Chapter 36: He’s a Man; Theoretically, He Can’t Bear Children.
From the preliminary rounds to the semifinals, there were five rounds of fights to win, and Dongfang Qingdi won them without any difficulty whatsoever.
Compared to winning, what proved far more difficult for him was pretending to have a back-and-forth, evenly matched fight with his opponents.
He couldn’t win too easily, nor did he want to let the other party touch him. As a result, Dongfang Qingdi had no choice but to flash and dodge all over the ring. Consequently, opposing contestants repeatedly demanded checks to see if he had concealed cybernetic modifications or secretly engaged acceleration propulsion devices to cheat.
Unluckily for them, every single time, the opposing side returned empty-handed.
Trashy humans—how could he possibly install such outdated hardware?
“Donghuang’s” ranking in the contestant group climbed higher and higher, gradually moving from outside the four hundreds into the Top 50.
Only 49 contestants remained for the semifinals. First place in points would be guaranteed a direct pass. Donghuang was ranked 49th, while Sirius was 41st.
Underground gambling dens had even set up betting pools, allowing residents from several surrounding cities to place wagers. Unfortunately, because Donghuang’s fame wasn’t very high and his opponents were even weaker, the funding pools for both couldn’t even assemble properly, and there were betting caps in place. Xiang Nanli mindlessly placed a few bets and only made a few tens of thousands. Afterward, he stopped paying much attention. The underground gambling dens required more and more withdrawal procedures, which made Xiang Nanli feel very unsafe.
The club’s rankings turned out even better than expected. Rhein had been walking with a swagger lately, looking at Donghuang and Sirius as if they were two roosters that laid golden eggs…
He quietly sought out Xiang Nanli to renew his contract, offering an annual signing price of 1.8 million, while also binding Xiang Nanli with an annual outsourcing contract worth 800,000 credit points, with overtime pay calculated separately.
Rhein believed his offer was quite fair; Dongfang Qingdi’s salary was much higher than Sirius’s.
Sirius had been bought four years ago from the city lord, reportedly some kind of “defective product.” Rhein couldn’t tell where Sirius had failed; he spent 200,000 to buy him and another 600,000 to cure him.
Sirius signed a thirty-five-year contract with the club, which covered room and board, paid a monthly salary of five thousand, and carried a breach-of-contract penalty of fifteen million.
35 years—even with the countless varieties of Gene Serum available today, this was virtually a buy-out of an underground boxer’s entire lifetime.
Xiang Nanli happily refused: “I won’t be in Gusu City next year! I’m going to study in Luoyang City, and Xiao Qing will accompany me.”
This was, of course, an excuse. Xiang Nanli simply didn’t want to work for someone else.
Working for someone meant receiving the lowest wage in exchange for giving the employer maximum value.
As early as 1,000 years ago, Xiang Nanli knew that working for others held no future.
If he wanted a stable, quiet life, he wouldn’t have founded Immortality Tech. Nor would he risk the rest of his life on another gamble after experiencing failure.
Xiang Nanli was a scholar, and he had also been a businessman.
Rhein was clearly somewhat disappointed, but after weighing the pros and cons, he didn’t push the matter either.
Their entire conversation was monitored by the little idiot system and synchronized down to every detail into Dongfang Qingdi’s mind.
“I probably won’t go to Luoyang City with you next year,” he said.
They had already moved into a slightly larger dorm—a two-story structure assembled from two shipping containers. The upper level was the resting area, while the lower level housed the living/dining area and kitchen.
Xiang Nanli sat cross-legged in the living room, a pile of disassembled parts laid out in front of him.
Ever since he had made a name for himself at the arena earlier, Xiang Nanli had taken on a lot of private orders.
They were all difficult and complex ailments accumulated by various contestants as they traveled far and wide. Repair fees varied based on difficulty, ranging from 50,000 to 100,000.
Alright, that day’s 200,000 had indeed just been an accidental stroke of luck from someone desperately seeking help in a crisis.
Still, after a week of matches, Xiang Nanli had earned around 500,000.
Logically speaking, cybernetic prosthetics could be replaced, and it was easy to buy new ones as long as one had money.
In reality, however, something called “mechanical compatibility” was limiting the development of Machine-modified Humans.*
Low-grade mechanical devices could be used even without great adaptability, but devices installed with high-level programs or equipment required compatibility with the nervous system.
Compatibility not only determined the energy conversion efficiency of the cybernetics, but also its operational efficiency.
Just think: with the exact same equipment, if your compatibility was low, firing a shot would be 1 second slower than someone else’s. That single second didn’t just determine victory or defeat—it could also determine life or death. Or with the exact same equipment, if your compatibility was low, someone else could fire 10 shots on a full charge, whereas you could only fire 7.
What was most infuriating was that even for cybernetics of the same model manufactured by the same producer, equal compatibility could not be guaranteed.
Therefore, mechanical repair had always enjoyed a massive market.
Xiang Nanli carefully connected a wire as fine as a strand of hair, and after confirming it wasn’t miswired, he replied: “I know, I was just brushing him off. Xiao Qing, we humans lie. You don’t need to take every word I say seriously.”
When they got back, besides the login pod, he should buy another high-magnification lens. That hardware could be installed on electronic lenses.
Dongfang Qingdi was currently processing some unknown beast meat bought back from the black market.
Hearing those words, his meat-cleaving movements inevitably grew a bit more violent, the blade sinking deep into the wooden board with every slice.
“I know, of course,” he answered. “Come out running with me after dinner. Physical training must be maintained and cannot stop.”
The efficiency of converting food into energy was far too low. Under Dongfang Qingdi’s supervision, Xiang Nanli had gradually grown accustomed to the strangely-flavored energy supplements, though he still craved good food.
Dongfang Qingdi intended to make some braised meat, cutting it into small pieces to pack in vacuum bags so it would be convenient for Xiang Nanli to eat.
For this purpose, he had specially commissioned someone to buy star anise, bay leaves, cinnamon… these few spices sold for a price even higher than gold.
Speaking of which, if Xiang Nanli didn’t move away, when he returned to the AI/Omnic Legion in the future, he could also send him some preserved foods. Besides braised beef, he had also looked up recipes in the database for cured meat, pickled chicken feet, and braised pig trotters.
What was comparatively more difficult was how to purchase human food ingredients in a place that only had motor oil, charging stations, and nuclear batteries.
Dongfang Qingdi planned to install a low-spec body for himself after going back. He would let Alpha 0.0.0 remain with the Legion to do the heavy lifting—conquering humanity or conquering the universe. Whatever, he didn’t care; he wanted to return to Xiang Nanli’s side.
After finishing his meal, Xiang Nanli was reluctantly dragged out of the warm room by Dongfang Qingdi.
A snowplow had cleared the area only at dawn, but now the accumulated snow had piled up calf-deep once again.
Dongfang Qingdi glanced into the distance: “The number of Mutants has increased, lurking at a position roughly 3 meters beneath the surface of the Eternal City. Preliminary estimates place it at 40 heads.”
Xiang Nanli felt the snowflakes hit him like steel ball bearings.
Logically speaking, this was a terrifying thing, yet Xiang Nanli didn’t feel the slightest sense of urgency.
Could it be because Dongfang Qingdi was by his side?
Xiang Nanli: “Is the problem serious?”
Dongfang Qingdi analyzed the existing data: “No problem.”
He still had 5% battery power left. Using 1% to activate his weapon systems would easily resolve the current issue.
Thus, Xiang Nanli felt at ease: “Xiao Qing, it’s so cold outside.”
He was wearing a hazmat suit, looking quite frail.
He didn’t speak the second half of the sentence, but he felt that as a sensible AI/Omnic, Dongfang Qingdi ought to get the hint.
Dongfang Qingdi answered: “The hazmat suit has no damage and is functioning normally. According to monitoring, your body temperature is at 37 degrees Celsius. Please do not slack off.”
Xiang Nanli had no choice but to start running reluctantly. Running ten kilometers every day had already become a normal part of his life routine.
Dongfang Qingdi frequently added diluted Gene Serum to the food Xiang Nanli ate—all of it trophies won from his matches one by one.
The medicinal efficacy seemed to have some effect.
Xiang Nanli clearly felt that his needed sleep duration had shortened recently, and his dynamic vision and night vision abilities had improved as well.
During usual training, he could even manage to barely graze the corner of Dongfang Qingdi’s clothes when Dongfang Qingdi moved at 0.2x speed.
Along the way, quite a few people greeted Xiang Nanli, and he responded to all of them with a smile.
He was good-looking and exceptionally capable, but most importantly, he possessed a vigor and spirit rarely seen among Wasteland people… the kind of feeling that “tomorrow is still something to look forward to.”
Almost no one would dislike a Xiang Nanli like this. Except for the bunch of contestants who had been beaten by Dongfang Qingdi.
There were even more people out tonight than usual. Xiang Nanli guessed it was because the preliminary rounds ended today. Tomorrow, some contestants who hadn’t secured a semifinal slot would head back the way they came, so this group wanted to have one last stroll around before heading home.
The main hall of the Tournament Organizing Committee hadn’t closed yet, and the distant black market was brightly lit. Contestants in groups of two or three were still borrowing the octagonal cages usually used for matches to squeeze in extra training for themselves.
The atmosphere was quite harmonious, but in the next second, a sharp, harsh reprimand suddenly blared from the drones overhead.
“—Clear the area! Clear the area!”
The drones projected red lights, tracing an isolation line across the snow.
“Evacuate immediately within three minutes. Everyone stand outside the red line! Anyone stepping inside the red line will be shot on sight!”
People who were still inside the boundary scrambled outward. Dongfang Qingdi grabbed Xiang Nanli’s arm to prevent him from being shoved out by the crowd.
A group of staff members wearing Tournament Organizing Committee armbands ran out from the main hall. Clad in uniforms, their expressions were tense and stern.
The staff pulled up a police line and stood neatly in formation on both sides of the road.
“What’s going on?”
Someone in the crowd muttered.
“No idea.”
“What kind of commotion is this? It scared me into thinking we ran into a rogue machine.”
Xiang Nanli was pushed forward by the crowd.
Dongfang Qingdi didn’t pay attention to his strength at all, pinching his arm until it hurt a bit.
Xiang Nanli moved his hand away from his arm and switched to holding his hand instead: “Hold it like this. Don’t pull my arm, it’s uncomfortable.”
Dongfang Qingdi’s body stiffened for a brief moment. Then, he gripped Xiang Nanli’s hand tightly, fingers intertwined.
Soft, warm. One look revealed he lived a life of pampered comfort, without a single callus to be found.
Dongfang Qingdi couldn’t help but rub it slightly… Mm, fingerprint reading successful.
They quickly found out what had happened.
A big shot from Yinshan City was passing through; someone in the Organizing Committee chat group had even posted a blurry photo.
– Holy crap! It’s Xiang Chenxi!
– What what?? The one from Yinshan City??
“Who’s Xiang Chenxi?”
In the crowd, someone voiced the question in Xiang Nanli’s mind. It just sounded a bit noisy.
Xiang Nanli: [Xiao Qing, can you hear them? Turn up the volume a bit, thanks.]
Those speaking voices quickly grew clear.
“You don’t even know Xiang Chenxi? Tracing the family tree back thirteen generations, his ancestor was Xiang Nanli’s cousin! As for Xiang Nanli’s blood descendants, he’s the only one left in this generation, and he’s currently being raised by the Black Cross Inquisition.”
Xiang Nanli indeed had a younger male cousin, but the age gap had been quite large.
He tried hard to recall, and the face of a little kid blowing snot bubbles flashed in his mind.
Xiang Nanli had seen him once when he returned to the country to sell his house; his cousin was only six years old back then. Later on, Xiang Nanli had even helped write his recommendation letter for studying abroad… Of course, their relationship ended there; they weren’t very close.
Xiang Nanli quickly pulled up the photo from the group chat. The person in the photo wasn’t facing forward, but shown from the side. His brows and eyes carried a touch of melancholy, looking exceedingly gentle.
Xiang Chenxi’s facial features were somewhat feminine—resembling Xiang Nanli back when he was still a minor.
Behind him followed several Apocalypse Knights covered in black armor.
Judging by the patterns on their armor, these Apocalypse Knights were of no low tier.
He held a distinguished status, yet upon careful thought, they were all nominal titles—things like “Charity Association President,” “Yinshan City Ambassador,” and so on. He possessed no concrete authority whatsoever.
Xiang Chenxi enjoyed high popularity both underground and on the surface, which was likely deliberate on the Inquisition’s part out of political considerations.
Immortality Tech acknowledged Xiang Nanli as its founder; the AI/Omnic Legion acknowledged Xiang Nanli as “Father.”
So, if Xiang Nanli’s descendant believed in the Black Cross Inquisition, how could you have the nerve to claim our Inquisition is a terrorist organization or a cult?
—There must be a lot of people who want to kill Xiang Chenxi.
Such a thought suddenly flashed through Xiang Nanli’s mind—and there would only be even more people who wanted to kill “Xiang Nanli.”
“A cousin? That doesn’t count as a direct blood descendant, does it?”
“Well, who told Xiang Nanli not to have children?”
Xiang Nanli: “…”
He was a man; theoretically, he couldn’t bear children.
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee accompanied Xiang Chenxi’s side with a face full of smiles: “My Lord, why have you come? You didn’t notify us in advance.”
The crowd stirred slightly, and Xiang Chenxi smiled while waving toward the onlookers.
“Lord Xiang Chenxi—”
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Xiang Chenxi turned his head, his words practically lip-read: “The Elders said the winner of this selection tournament would be cultivated into my knight, so I came to take a look.”
“Then are you heading to the Eternal City? Is it… almost ripe?”
The Chairman’s eyes opened slightly wider, his expression impossible to tell whether it was surprise or fear.
Xiang Chenxi’s smile remained unchanged: “I don’t understand what you mean. However, I am indeed going to live in the Eternal City for a while. I can’t very well stay outside living together with these untouchables, can I? Acting like a saint every day makes me want to vomit from disgust.”
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【Unlockable Data】
Mechanical Compatibility: Refers to the degree of adaptability between a human and installed cybernetics. The higher the compatibility, the higher the energy conversion efficiency and the faster the reaction speed.
