you in the whole Base 0 of the Canglan Star Region, I’d love to see how you plan to hold this base."

With that, a 'click' sounded as the electronic lock behind Sang Ning opened.

At the same time, the communicator chimed.

"Canglan Star Region participant defects to the Giant Rock Star Region."

"Giant Rock Star Region participant detected at Canglan Star Region's Base 0, fulfilling the conditions for release."

"Giant Rock Star Region team leader and vice-leader, successfully rescued, officially joining the Giant Rock Star Region."

Sang Ning's betrayal at Canglan Star Region's Base 0 fulfilled the conditions for release, allowing the previously confined Giant Rock team leader and vice-leader to move freely.

Commanders are elite warriors in Spirit Runes combat scenarios, with S-level abilities and exceptionally rich combat experience. Each one is a walking arsenal, capable of devastating destruction.

With a series of heavy clanks, two towering 3-meter-tall figures from the Giant Rock Star Region emerged from the door.

Their fists bumped together, their hard, petrified skin emitting a crisp sound upon impact, exuding an intimidating aura.

The cold gray-skinned team leader, Shi Ying, said, "What took you so long to let us out? There are only two small fries left in the base now, not even worth our time."

The dark gray-skinned Shi Qing chimed in, "Isn’t this the prince of the Canglan Star Region? Looks like we’re in luck. Let's kill this prince first, then that admiral. Once they're gone, the Canglan Star Region will be finished, right?"

Meanwhile, Sang Ning volunteered, "Fu Congfei is mine."

With that, she turned into a wisp of smoke and lunged at Fu Congfei.

Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Fu Congfei was slow to react, and by the time she snapped back to reality, Sang Ning had already grabbed her by the neck from behind.

"Now that we are enemies, can you bring yourself to kill me?"

On the other side, the two Giant Rock natives eyed the slender and fragile Cang Cheng with ill intent.

Shi Ying, eager to fight, said, "Let's start with this prince! I wonder how many seconds this poor little prince can last under our hands."

Shi Qing, brimming with cruelty, added, "Should we start with the arms? Or maybe the legs? I can't wait to hear the little prince's screams."

Cang Cheng stood before the towering figures from the Giant Rock Star Region, his head bowed slightly, his bangs casting shadows over his eyes, concealing his dark black eyes.

A flash of lightning outside the window briefly illuminated the scene, turning the view white.

Under the thunder, Cang Cheng's lips curled slightly.

Come to think of it, aside from Mo, he hadn't encountered any other exotic beings since arriving at the Canglan Star Region. Cang Cheng was curious about studying the people from the Giant Rock Star Region.

Hmm... curious about studying them.

Cang Cheng raised his hand, and fluorescent blue light gathered and dispersed from his fingertips.

Suddenly, a sharp blade of frosty wind struck the Giant Rock natives.

A water and wind composite B-rank spell, delivering sharp wind and freezing temperatures.

The icy wind blade cut through the overconfident giants, slicing through their tough skin with ease.

Achoo...

A sharp chill shot through their noses, making them flinch.

The two of them simultaneously touched their noses, but their noses fell off as they did, landing on the ground with a 'click' and shattering into stone fragments.

The exposed skin where the noses had been was now covered with a layer of hard ice, cold and gleaming, reflecting a chilling light.

“My nose!”

“Ah!! Who did this?!”

Cang Cheng didn’t bother hiding anymore. He looked up, smiling innocently.

“A Grade B rune was enough to slice off your noses. It seems your skin isn’t as tough as the records suggest.”

According to the records, the stone-like skin of the Giant Rock Star people was supposed to be extremely hard. Cang Cheng had been curious just how tough it could be. Now, it seemed the records had exaggerated quite a bit.

As he spoke, Cang Cheng continued with the gestures to draw his Spirit Runes without pause.

“I’ve heard you can rebuild your bodies no matter what. I wonder if that still works when you’re frozen?”

He glanced at their missing noses again, and his smile widened, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

“Looks like you can’t reconstruct after all.”

“Shut up! I’m going to crush you!!”

With that, the Giant Rock Star inhabitants threw a punch.

“You’re making quite a racket.”

Cang Cheng frowned slightly, his fingers completing the final gesture of the rune.

In an instant, the enclosed space erupted into a violent whirlwind, sharp ice blades slicing through the air, composing a deadly symphony of wind and snow.