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Starting Cultivation in Wasteland

Chapter 683 - 553: Taking a Desperate Gamble · Oct 13, 2026

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Chapter List (1233)

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651 Chapter 651 - 521: Some Things Cannot Be Tolerated 2026-10-13
652 Chapter 652 - 522: Fire Trees and Silver Flowers 2026-10-13
653 Chapter 653 - 523: Upgrade 2026-10-13
654 Chapter 654 - 524: Division and Imbalance 2026-10-13
655 Chapter 655 - 525: Relentless 2026-10-13
656 Chapter 656 - 526: Paranoia 2026-10-13
657 Chapter 657 - 527: Sick 2026-10-13
658 Chapter 658 - 528: An Absurd Trap 2026-10-13
659 Chapter 659 - 529: Xiaohu’s Loneliness 2026-10-13
660 Chapter 660 - 530: Waiting for the Rabbit 2026-10-13
661 Chapter 661 - 531: Such a Swift Blade 2026-10-13
662 Chapter 662 - 532: The Supreme’s Dignity 2026-10-13
663 Chapter 663 - 533: All Just Rumors 2026-10-13
664 Chapter 664 - 534: Xiao Hu’s Revenge 2026-10-13
665 Chapter 665 - 535: The Last Stubborn Resistance 2026-10-13
666 Chapter 666 - 536: Not Bothering with a Joke 2026-10-13
667 Chapter 667 - 537: Slaughter Without End 2026-10-13
668 Chapter 668 - 538: Thorough Search 2026-10-13
669 Chapter 669 - 539: Mere Formality 2026-10-13
670 Chapter 670 - 540: Normal Abnormalities 2026-10-13
671 Chapter 671 - 581: Fleeing at the First Sign of Trouble 2026-10-13
672 Chapter 672 - 582: Academic Exchange 2026-10-13
673 Chapter 673 - 583: The Old Dean 2026-10-13
674 Chapter 674 - 544: Shifting Identities 2026-10-13
675 Chapter 675 - 545: Drastically Different Styles 2026-10-13
676 Chapter 676 - 546: Entrapment 2026-10-13
677 Chapter 677 - 547: Keeping a Promise 2026-10-13
678 Chapter 678 - 548: Celestial Net and Earthly Trap 2026-10-13
679 Chapter 679 - 549: Hard to Defend Oneself 2026-10-13
680 Chapter 680 - 550: Years of Hard Work 2026-10-13
681 Chapter 681 - 551: Xiaohu’s Tiles 2026-10-13
682 Chapter 682 - 552: Fake License Plates 2026-10-13
683 Chapter 683 - 553: Taking a Desperate Gamble 2026-10-13
684 Chapter 684 - 554: Miscalculation 2026-10-13
685 Chapter 685 - 555: Special Appointment Once Again 2026-10-13
686 Chapter 686 - 556: Kill List 2026-10-13
687 Chapter 687 - 557: Adding Fuel to the Blazing Fire 2026-10-13
688 Chapter 688 - 558: A Grand Array of Forces (Happy Year of the Rabbit) 2026-10-13
689 Chapter 689 - 559: Two Pieces of News (Second Update) 2026-10-13
690 Chapter 690 - 560: Getting a Bit Arrogant (Third Update – Happy Year of the Rabbit) 2026-10-13
691 Chapter 691 - 561: What a Coincidence 2026-10-13
692 Chapter 692 - 562: A Sense of Déjà Vu 2026-10-13
693 Chapter 693 - 563: Déjà Vu 2026-10-13
694 Chapter 694 - 564: Probing 2026-10-13
695 Chapter 695 - 565: Death Trap 2026-10-13
696 Chapter 696 - 566: The Tycoon and Three Eyes 2026-10-13
697 Chapter 697 - 567: Protect Our A-level 2026-10-13
698 Chapter 698 - 568: Giving Gifts Places One at the Mercy of Others 2026-10-13
699 Chapter 699 - 569: Celestial Hook Enigma Mansion 2026-10-13
700 Chapter 700 - 570: Truly an Extraordinary Person 2026-10-13

About twenty minutes before getting off work, the three from the Cyan Blade Commerce Association took their leave from the other party.

The other company probably offered to host a meal. Imperial’s booze culture isn’t as profound as that of the Divine Land, but business banquets are not uncommon.

However, these three declined, presumably because the current situation was unfavorable, and they wanted to avoid unnecessary complications.

Just as the three were about to leave the commercial building, the B-level Stone Attribute guy frowned slightly, ”Hold on, I need a quick break.”

The A-level and C-level weren’t surprised. The discussion had lasted for two hours, and going to the restroom during it was clearly not polite.

If they left and came back to use the restroom, it would require someone to escort them back inside again.

Immediately, the C-level also indicated, ”I might as well take a quick pee, it’s a twenty-kilometer return trip.”

The roads in Jiuchuan City are quite wide, but during rush hour in such a populated city, traffic moves slowly.

The A-level wasn’t concerned, shaking his head and heading straight for the SUV.

The Modified Warrior was only seventy to eighty meters away in a direct line, the rain wasn’t heavy, and he could see the other party walking towards him.

However, the next moment, his mind became a bit hazy, pondering something unknown.

When he snapped back to reality, he found the A-level boss had reached the rear of the SUV.

In fact, building surveillance captured footage of the A-level Warrior staggering and falling in the mud while walking.

Just then, a shadowy figure approached, helped him up, and walked to the rear of the SUV.

If you looked closely, you could see the shadow’s wrist twitch briefly, and the person’s face twisted eerily backward as they were helped up.

However, this footage didn’t remain for long. It mysteriously disappeared after a few seconds.

Replaced by a static image of the parking lot... as if no one had passed through during that time.

Qu Jianlei changed into the other person’s clothes at the rear of the SUV, leaving behind a watch, identity token, and other items.

The A-level’s body, of course, was directly taken care of.

The Modified Warrior pondered, then rolled down the window, leaned out, and asked, ”Anything you need me to do?”

Qu Jianlei shook his head, lifted his hand for a point, and indistinctly spoke, ”Turn around that way and get ready to leave.”

He had observed the other for several days but wasn’t confident in mimicking the voice, so he spoke as little as possible.

However, the Modified Warrior didn’t notice anything unusual, as the other was originally an A-level boss, and the slight rain would also affect the sound.

He started busying himself with turning the car around, while Qu Jianlei headed back to the building to wait for the other two to come out.

The two came out one after another. The C-level only needed a quick break, while the B-level was occupied with something bigger.

However, it didn’t matter. Qu Jianlei supported the weak-legged C-level to the corner, and when he appeared again, he was alone.

Then the same was done with the B-level.

Small Lake wasn’t idle either, busy handling the monitoring content in the building’s terminal, striving for a perfect, seamless connection.

After the Modified Warrior had parked the vehicle, he didn’t bother about the three from his team—there was a boss taking the lead.

Mainly due to his position, it wasn’t convenient for him to observe, so he just waited patiently to return.

Then he was surprised to find the A-level boss returned alone, ”Where are the other two?”

Qu Jianlei opened the door, got in, and replied with drooping eyes, ”The other party offered a meal... they felt it necessary to socialize a bit.”

The more he talked, the more flaws appeared in his voice.

But since he was only facing a Modified Warrior, and slightly influencing the other’s perception wasn’t much of an issue.

The Modified Warrior felt a bit dissatisfied upon hearing this, ”Didn’t we repeatedly emphasize not staying around longer than necessary?”

”Hmph,” Qu Jianlei snorted, ”They felt it was necessary; I couldn’t have the other party laughing at us.”

”Let’s head back first, go to ’Delicious Fresh’ for dinner, and wait for them.”

Delicious Fresh Restaurant isn’t far from the commerce association’s gathering point, just over a kilometer away, hinting at protective intent.

”How troublesome,” the Modified Warrior genuinely felt like complaining.

But with the boss calling the shots, he could only shake his head, start the car, and drive onto the street.

It proved that when an A-level’s spiritual power focuses on influencing a Modified Warrior, the latter would hardly detect anything amiss.

While driving, the driver reported upwards, saying the task was somewhat delayed and they might return late, so no need to set aside a meal.

To substantiate his claim, Qu Jianlei also added a couple of affirmative grunts, indicating his awareness.

And there really wasn’t much to speak of during their meal at Delicious Fresh.

After they ate and drank their fill, Qu Jianlei pretended to send a message to the B-level,

and later, with a dark face, remarked, ”Hmph, they have to continue entertaining, let’s not wait, we’ll head back.”

The Modified Warrior glanced down at his watch, ”Why not a quick call, to rush them a bit?”

Qu Jianlei helplessly cast him a glance, ”Do you even know what they’re doing? Randomly disturbing others, what would that do to our image?”

”You’re right,” the Modified Warrior commented with exasperation, ”So we head back?”

The two rode back to the work location, and with the Modified Warrior’s facial recognition, the vehicle was promptly let through.

Qu Jianlei spared him for precisely the access needed once for the gate.

Now that the mission was relatively successful, he couldn’t be bothered with the person anymore.

After getting out of the car, he walked leisurely in the drizzle, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket to light it.

——He was wearing that A-level’s clothes, and quite a few people in the Cyan Blade Commerce Association smoked.

He wasn’t in a hurry to go inside; he was quietly waiting for the data system here to be invaded and taken over by the small lake.

But before he could finish his cigarette, someone approached from a distance, ”Johnny, we can’t contact those two.”

The visitor had a rather obscure aura, but Qu Jianlei knew this was a Gold Attribute A-level.

He took another drag on his cigarette, replying weakly, ”I advised them, it’s none of my business.”

The Gold Attribute A-level looked at his back. It was night, so nothing seemed amiss, yet there was a sense of something off.

”Why aren’t you going inside? What are you doing here?”

With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, Qu Jianlei remained silent, giving a vague reply after a few seconds, ”Feeling the Water Element.”

Of course, the Gold Attribute knew this one was Water Attribute, pondered for a moment, then turned and left.

They were all Superpower Warriors and naturally understood the importance of contemplating elements.

Despite the ambiguous words, it might just be an epiphany. After all, people these days are unpredictable; one must always be cautious.

Disturbing someone at such a time might unknowingly turn into enmity if the other person takes it the wrong way.

However, he was still puzzled... It often rained in Jiuchuan City, but it was rare to see this guy like this.

After finishing one cigarette, Qu Jianlei lit another one and then returned to his place.

The door security at his place only required an Identity Token to enter, no need for iris or fingerprint scanning.

Qu Jianlei glanced around the house; it wasn’t very large, just about sixty square meters.

But it had a complete bedroom, living room, dining room, and bathroom, and there was exercise equipment in the living room.

Interestingly, he found quite a bit of stored alcohol in the dining room—Johnny must be a drunkard.

Qu Jianlei pondered for a moment, grabbed two bottles of liquor, tucked a pack of dried fruits, and went out to drink again.

Five minutes later, a burly woman came to his door, flamboyantly dressed and barely clothed.

She knocked on the door for a while, receiving no response, then sent a message, ”Not in the room?”

Looking at the message, Qu Jianlei was a bit speechless because the original owner labeled this person as ”Short and Tight.”

After thinking a bit, he replied, ”In the midst of feeling the Water Element, don’t disturb me.”

The woman exited the building, looked around, and indeed found someone sitting leisurely on a bench, sipping alcohol.

After considering, she didn’t dare to disturb him. Getting into his bed wasn’t easy; how could she risk it?

Qu Jianlei instinctively sensed her—after all, he was now A-level, having some perception wasn’t odd.

Then he couldn’t help but twitch his mouth; damn, that taste... Good thing I left the room fast!

An hour later, after finishing the two bottles of alcohol, he got up to find that Gold Attribute A-level.

He knew the guy’s name was Baike’er, but wasn’t sure how to address him, so he simply knocked on the door, ”Open up!”

Baike’er opened the door, eyeing the drunken man in front of him, still feeling something off.

He knew there were many drinkers in the commerce association, but he was quite disdainful of such excess.

So he impatiently remarked, ”Those two haven’t returned yet, shouldn’t we be a bit more cautious?”

You’re A-level, you clearly could expel the alcohol, yet you end up like this, is it entertaining?

”I... I just tried calling them,” Qu Jianlei answered with a slurred tongue, ”Couldn’t get through!”

”Should we go look for them?”

”You go if you want...” Baike’er replied with a frown, but midway, he felt a sudden jolt in his head.

His final thought was: Indeed... a Spiritual Attack?

Qu Jianlei hadn’t initially planned on being so aggressive; raising Baike’er’s suspicion could easily spoil things.

However, that ”Short and Tight” was truly disgusting, and to prevent her from latching on, he had to take a gamble.

Fortunately, it turned out well; although he sensed the other’s suspicion, the gamble ultimately succeeded.

After dealing with Baike’er, he expelled the alcohol scent and changed his identity once more.

He then loudly announced, ”You’ve drunk so much, rest here for a bit!”

Qu Jianlei wasn’t sure if Johnny had a habit of sleeping in other people’s rooms.

But in general, even though Superpower Warriors were prestigious, they often encountered harsh environments during combat.

How to better adapt to harsh environments and maintain adequate combat strength is something an Awakened has to adapt to.

So sleeping in someone else’s room shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

And, even if there’s a cleanliness obsession, so what? Do others have the right to comment on decisions made by two A-levels?

Another important aspect was that he listened to Baike’er enough to mimic his voice quite well.

After tidying up everything, he stayed about ten more minutes, checked a lot of internal messages, and then got up to leave the room.

However, just as he went out the door, a B-level Warrior hurried past nearby.

”Lord Buick, Karens and the others have not returned yet and can’t be located. I suggest sending people to search.”

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