Interstellar Farming: I Make Potions and Climb to the Top

Hearing the sound of metal striking metal, Ning Xuan waved her right hand. A dozen black-and-red vines crisscrossed the area where the sound came from, sweeping through the space like nimble snakes. A subtle tremor from the vines’ feedback traveled to Ning Xuan’s fingertips, telling her of an abnormal spatial vibration thirty meters to her left.

Ning Xuan transmitted the location of the anomaly to Chen Nan through their spiritual connection. Without a moment’s hesitation, Chen Nan brandished his Energy Long Saber, striking the spot like a bolt of lightning. BANG! BANG! BANG! He delivered over a dozen slashes in a single instant.

With a CLICK, a cylindrical robot with severed, sparking wires fell from mid-air and crashed to the ground.

Seeing this, Chen Nan advanced with his saber, ready to investigate. Suddenly, the grating screech of twisting metal reached his ears. Following the sound, he saw the metal mesh fence beside a public Flying Car stop suddenly distort and deform. A long, tube-like object extended from it, and a black dot shot silently toward Ning Xuan. The hairs on the back of Chen Nan’s neck stood on end. He twisted on his heel and lunged in front of Ning Xuan. ’Whatever that black dot is, I have to block it.’

Ning Xuan whipped a vine out, yanking Chen Nan aside. At the same time, she spun and arched backward. Three cold glints grazed the tips of her flying hair. The fine needles dug into the ground, corroding sizzling pits into the concrete. Using the momentum from her lean, Ning Xuan flung her vines to move both herself and Chen Nan dozens of meters away. Simultaneously, she shot her thickest vine toward her back-left, revealing the figure of a person in black tactical gear with a black mask over their face. Chen Nan immediately attacked them.

While Chen Nan kept the figure occupied, Ning Xuan swiftly pierced their body with dozens of Vine Silks. Seeing that the expensive trap had failed to kill Ning Xuan, the person knew there was no longer an opportunity today. Their body flickered and vanished into thin air.

Only a single minute had passed since the start of the ambush. The pair had worked in perfect sync, their reactions swift. Ning Xuan glanced around and immediately sensed something was wrong—they seemed to be trapped by something. Taking a rock from her Space Button, she slammed it against the air. HUMMM. An invisible barrier shattered, revealing Ning Chuchu’s shocked and panicked face not far away.

"Sister, what a coincidence! You came to the Central Star too?" Ning Chuchu immediately put on an expression of pleasant surprise and ran toward her.

Ning Xuan ignored her. The men Yan Fuzhen had positioned around her had only just sensed that something was wrong, but Ning Xuan had already broken free of the trap. They were nearby, and when her gaze swept over them, they immediately lowered their heads in a bow. "The assassin is still nearby," Ning Xuan commanded. "Tell Yan Fuzhen to lock down this entire street immediately."

’I just planted dozens of the Ghost Vine’s Vine Silks inside the assassin. I can use them to pinpoint their location. But the Ghost Vine is too weak right now; I don’t dare try to sense the Vine Silks recklessly. If they’re discovered, someone with that person’s power could probably destroy them with ease.’

"Sister, what are you talking about? Why lock down this street? Your actions will affect the nearby businesses, not to mention disrupt the lives of the public," Ning Chuchu said indignantly.

"She’s definitely connected to the assassin from just now. Tie her up," Ning Xuan ordered, pointing a finger at Ning Chuchu.

The moment Ning Xuan’s people moved, someone immediately stepped in front of Ning Chuchu—it was her Contractor, Wu Di.

"Miss Ning Xuan, you’ve got some nerve. Who do you think you are? Tying up my Contractor? What nonsense is this?" Wu Di was incredibly burly. Shielding Ning Chuchu, he looked like a small mountain.

Before Wu Di could even finish his sentence, Chen Nan swung his Energy Long Saber and charged. Wu Di was no match for him; after only a few exchanges, Chen Nan sent him flying with a single kick.

Wu Di was no match for Chen Nan, but he wasn’t the only one by Ning Chuchu’s side. More than a dozen guards in matching uniforms moved to protect her.

"Sister, these men were all assigned to me by the Bai Family matriarch. Every one of them is a powerful veteran who has retired from the battlefield. Do you know why she gave them to me? Because she has already added my name to the family registry. I am a member of the Bai Family now," Ning Chuchu boasted smugly.

Meanwhile, she was inwardly cursing the assassin she had hired for being so incompetent. ’I meticulously planned this assassination and even came to the scene myself, all to absorb her Original Bloodline the moment she died! Once I absorb her Original Bloodline, my Companion Spirit will be complete, and I can immediately advance to B-Class. When that happens, I’ll be a high and mighty Controller!’

’But the assassination failed. I heard she’s about to participate in the Alchemist competition. Who knows when another opportunity this good will present itself? I can’t wait another second!’

"If you dare lay a single finger on me, the Bai Family will not let you off! And by the way, aren’t you supposed to participate in that Alchemist competition? My aunt, Bai Xiurong—Dean Bai—is a member of the competition’s judging panel. If you don’t want trouble, you’d better let me leave now." Seeing Ning Xuan’s expressionless face, Ning Chuchu was actually panicking internally. She kept talking nonstop, as if the words themselves could somehow comfort her.

"Miss Ning, my apologies for being late," Yan Fuzhen’s steady voice sounded from behind her.

"You’re not late," Ning Xuan said. "The assassin’s Spiritual Power Level is somewhere in the A-S Level range. They have a Talent Ability similar to invisibility or spatial traversal. They just used that ability to create a barrier-like field, which must have consumed a great deal of energy. Search the area, bring any suspicious individuals to me, and I will identify them." The only specific information she provided was the Spiritual Power Level, which meant anyone with a Level between A and S was to be brought to her.

’As long as they’re brought before me, the Ghost Vine Body will naturally sense it.’

"Understood." Yan Fuzhen accepted the order and departed. His men had already been dispatched to handle the matter. Although he had been delayed a few minutes on his way over, his subordinates had not wasted a single moment.

Although Yan Fuzhen’s expression was unchanged, his trusted subordinates, who had served under him for years, knew that Lord Yan was in an absolutely foul mood.

Under Lord Yan’s tight security, Miss Ning had still been ambushed in the middle of the street. And his people had only realized it after Miss Ning had already dealt with the situation herself. Lord Yan would have no way to answer to the Marshal, and they, in turn, would have no way to answer to Lord Yan. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

’Can’t think about it. Just the thought of it makes my skin crawl. We failed to protect her... Everyone on duty today is probably in for a world of hurt. But if we can catch the culprit quickly, we might be able to redeem ourselves.’ At this thought, the men secretly protecting Ning Xuan were suddenly galvanized, rushing about to round people up.