Use coins.
The secret that only Ning Li and Qu Feng knew was finally exposed.
It all started when a Sentinel tried to get something for nothing.
He spread the word that anyone who could provide valuable information would get ten thousand Universal Credits.
For most people, ten thousand Universal Credits was a strong lure.
So Ning Li was betrayed by a child.
This child had followed her and Qu Feng all the way from another district to the 77th District Coast, only to stab her in the back in the end.
The child had no real evidence—just a gut feeling.
The child shouted loudly, “Once, I saw her open her pocket and show it to big brother! She must have some treasure in there!”
At first, no one took the news seriously.
After all, Zhugao and Qu Feng had been here for almost a month, and during this month, the two of them were always together, their relationship visibly close.
“Maybe she was just sharing shells or something?”
“Sharing cool things is common between good friends, isn’t it?”
“Are they really just good friends? Hahahaha?”
The child was determined to get that ten thousand Universal Credits.
With that much, he wouldn’t have to work so hard waiting for low tide every day or keep combing the endless beach for scraps.
He never found anything.
It was like he was cursed when it came to treasures—he could barely even find a few shells.
“I saw a flash of silver light.”
As soon as he said this, the looks from those nearby changed.
Ran Fu’s eyes turned especially fierce, staring at Ning Li like a wolf ready to pounce, his whole body tensed.
“What did you pick up?”
Ning Li shrugged casually.
“Just a canned drink tab.”
But everyone had the same thought: this time, they’d rather kill the wrong person than let her slip away.
Such an excuse was not enough to fool them.
“Take it out and show us.”
A trace of displeasure flashed in Ning Li’s eyes.
Why should she show what she picked up?
But the situation left her with no choice; she couldn’t refuse.
While Ning Li was still hesitating, Qu Feng had already pulled a short section of a can from her pocket—the tab from the top.
Ning Li:!!!
Without her knowing, Qu Feng had considered everything so carefully!
They had talked about situations like this before and come up with some rough countermeasures.
She’d just been so focused on studying the Divine Gift these past few days that she hadn’t had time to find a canned drink tab or anything like that.
Qu Feng had taken care of it all for her.
The moment the Square Pull-tab appeared, everyone relaxed again.
Ran Fu even snorted, a little embarrassed.
He’d really almost acted just now.
Ning Li thought the crisis should be over at this point.
But that child, for some reason, just wouldn’t let it go.
“The light I saw that day couldn’t have come from a can tab. She definitely has a treasure!”
Ning Li stared coldly at the child.
She felt that while she hadn’t been warm to the others along the way, she’d never bullied anyone either.
Yet for ten thousand Universal Credits, this child hated her so much he’d send her straight to hell.
Qu Feng stepped in front of Ning Li.
“There’s no treasure.”
“You say there’s none and that’s it?”
“Search them! We must search them!”
“We should also check the places they usually go!”
Ran Fu’s gaze showed he was running out of patience.
“If you know what’s good for you, take it out now. Save everyone trouble—don’t push your luck!”
This makeshift team fell apart completely in the face of a Divine Gift.
Their fleeting camaraderie was blown away by the wind, leaving no trace behind.
Perhaps there was never any real bond—just the convenience of walking a stretch of road together.
Ran Wu was watching Ning Li coldly from the side, as if she were some mortal enemy.
Ning Li found it laughable.
If she could pick up a Divine Gift, that was her skill!
If Ran Wu had the ability, he could go pick one up himself!
But Ran Wu couldn’t pick up anything and only knew how to covet what was in other people’s hands—what kind of logic was that?
She didn’t feel any disappointment.
From the start, she knew she and Ran Fu, Ran Wu, and their group could split at any moment.
Her only regret was dragging Qu Feng into this mess.
He had nothing to do with any of it.
Ran Fu kept standing firmly in front of her, his tall figure shielding her completely.
“Back up.”
But no one listened to him.
“You’re just a mid-level Sentinel—who are you to give me orders?”
“Qu Feng, you guys found a Divine Gift and hid it? You know my sister needs it! She can’t live much longer! You know that!”
Qu Feng only said, “There’s no Divine Gift.”
“Call Zhugao out! We want to search!”
“Qu Feng, I’m so disappointed in you. So this is who you are.”
“Brothers, what are we waiting for? Let’s just do it!”
A barrage of control skills rained down on Qu Feng and Ning Li.
Qu Feng’s little dolphin kept spraying water, trying to block wave after wave of attacks, but it was futile.
There were too many attackers, and the lure of a Divine Gift was too great—everyone nearby had gone mad.
At the critical moment, the silver cube in Ning Li’s pocket flashed, and a beam of silver light landed on her.
“A Divine Gift! It really is a Divine Gift!”
“Grab it!”
“A Divine Gift finally appeared! Hahahaha, my ten years here weren’t in vain!”
“That Divine Gift is mine!”
The instant the silver light landed, Ning Li activated her newly obtained skill, Doulzhuan Xingyi, instantly teleporting herself and Qu Feng to Zone 76—a place that was temporarily safe, but not completely so.
Ning Li hadn’t expected there really were Divine Gifts that could make people much stronger.
Her spirit body had evolved.
From Princess Anemone, it had upgraded to Xinghai Sea Anemone.
She had advanced from an Intermediate Guide to an Advanced Guide!
She’d really done it!
Maybe one day, she’d even go from Advanced Guide to Top-tier Guide!
Qu Feng’s face was covered in blood, but his eyes sparkled, as if containing a brilliant galaxy flowing inside them.
Most of those skills had landed on him, nearly costing him his life.
But he didn’t complain, only sincere joy slowly rising in his eyes.
“Zhugao, you’re amazing.”
“Zhugao is an Advanced Guide now, congratulations.”
He was badly injured, but still found it in himself to congratulate her.
Ning Li lowered her head and smiled, pouring a barrage of healing skills onto him as if they were free.
Luckily, those people hadn’t meant to kill him.
After all, he was just an unimportant obstacle—they really wanted her.
In truth, if he hadn’t protected her, he could have come out unscathed.
But he’d always stood in front of her.
Qu Feng really was a trustworthy companion.
Qu Feng glanced in the direction of Zone 77, still in the mood to joke.
“Looks like we’re going to be wanted by every Sentinel and Guide on the continent.”
Ning Li didn’t care at all.
“Let them hunt us.”
She was impatient to become a Top-tier Guide.
What would the spirit body of a Top-tier Guide look like?
She could hardly wait.
“Qu Feng.”
“Mm?”
Ning Li looked straight into his eyes.
“Will you stay with me?”
Being wanted was a foregone conclusion; no one would just stand by and let her hold on to the Divine Gift in peace.
They would become the target of countless greedy eyes.
She’d have a hard time protecting the Divine Gift on her own.
She was just a Guide, with no attack skills.
She needed a Sentinel’s support.
Qu Feng blinked, the hint of a smile in his eyes.
“Aren’t we partners?”
Even if they were wanted, both would be wanted together—it was never going to be that Ning Li was hunted and Qu Feng was spared.
They’d been in the same boat from the very start.
Ning Li handed the silver cube to Qu Feng.
“Qu Feng, give it a try.”
Qu Feng took the cold, silver cube in his palm, but its chill was soon dispelled by the warmth of his hand.
They waited quietly for a while, but regrettably, the Divine Gift didn’t respond.
Ning Li comforted him with the same words he’d used to reassure her last time.
“It’s okay, let’s just wait and see.”
Qu Feng stood up.
Some of his wounds had healed, but not completely.
But there was no time left for him to recover—they had to leave as soon as possible.
Ning Li’s acquisition of the Divine Gift would likely spread across the planet soon.
They would become targets for everyone.
But it didn’t matter.
He would stay with her, always.
They disguised themselves, withdrew their spirit bodies into their psychic seas, and while the news hadn’t yet spread, bought a huge stash of food and drinks, afraid they might not have another chance later.
“Sorry,”
Qu Feng suddenly apologized.
Ning Li replied, “Shouldn’t I be the one saying sorry?”
She was the one who’d caused the trouble—Qu Feng had just gotten dragged into disaster.
She was the one who’d shared first, the one who’d opened her pocket; Qu Feng had only passively shared in her happiness.
“That kid… I didn’t know he was that kind of person.”
Ning Li was unconcerned.
“It’s normal, really. You can see a person’s face but not their heart. But it’s still infuriating—you taught him so many survival tips, helped him live better, you were sincere with him, and in the end, he hates me so much he wants me in hell.”
All for just ten thousand Universal Credits.
“There’s nothing wrong with kindness—the only mistake is trusting someone who doesn’t deserve it.”
After she finished speaking, Ning Li put her hands behind her back and slipped in a selfish request.
“So, Qu Feng, from now on, don’t be so nice to everyone. I’m your only teammate. You only need to be good to me.”
“I want to be the most special person to you!”
If the sun’s rays fell equally on every creature on this planet, then she wanted to monopolize that sunlight.
She never wanted equality.
She wanted to be special.
Why should he be gentle to everyone?
Others would only waste that gentleness.
Qu Feng lowered his head, giving a two-word reply, “You are.”
“What?”
Suddenly, Ning Li thought of how Qu Feng’s spirit dolphin always showed her special favor, how the little dolphin let her hug and kiss it however she wanted.
So, had she already become the most special existence in Qu Feng’s heart?