Chapter 19: Grand Canyon

Translator: Exodus Tales  Editor: Exodus Tales

The Grand Canyon was located in the northwest part of Arizona’s plateau region. It was carved by the Colorado River, and it was indescribably beautiful.

Xia Fei had set up a tent by a tributary of the Colorado River. He had lit up the fire and poured in seven to eight cans of food into the pot to make a pot stew.

Since Xia Fei absorbed the cell activation medicine, his appetite increased steadily with each passing day, while his muscle contours were becoming increasingly obvious.

The wound on his thigh was recovering at a speed that was ten times faster than regular people, but it was still rather painful to walk.

Xia Fei devoured his entire pot of stew and drank a full bottle of mineral water in one go.

He wiped his mouth before retrieving a cigarette and lighting it up. He then took a huge puff and said, “Phantom, let’s start the cultivation now.”

Phantom looked at the wound on Xia Fei’s thigh that was still oozing with blood and spoke with a little concern. “Let’s wait until tomorrow. The wound on your thigh is still not recovered yet.”

“It’s fine, I can endure it.” Xia Fei said resolutely.

The fierce battle yesterday had incited Xia Fei’s intense spirit to improve. Without strength, he wouldn’t even be able to guarantee the necessary conditions of survival.

Phantom thought for a moment and said, “I will teach you the ‘Crafty Thrust’ that is part of the Shadow of Moon. When you killed those two yesterday, your attack position wasn’t correct and was slightly off from the optimal piercing point. You probably had to follow up with a few more attacks if it were not for the sharpness of this Golden Stinger.”

“To put it bluntly, the so-called assassin consisted of two things. One is to conceal, and the other is to kill. You have already learned a little Breath Control, it is now time to learn how to kill.”

Xia Fei’s brows were locked together tightly. “The assassination technique is meant for killing a single target. What if I get surrounded?”

Phantom laughed heartily. “Who said that the assassination technique can only kill a single person? Your ability is speed, and if you coordinate your extreme speed with the fatal Crafty Thrust, it would be a perfect combination. To assassinate a person is to kill the target with a single lethal attack. When you face 100 targets, you just have to deliver a lethal attack to each of them!”

After listening to Phantom’s explanation, Xia Fei pondered for a long time. He then stood up and threw the cigarette butt into the river and watched as it drifted away. “I understand now. As long as the blade and the blade handling skill are fatal, it makes no difference whether I’m facing a single target or 100 targets. If required, an assassination can turn into a massacre!”

“You are right, but now is not the time to cultivate the Crafty Thrust. Bring out that Fire Dragon Millennial Flames.” Phantom smiled and said.

Xia Fei carefully retrieved the strange plant from the safe box. The Fire Dragon Millennial Flames was stored in an AI plant growth vessel. This vessel could emulate the most suitable growing environment for the plant. Even the sunlight, air composition, and atmospheric pressure could be adjusted according to the plant’s requirement.

The plant could be stored in this kind of vessel for a century, and it still wouldn’t wilt; just this vessel alone cost at least 200,000 star coins.

“You should tell me what is the function of this thing, right? After spending so much star coins, I just hope it is truly worth the price. After consuming this thing, I should at least be able to advance to Star Base rank, right?” Xia Fei placed the Fire Dragon Millennial Flames and the concoction device neatly while asking.

“This plant can’t increase your rank.” Phantom said unhurriedly.

“What?!” Xia Fei was shocked, and it was fortunate that he didn’t faint. “9 million star coins! After spending so much money, yet this thing can’t increase my rank?! Is there something wrong with your brain!?”

“Why are you so anxious?” Phantom mumbled, “This thing might not be able to increase your rank, but it can heighten your mental reaction speed.”

“When you run at high speed and if there is a huge quantity of obstacles ahead, without a mental reaction speed that is fast enough, you will need to lower your speed to traverse across these obstacles and such you wouldn’t be able to advance at your full speed.”

“This Fire Dragon Millennial Flames can heighten your mental reaction speed greatly when you are moving at high speed. It is beneficial for you.”

Mental alertness was an important factor when evaluating a warrior’s combat strength. During combat, even a minor difference might result in an entirely different outcome.

‘Among all the martial arts in the world, only speed is undefeated!’

Not only must the speed be fast, but the reaction speed must also be fast!

All of the elite warriors possessed extraordinary senses and lightning-fast reactions.

Xia Fei didn’t say anything else. Anything medicinal ingredient that could increase the reaction speed was astronomical in price, some weren’t even available with money. This Fire Dragon Millennial Flames might be expensive, but for the function that it provided, it completely matched the price.

To be safe, Phantom used an analysis apparatus to measure the medication surplus inside Xia Fei’s body.

When different medicines were mixed together, it would cause a chain reaction easily. Xia Fei had just consumed the primary cell activation medicine two days ago and needed the medication to be absorbed entirely before consuming the next batch of medicine.

“There is still some surplus but will probably be fine after a few hours. Purify this Fire Dragon Millennial Flames first and consume it at night.” Phantom instructed.

Xia Fei nodded and gently input the password to open up the plant vessel.

A fragrant smell assailed his nostrils and made him feel very refreshed. In a short period, the entire valley was filled with this exotic fragrance.

It had fiery red stolon, fiery red leaves, and a fiery red flower.

These Fire Dragon Millennial Flames were like a bundle of burning flames, and it was so beautiful that the heart palpitated.

The Fire Dragon Millennial Flames wasn’t a plant from Earth, and it wasn’t able to adapt to Earth’s atmospheric pressure and air composition. Once it was exposed, it quickly wilted.

Xia Fei didn’t neglect it at all and used his quickest speed to deliver the plant into the concoction device.

The concoction device shivered a little, and a few minutes later, a bottle of bright red fluid was in Xia Fei’s hand.

It was bright red like blood, and when held in hand, it had a warm feeling.

“The Fire Dragon Millennial Flames doesn’t have to be blended with other medicinal ingredients, you can just consume it directly. While we have time, I will impart the technique mantra of Crafty Thrust to you first.” Phantom stated.

…

It was nighttime. The stars were resplendent, and the valley was utterly silent.

The surrounding cliffs presented an entirely different color during the night. It felt as though this was an imaginary realm, and one wouldn’t be able to help but be amazed at the uncanny workmanship of the great nature.

Xia Fei had already remembered the mantra of the Crafty Thrust in his heart, and he was just waiting for the medication surplus in his body to disperse so that he could consume the Fire Dragon Millennial Flames’ fluid.

It was a long night, and Xia Fei couldn’t sleep. Hence, he put on the virtual reality helmet and logged into the Endaro Poetry Hobbyist website.

As soon as he logged in, he saw Avril’s pink mail:

“I finally made a trip to the interplanetary playground yesterday, it was truly very enjoyable there. If you promise to write a poem for me, I will bring you there. What about that?”

Eh…

Xia Fei was speechless as this young lady was too childish. “I was pursued as a kill-on-sight target yesterday and had even stabbed myself. I will thank god as long as you don’t come and disturb me.”

Avril’s mail stood out from the rest. It wouldn’t appear in the mail system and would actually materialize a little pink envelope that would constantly flash in the virtual reality system. As long as you kept ignoring it, it would constantly flash.

“Enter the mail system and block Avril.” Xia Fei commanded the AI computer.

“Apologies, the other party’s client grade is unknown. Insufficient authority, unable to block.” The computer’s virtual system said in a cold voice.

“Unable to block!? Why?”

“Insufficient authority grade.”

“Inquiry, Avril.”

“Apologies, insufficient authority, unable to inquire.”

Xia Fei was utterly speechless. The mail system was truly strange, and he couldn’t even choose to block mails.

Right at this moment, Phantom suddenly emerged and said to Xia Fei. “The time is up. You can consume the Fire Dragon Millennial Flames’ fluid now.”

Xia Fei nodded. “Do you know why the mail system is unable to block another person’s mail?”

“I don’t know.” Phantom had a mischievous smile as he said, “I just know that when you consume the Fire Dragon Millennial Flames’ fluid later, you might feel a little pain.”

Xia Fei’s heart tensed up as he had a bad premonition.