Chapter 78 Bloodsucking System

"How did we manage to miss this unknown substance when we're walking by?" Yuan Chunhua asked when the unknown substance in the transparent screen could no longer be seen.

The unknown substance had left the Guilong Forest or the scanning distance, prompting the screen to close on its own.

"Instructor Yuan Chunhua, you probably forgot this, but the scene in front of us is at least 2-3 days ago." Jiang Ming said, reminding her that this was a past recording and not live footage.

If it were truly live footage, then they wouldn't even be able to stand in the middle of an open field casually.

Yuan Chunhua was a bit embarrassed when she realized how naive her question seemed to be.

It was a question similar to asking why people eat food when they're hungry.

"Hmph, if it weren't because of my heart aching from the loss of the gadget, then I wouldn't have lost focus." Yuan Chunhua said, trying her best to defend herself.

Alas, Jiang Ming wasn't going to act along and play with the so-called 'tsundere' act.

"You're a bit too old to act tsundere, Instructor Yuan Chunhua." Jiang Ming flat-out called her, not giving her an inch of respect.

One must admit their mistakes in order to improve themselves. Hence, he wasn't going to let her go easily.

And just when Yuan Chunhua wanted to fight back and point finger again, Jiang Ming quickly cut her off.

"Didn't I say before that I would compensate you if I ever broke it? The situation at hand is getting more complicated, so why don't we focus on the reason why we're here instead of sulking over some gadgets."

"T-That's what I wanted to say."

Jiang Ming smirked and glanced at her with a suspicious look, clearly disbelieving her words.

Her face was flushed red in anger and decided to ignore his look.

"Anyway, we have two options now. Either continue to advance forward or go back and follow the trace of the unknown substance," Jiang Ming said.

Yuan Chunhua pondered for a few moments since this was a difficult decision.

​ On one hand, they might find the source of the cause by advancing forward, but if the unknown substance was the true cause, then they would have wasted more time by ignoring it.

"What do you think instead, Jiang Ming?" Yuan Chunhua decided to pass the ball onward to Jiang Ming.

That way, the fault would never lie on her, but on him.

It was a clever yet nasty move that one person could possibly make.

"You're joking, right?" Jiang Ming twitched his mouth.

"You're the instructor here, and technically the boss. The important decision-making should be done by only you." He added.

"That's right, so as the boss, I'm making you the commander to choose a decision. That's what a boss does anyway. They don't work, their subordinates do the work while they kindly wait to reap the reward."

"..."

Rubbing his temples to soothe the pain, Jiang Ming could only open the map of their current location using the GLCS.

After glancing for a moment, Jiang Ming tried to scan if there were any significant things in front of them.

In the map, there were only gray dots, indicating them as neutral targets and not an enemy.

'The corrosion doesn't seem to have erupted from the front, and the map didn't indicate any red dots.' He thought.

While Jiang Ming was thinking about what to do, a prompt suddenly appeared.

Ding!

<Corrosion have been increased by 10%>

<Recommendation: Stop the unknown substance from spreading the corrosion and prevent its resurrection>

—

Jiang Ming raised an eyebrow.

The map started to change, and a new feature was added on the top right, showing a corrosion status.

'Seriously? I thought I'm done being in a game?' He screamed inwardly.

Even though he could refuse the mission and act like nothing had happened. Jiang Ming knew there would be serious consequences incoming if he had really ignored it.

"So, have you made your decision yet?" Yuan Chunhua suddenly asked.

"It has been over 5 minutes since you've been thinking." She added.

Jiang Ming nodded his head.

And with a bittersweet smile, he pointed at the direction they had come from.

"Let's chase after that unknown substance. The Guilong Forest is currently being filled with the academy students and they would most likely be in danger if they encounter the unknown substance."

"I see…"

Sometime later, they proceeded to trace their footsteps backward, and this time, they are scanning for footprints left behind by the unknown substance.

Alas, even after a thorough search, there was no sign of the unknown substance anywhere.

"Do you have any bright ideas?" Yuan Chunhua turned and asked Jiang Ming.

She didn't know why, but she felt like she could rely on him, a feeling that she had never gotten in the past.

'Is it because of his change in demeanor or behavior?' She wondered silently.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ming sighed softly at their investigation pace.

At this rate, they might as well go home and sleep, considering the empty clues they have gotten so far.

"Seems like I have to spend a few of my spirit stones to purchase that item…" He muttered.

'Open system store,' He commanded silently.

Soon, a new prompt appeared. In the new prompt, numerous items were being listed in alphabetical order at a certain price value.

Ignoring the items that are basically cosmetics. Jiang Ming continued to scroll through to the game assistance tab.

Tapping on it slightly with his finger, Jiang Ming felt like punching the system for its scammed marketing.

'3,000 spirit stones for a single tracker device?!!' He cursed in his mind.

A tracker device in Cultivation Omega would only cost a player 3,000 silvers, which is a far cry from 3,000 spirit stones.

The conversion rate from silver to spirit stones is like buying a house and buying a cabbage.

He didn't expect an item that he believed to be cheap would suddenly cost so much.

"This bloodsucking system really makes my blood boil." Jiang Ming wrinkled his brows as he reluctantly clicked on the purchase button with a shaky finger.

Ding!

<Thank you for your patronage~>