Chapter 171
Chapter 171: I Am Just a Fragile, Helpless Sword Cultivator
Gazing at the brightly flickering mother-of-pearl octagonal palace lantern, Shi Zi Chu gently tapped the glazed lampshade twice with her fingers.
Guan Zhuang suddenly stood up and walked over.
Meeting Shi Zi Chu’s clear and gentle gaze, he pressed his hands together in a respectful salute. “Daoist Shi, may I exchange this palace lantern for a magic artifact of the same rank?”
Chu Zhi Rou, who had been scheming in her mind, froze for a moment.
Shi Zi Chu lowered her eyes, her smile gentle. “If I like that magic artifact,” she replied.
Upon hearing this, Guan Zhuang immediately took out several magic artifacts, offering them for Shi Zi Chu to choose from.
Jiang Wan Sheng leaned forward, curious to see what was offered.
The magic artifacts were all of equal value, showing that Guan Zhuang was sincere in his offer.
From within the spatial storage ring, Xue Gu glanced over briefly. The voice of the adorable creature echoed in Shi Zi Chu’s spiritual sense. “Master, the bodhi seed bracelet and the silk shawl are the best choices.”
Shi Zi Chu looked them over, then finally chose the bodhi seed bracelet.
The bodhi seed bracelet was particularly effective against malevolent spirits and vicious ghosts, making it a good defense for someone with her slightly Yin constitution. It was a useful protective magic artifact for her.
Guan Zhuang took the mother-of-pearl octagonal palace lantern, and the trade was complete.
Chu Zhi Rou hastily called upon the heroine system.
With the palace lantern now in Guan Zhuang’s possession, how could she continue her attempt to win him over?
[Since you cannot obtain this magic artifact, why not take this opportunity to retrieve the spatial storage ring?] System 003 suggested.
The spatial storage ring held countless heavenly treasures. Once retrieved, she wouldn’t have to worry about how to proceed!
Chu Zhi Rou nodded in agreement, her gaze falling upon Shi Zi Chu’s hands.
It was then that she realized, Shi Zi Chu’s fingers were empty.
“003, the spatial storage ring isn’t on Shi Zi Chu!” she exclaimed.
[How could that be?!] 003’s voice was full of shock, followed by a quick scan. [Where is the spatial storage ring? How could it not be on the malicious female lead?!]
The heroine system appeared even more startled than Chu Zhi Rou.
The sudden disappearance of the spatial storage ring threw both Chu Zhi Rou and the heroine system’s plans into disarray.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wan Sheng turned to Shi Zi Chu, speaking softly, “The silk shawl looks nice too. Do you like it?”
Shi Zi Chu shook her head. “Mermaid silk is better.”
Jiang Wan Sheng thought for a moment, then walked directly to Guan Zhuang.
Guan Zhuang, who had just seated himself, looked up as Jiang Wan Sheng approached, his tone calm. “Young Master Jiang, do you need something?”
Jiang Wan Sheng made his intention clear. “I would like to exchange a magic artifact of the same rank for the silk shawl.”
Shi Zi Chu’s eyes flashed with helplessness, unable to stop him in time.
Meng Xi Yu looked up, inwardly cursing himself for being a step too late.
“Young Master Jiang, would you like to purchase it with spirit stones?” Guan Zhuang asked.
The silk shawl was a magic artifact he had no use for, so selling it for spirit stones would be more practical. He could later use those to buy the magic artifact he desired at an auction.
“What’s the price?” Jiang Wan Sheng asked.
After a rough estimate, Guan Zhuang replied, “1.4 billion spirit stones.”
Jiang Wan Sheng, however, had his own price in mind. “1.3 billion.”
“Agreed.”
Guan Zhuang handed over the spirit stone card.
Jiang Wan Sheng took out his purple gold card and transferred the 1.3 billion spirit stones.
After confirming the correct amount, Guan Zhuang handed over the silk shawl. “Young Master Jiang is quick to settle.”
Jiang Wan Sheng nodded with a smile, then took the silk shawl and wrapped it around Shi Zi Chu’s arm, even casually helping her perform the blood-binding ritual.
“Mm, it looks nice,” he remarked, as though he were a critic.
Bought for 1.3 billion spirit stones—how could it not be beautiful?
“Spendthrift,” Shi Zi Chu muttered in mock reproach.
Jiang Wan Sheng chuckled, his round eyes sparkling as he smiled. “If you like it, it’s not wasteful.”
Shi Zi Chu sighed in exasperation.
As Guan Zhuang fiddled with the octagonal palace lantern, he suddenly spoke. “Everyone, it seems there is an unfavorable prophecy.”
Seeing his serious expression, the others gathered around.
On the lampshade, strange Sanskrit characters were floating.
“Beast tide,” Guan Zhuang said, lifting his gaze to look at them. His voice turned grave. “A beast tide will strike Blue Rain Marsh.”
?
“Is this real?” Meng Xi Yu asked in a calm voice.
Guan Zhuang nodded. “Yes, it’s true.”
Meng Xi Yu took out a communication talisman to contact Yan Zhou Bai.
“This lamp has prophecy ability?” Ye Chi Wei asked unexpectedly.
Guan Zhuang affirmed, his eyes returning to the lantern.
He focused on the Sanskrit script that was floating on the lampshade, extracting the true prophecy from it.
Ye Chi Wei glanced at Shi Zi Chu and then chuckled. “It seems Daoist Shi made a loss.”
Magic artifacts with prophetic abilities were extremely rare, and though the bodhi seed bracelet was precious, it couldn’t compare to this octagonal palace lantern.
Shi Zi Chu teased, “Should I ask the Buddhist disciple for spirit stones as compensation?”
Ye Chi Wei laughed. “Good idea.”
Liao Kong, standing nearby, added, “This magic artifact is definitely more valuable than the bodhi seed bracelet. Senior Brother doesn’t lack spirit stones. Daoist Shi, you should extort Senior Brother for a bit.”
After reading the prophecy and putting the palace lantern away, Guan Zhuang looked at the group with a resigned smile. “This humble monk is merely a penniless Buddhist cultivator.”
Though his words were modest, he honestly handed over a Heaven-ranked magic artifact to Shi Zi Chu.
Initially, he thought the palace lantern was a defensive artifact, but discovering its prophetic abilities, he couldn’t let such an opportunity slip by.
Shi Zi Chu waved her hand dismissively, teasing, “Wasn’t it said that monks don’t speak falsehoods?”
With a few Heaven-ranked magic artifacts in hand, if he were truly penniless, then there wouldn’t be a rich cultivator in the entire cultivation world.
Faced with Shi Zi Chu’s teasing, Guan Zhuang gave a helpless smile before speaking earnestly. “I underestimated the rarity of this palace lantern. Daoist Shi, please accept this magic artifact.”
“The bodhi seed bracelet is rare too,” Shi Zi Chu said with a smile, politely refusing. “I was just teasing. If the Buddhist disciple keeps going like this, I might get angry.”
Guan Zhuang had no choice but to take back the Heaven-ranked magic artifact.
“Buddhist disciple, will this beast tide affect the entire Blue Rain Marsh?” Jiang Wan Sheng asked.
Guan Zhuang nodded. “A demi-god rank magic artifact will cause a natural disturbance. The abnormal flow of spiritual power will drive spirit beasts into a frenzied state.”
“As for when the beast tide will erupt, the earliest will be tonight, and the latest will be tomorrow.”
After hearing this, Jiang Wan Sheng used a communication talisman to contact Second Elder Jiang, who was in the inner zone.
As the signal flare lit up, Qu Ru, followed by several disciples, hurried over. Without catching her breath, she overheard Meng Xi Yu’s mention of the beast tide.
“A beast tide?” Qu Ru couldn’t believe her ears.
Meng Xi Yu nodded.
Qu Ru collapsed dramatically to the ground, her face full of despair.
Her junior sisters rushed to support her.
“Not so bad,” Meng Xi Yu said, trying to comfort her.
Qu Ru, in an exaggerated tone, whimpered, “Sect Master, I am just a weak, helpless female cultivator. Can I leave and go back?”
Her junior sisters rolled their eyes—this was nothing new.
“Qu Ru, you are a sword cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage,” Meng Xi Yu said, unmoved.
The words “fragile and helpless” did not suit Qu Ru in the slightest.
Qu Ru’s face dropped as she reluctantly said, “Sect Master, you have to understand, after a beast tide, my life-bound sword will get dulled!”
Upon hearing this, Meng Xi Yu remained expressionless. “Then go back to Flame Sun Peak and have an artifact smith repair it. Spirit stones will be covered by the sect.”
“Alright!” Qu Ru agreed with surprising enthusiasm, clearly eager not to miss the chance.
Her junior sisters just sighed, resigned to Qu Ru’s antics.
Watching Qu Ru’s behavior, Shi Zi Chu couldn’t help but be amazed.
So this is what a sword cultivator is like?