An Changqing: Version Update Doesn't Include Me

She just wasn't good at studying, but she still had common sense.

"It's exactly because of the bad luck that it seems authentic and credible."

Yin Chen smiled, offering his usual scientific explanation.

"A high-tier spatial demonic beast, like a Void Beast, accidentally wandered into the outer perimeter. It unintentionally opened up an alternate dimension and swept us all inside."

"The laws of time within an alternate dimension are inherently chaotic. That way, it makes perfect sense that we felt like only a few hours had passed inside, while three days had gone by in the outside world."

Su Yuehe's eyes lit up, the sparkle returning to her clear gaze. The two top students instantly hit it off.

"That's a great explanation. We can say we lost our bearings in the alternate dimension and couldn't find an exit. Our communication devices completely failed due to the spatial barrier's interference, and we only managed to escape when a rift appeared in the beast's domain."

An Changqing gave Su Yuehe an approving look and added to the plan.

"Not only that, but Yuehe, the precious data you recorded about the ancient civilization can also be blamed on the alternate dimension."

"It wouldn't be strange for a spatial demonic beast to have swept up all sorts of things across thousands of years into its stomach or domain. This explains our loss of contact and protects your research results without raising any suspicions."

Hong Yuan listened in a daze before giving them a thumbs-up. "You smart people really have quick brains. Didn't you just perfectly cover it all up in a few words?"

"It's not perfect yet."

Yin Chen shook his head gently, directly pouring a bucket of cold water on their excitement.

"There is a very fatal flaw in this excuse. A high-tier spatial demonic beast capable of trapping us in an alternate dimension for several days would be at least tier seven, if not higher."

"The highest among us is only tier five. Surviving in its alternate dimension and escaping completely unscathed would make them think we are treating them like fools, unless..."

"Unless what?" Hong Yuan hurriedly asked.

"Unless it died, or we have absolute proof that it existed, along with sufficient martial prowess," An Changqing took over the conversation, his expression turning somewhat serious.

Su Yuehe spoke up, "Preferably a spoil of war that matches its tier, but where are we going to find materials from a high-tier spatial demonic beast right now?"

She knew very well that she hadn't brought anything like that, so she could only hope someone else had.

The previously relaxed atmosphere in the carriage fell into a brief silence once more.

"Leave the martial prowess part to me." Yin Chen pointed to the husky by his feet. "I'll tell you the truth. This is a tier eight mutated demonic beast, a Frostbone Wolf. It's a life-saving trump card given to me by my family."

Yin Chen decided to be loyal to his friends this once.

If they had the guts, they could go ask his old man. Would his own father really tear down his lie? Dealing with his dad was much better than dealing with those government officials.

An Changqing's expression twitched as he looked at the husky by Yin Chen's feet.

Are you saying this dog is actually a wolf?

And a tier eight wolf at that?

An Changqing suddenly had the feeling that the whole world was secretly getting a version update without him.

Chen Guan sat by the window, quietly listening to his companions' discussion.

He could certainly exchange for one from the system's redemption panel, but doing so would drag out countless new mysteries.

Moreover... Chen Guan glanced at the price. This broken system was robbing him again!

Hong Yuan scratched her chin in distress and tentatively suggested, "How about... I dig out my tier four wind-attribute demonic core and say it belonged to a companion beast that was with the spatial demonic beast?"

"Hong Yuan, are you insulting the chairman's intelligence, or the professional competence of the Superpower Association's appraisal department?"

Yin Chen mercilessly shot down her idea. "The unique fluctuations of spatial-related materials simply cannot be faked with demonic cores of other attributes."

Su Yuehe also sighed softly. "I can't create a high-tier demonic core out of thin air either. If we go back and buy one now, it will be too easily discovered. If the evidence is insufficient, this excuse will fall apart on its own. Once the investigation team conducts a carpet search of the area where we appeared, there's no guarantee they won't find traces of that underground ruin."

The situation had reached a complete deadlock.

This was just a spur-of-the-moment outer perimeter exploration mission. Who would have the capability to prepare a high-tier spatial demonic core in advance and carry it as a spare?

Just as everyone was feeling troubled, Long Ao, who had been sitting silently in the corner, finally made a move.

He tossed an object onto the small fixed table in the middle.

Accompanied by a crisp rolling sound, a fist-sized crystal that was a pure, deep purple all over spun on the tabletop before finally coming to a steady stop in front of An Changqing.

Silver spatial energy, so dense it was visible to the naked eye, was slowly radiating outward ring by ring with this purple crystal at its center.

"This is..." Yin Chen's previously crossed fingers completely relaxed. He sat up straight, his gaze fixed tightly on the crystal on the table, his usually calm tone now carrying unconcealable shock.

"Pure spatial laws... This is impossible, the oppressive aura emanating from this..."

An Changqing quickly recognized it. "This is a demonic core, and its tier is extremely high. This color..."

Hong Yuan swallowed hard and shrank her neck back, her gaze toward Long Ao changing completely. "Long Ao, don't tell me you sneaked off and soloed a mythical beast while we weren't looking?"

Long Ao crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head to look elsewhere. The expression on his face remained that of a cold and tough guy, but a suspicious shade of red flushed the tips of his ears.

"I didn't kill it," he explained. "A tier ten Void Beast's demonic core. I got it by chance."

"Tier ten?!"

Hong Yuan's voice pitched up eight octaves, and she nearly jumped out of her seat. "You call this getting it by chance? A tier ten demonic beast is a calamity-level existence capable of destroying a country! Where did you pick up such a deadly thing?"

"Ahhh! It's not fair! I want to pick one up too!"

Hong Yuan threw a massive tantrum, whining and complaining.

Of course, it wasn't picked up.

This tier ten Void Beast demonic core had been secretly stuffed into Long Ao's hands by White Tiger before their departure.

At the time, White Tiger's exact words were: "Take this, don't refuse, or else you'll suffer so much later that you'll want to beat the living daylights out of your current prideful self."

Since it was put that way, adhering to the principle of better safe than sorry, Long Ao didn't refuse. He never expected it to come in handy at a time like this.

"It was picked up anyway."

Long Ao stubbornly stuck to his story, looking as if he didn't want to explain further. "Just tell me, can this thing be used to report back on our mission?"

"More than just report back." Yin Chen let out a long breath, his eyes full of awe. "If we hand this in, who would dare have any objections? A tier ten Void Beast's demonic core has a value that simply cannot be measured with money. With this, all lies will become unquestionable truths."

Su Yuehe pressed her hands against her chest, trying hard to calm her wildly beating heart. "Long Ao, this is too precious. If we hand this over, you will lose a supreme treasure."