Interstellar Farming: I Make Potions and Climb to the Top

"That wolf pack has at least a hundred mutated wolves. Most have enhanced abilities, like greater speed, and they won’t be easy to deal with," Mo Yu said thoughtfully, looking over the report.

The wolf pack wasn’t too far from the security zone. Everyone knew how troublesome social mutated creatures could be, so the mission to exterminate the pack ranked high in difficulty on the mission board, with an equally substantial reward.

If the mission were easy, it wouldn’t have remained on the board for so long.

"From what they said, it sounds like they had help. But my investigation shows that the people they live with took on different missions, and completed them successfully. I just can’t figure out who else could be on their team," the Sky Wolf Team captain said, frowning.

"If they had help, then finishing the extermination mission within an hour would be possible," Mo Yu mused.

"But we can’t find any trace of these people inside the security zone," the Sky Wolf Team captain said with a sense of helplessness.

"Why limit the search to the security zone? Could it be they don’t live there?" Just as Mo Yu was pondering the matter, someone burst in.

"Young Master, we have a lead on a young, female Alchemist!" the intruder said excitedly.

"Is that true? We finally have a lead? Where is she?" Mo Yu shot to his feet, moving so abruptly that he swept a cup off his desk without noticing.

The Sky Wolf Team captain hurried forward. "Young Master, I am willing to follow the lead and find her. However, we must also send people to further investigate the anomaly of the Jiang Han brothers. I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something very unusual about those two."

"You stay in the security zone and keep looking into the Jiang Han brothers. I’ll go check out this lead and see if it’s reliable," Mo Yu decided instantly.

One of his most important missions on the New Star Body was to find Ning Xuan and bring her to his side. Whether by emotional manipulation or by force, he had to get Ning Xuan under his control.

Now, with the evaluation period more than halfway over, he still hadn’t found any trace of Ning Xuan. This made Mo Yu increasingly impatient. The pressing deadline was precisely why he had resorted to posting a bounty.

The Sky Wolf Team captain watched Mo Yu hurry out of the Political Hall. He silently tucked away the investigation report, deciding he would continue to look into the matter himself.

Mo Yu gathered more than thirty men and, following the lead from the mercenary squad, found Ning Xuan gathering medicinal herbs.

Ning Xuan was all alone—except for a Little Fox that, on her command, was hiding silently in the shadows.

Mo Yu’s eyes lit up when he saw Ning Xuan. ’Regardless of whether she’s the one I’m looking for, her youth and beauty alone make this trip worthwhile.’

"Miss, what herbs are you searching for? I am the supreme commander of Zone 13. Whatever you need, I can help you find it," Mo Yu said solicitously.

Ning Xuan turned to size up the young master of the Mo Family. He was tall and slender, with handsome features and a pair of cool, narrow eyes. He looked somewhat sullen when he wasn’t smiling, but his smile had a surprisingly sincere quality to it.

"That’s not necessary. I don’t know you, so please keep your distance," Ning Xuan said, feigning a hint of nervousness.

"Miss, there’s no need to be nervous. Federation law protects women, so it’s my duty to offer assistance," Mo Yu said, putting on a courteous, gentlemanly air.

Ning Xuan had deliberately leaked her own whereabouts and was waiting here. It was partly to take the pressure off Yun Han and Lin Mo, and partly because she wanted to see for herself what Mo Yu was made of.

Ning Xuan’s decision to take this on herself was a recent one, spurred by learning the Little Fox’s true identity. Knowing she had such a reliable ally gave her the confidence to face Mo Yu sooner than planned.

Not only did she intend to meet him, but she also planned to keep him under her control for a few days. Once Yun Han and the others had finished their work, she would let Mo Yu go.

Although Mo Yu’s bounty on her head was repulsive, Ning Xuan figured his disappearance for a couple of days would be manageable. Killing him, however, was another matter. Leaving aside the question of whether she could even pull it off, if she did, Zone 13 would erupt into chaos. She and her friends could kiss any hope of peace goodbye.

"Well, since the Young Master is so insistent, it would be rude of me to refuse," Ning Xuan said with what appeared to be a happy smile.

Just as Mo Yu and his men stepped forward to help with the herbs, a Smoke Bomb exploded at Ning Xuan’s feet, instantly shrouding a three-to-four-meter radius around her in thick smoke.

The spot was a trap Ning Xuan had prepared long ago, and she was just waiting for Mo Yu to take the bait.

Mo Yu had gravely underestimated his opponent. Relying on his own immense power, he hadn’t taken a young, beautiful woman seriously. He never would have dreamed that the poisonous smoke from Ning Xuan’s Alchemy, combined with the Nine-tailed Fox’s Enchanting Demon Domain, would render all of his protective treasures useless. He had been completely outplayed.

Ning Xuan watched as Mo Yu and his men collapsed in the smoke, a satisfied smile gracing her lips.

Ning Xuan plucked a teardrop-shaped necklace from Mo Yu’s neck. She recognized it as a top-tier Protective Shield created by the Federation Comprehensive Science Research Institute, capable of blocking an SSS Level attack.

Next, she slid a Ring from Mo Yu’s right index finger. The Ring was an exquisite Hidden Weapon, the masterpiece of an Artifact Refining Master.

Ning Xuan quickly looted over a dozen treasures from Mo Yu. The Little Fox watched her rummaging over the man’s body, so agitated he was scratching his ears and cheeks, wishing he were in human form. ’If I were human, I’d be the one doing this, and Ning Xuan wouldn’t have to touch him at all.’ He was actually getting a little jealous.

While Ning Xuan kept Mo Yu occupied outside the city walls, Yun Han, Lin Mo, and Di Youlin were rapidly completing missions and exchanging them for supplies. They knew that every day they saved on their end was a day sooner that Ning Xuan could get away.

And so, in just four short days, the handful of thorny, high-difficulty missions that usually sat untouched at the top of the board were suddenly cleared out.

The Sky Wolf Team had been secretly monitoring Yun Han and his companions. When they completed yet another high-ranking mission from the board, the Sky Wolf Team captain grew even more alarmed.

He went to find Mo Yu again, but he was nowhere to be found. The Sky Wolf Team captain had a bad feeling. He immediately gathered his men and surrounded the place where Yun Han and the others were staying.

"Boss, the house is empty," a member of the Sky Wolf Team reported.

"Not only is it empty, but all their things are gone, too. Boss, it looks like we’re a step too late," another member said.

"Close the city gates, now! Don’t let anyone out!" the Sky Wolf Team captain ordered urgently.

"Boss... we don’t actually have the authority to close the gates," the team member said nervously.