Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Gambling on Stones?

Luo Ming Yue, who loved a lively scene, saw the crowd jammed around the place and tugged Li Shuang into it: “Blind boxes? That sounds new.”

At the door of the Treasure Pavilion stood a huge table covered with plain looking stones. They were packed so tightly they took up half the street. By the look of it, there had to be over ten thousand.

Steward Qiu of the Treasure Pavilion glanced at Li Shuang, his eyes flickering, then lifted a Concealment Stone and explained: “Take a good look. The insides of these stones have been hollowed out. Some are empty, and some hide treasures from our Treasure Pavilion. The prizes range in value. The very best is worth a full one hundred top grade spirit stones.”

He continued with a smile: “Each person only needs to pay five middle grade spirit stones to pick any one stone. If luck is on your side, five middle grade spirit stones could turn into a treasure worth one hundred top grade spirit stones.”

He pointed to a cordoned area and added: “To keep this all about luck, we set up a small Formation here that blocks divine sense. No one choosing a stone can probe inside. Even I don’t know what is in which stone.”

He raised his voice: “This is our customer appreciation event. We hold it from time to time. Miss it today and who knows when the next one will be.”

After his pitch, many people were tempted, though none stepped forward at first. Then a man came out, paid five middle grade spirit stones, and, under everyone’s eyes, picked a stone at random. Steward Qiu pried it open and suddenly shouted with great excitement: “This cultivator has received an extra strong Attack Talisman worth ten top grade spirit stones!”

The man looked thrilled, snatched up the talisman, and hurried off.

Five middle grade spirit stones had just bought him something worth ten top grade spirit stones. The mood on the street turned hot at once, and many people rushed to pay and test their luck.

On the second floor, Ye Zhao Zhao watched with a sneer. [See that? So what if they’re cultivators? They’re still playing in the palm of my hand.] With a little modern trick and one shill to warm up the crowd, wouldn’t they all fall for it? [I, Ye Zhao Zhao, am not some useless waste.] Her eyes locked on Li Shuang. [What about her? She should be tempted too, right?]

Luo Ming Yue rubbed her hands, eager to try: “Little Shuang, want to play a round?”

Li Shuang shook her head: “First Senior Sister, you go ahead. I’ll pass.”

“You’re not playing?” Luo Ming Yue sounded disappointed, but she still said with a smile: “Then let’s go browse somewhere else.”

She was out to keep Li Shuang company today, so she would follow Li Shuang’s lead.

Steward Qiu had been watching their side. Seeing Li Shuang getting ready to leave, he grew anxious. Miss Ye had been very clear: make Li Shuang lose everything. If Li Shuang walked away now, how could he explain?

He hurried over with a friendly smile: “Will the two Immortal Maidens not play? It’s only five middle grade spirit stones a try. You might even hit the top prize worth one hundred top grade spirit stones.”

Li Shuang raised a brow: “No need.”

Refusing to let her go, Steward Qiu leaned in: “Then let me treat you the first time. I’ll put up the five middle grade spirit stones, and Immortal Maiden can pick whatever she likes. How about it?”

Li Shuang gave him a curious look. Did this steward think he knew why she wasn’t playing? Her Heaven and Earth Furnace hadn’t opened yet, but whenever she got near something with spiritual energy, the Furnace’s progress bar would shift.

For example, when the Black Abyss Sword had appeared, the progress bar had blurred straight to one hundred percent. For other items that held spiritual power, as soon as she drew near, the bar would change in different ways. In front of her, these stones were as clear as glass.

She hadn’t wanted to take advantage by using this, which was why she planned to leave.

But now the Supreme Emotionless Art was quietly circulating, and it was especially sharp at sensing the goodwill or malice of others. The instant Steward Qiu came close, she felt thick malice roll off him.

Steward Qiu was targeting her on purpose.

Upstairs, Ye Zhao Zhao stared down, a little tense. She was afraid Li Shuang would refuse to take the bait. Just then Li Shuang seemed to sense something and snapped her head up toward the window. Ye Zhao Zhao jumped in fright and ducked back out of sight.

Keeping his smile, Steward Qiu pressed on with his Dao-Questioning: “What do you say, Immortal Maiden?”

Li Shuang lowered her gaze and suddenly smiled, looking at him with meaning: “Steward Qiu, are you sure you want me to play?”

“Having Immortal Maiden join is an honor for our Treasure Pavilion,” he said smoothly.

“Fine,” Li Shuang replied as she calmly took out five middle grade spirit stones: “No need to treat me. I’ll play one round myself.”

Paying herself felt safer. If she drew the grand prize, she didn’t want any arguing over it.

Steward Qiu’s eyes flashed as he accepted the payment with a chuckle: “Please, Immortal Maiden.”

She told Luo Ming Yue with a nod: “First Senior Sister, wait for me a bit. I’ll be quick.”

“No rush,” Luo Ming Yue said with a grin: “Take your time.”

Li Shuang smiled and walked to the table, with Steward Qiu following cheerfully behind.

Half of the stones were empty. Of the half that held something, most were worth less than five middle grade spirit stones. He had done the math. The Treasure Pavilion could not lose on this game.

Li Shuang picked up a stone and felt the Heaven and Earth Furnace’s progress bar stay still. She set it down and touched another. Still no change. She didn’t hurry and simply went on, touching them one by one.

Trying to guide her, Steward Qiu lifted a stone and said with an easy laugh: “Immortal Maiden, you can’t tell anything by the surface. Why not just pick one at random? How about this one?”

Li Shuang only smiled and ignored him.

Stone after stone, over ten thousand in all, she kept at it without complaint.

Around them, voices rose and fell. Someone groaned: “Empty again! I’ll try another. I don’t believe it!” Another shouted in joy: “I hit it, I hit it! A treasure worth three hundred middle grade spirit stones!”

Li Shuang still didn’t rush. She kept calmly touching stones, one after another.

Upstairs again, Ye Zhao Zhao peeked out. Seeing Li Shuang’s odd behavior, gloom flashed in her eyes. [What is Li Shuang doing?] She had given special orders aimed just at Li Shuang. In her plan, for the first pick, Steward Qiu would let Li Shuang win something worth ten middle grade spirit stones to give her a sweet taste. Then people around her would hype her luck and push her to keep going. With that whole setup, Li Shuang would get hooked and spend all her spirit stones.

But now Li Shuang wasn’t taking the bait at all. No matter what Steward Qiu said or how the crowd fanned the mood, she stayed unmoved.