Chapter 23: Bountiful Rewards
What madness had possessed Li Shuang?
Ye Zhao Zhao’s gaze locked onto Li Shuang, following her every careful movement.
For nearly half an incense stick’s worth of time, Li Shuang examined each Spirit Stone with patient precision. Even Manager Qiu, watching closely, began to grow restless. When Li Shuang finally reached the last stone, he could no longer contain himself. “Celestial Maiden, have you made your selection yet?”
“Wait a moment,” Li Shuang replied calmly.
By now, she had touched every stone, clearly understanding their worth.
But—
Where was the fabled treasure worth a hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones?
It was nowhere among them.
Li Shuang’s hand rested lightly on the wooden table.
Suddenly, the Heaven and Earth Furnace surged forward by twenty points.
Her eyes flickered downward.
[Could it be the table itself?]
She stepped back and gently pressed various places upon the table, but the furnace remained unchanged. Only that first spot had moved the furnace.
A faint smile touched her lips.
She began carefully searching every inch of the table.
Manager Qiu, witnessing this strange behavior, felt a cold sweat drip down his forehead. “Celestial Maiden, you—”
“Found it.”
Li Shuang’s fingers pressed gently, and a hidden mechanism clicked open. A secret compartment appeared, revealing a single, quiet Spirit Stone.
Her peculiar actions had already attracted curious eyes from all around. Now, seeing her uncover this secret chamber, the crowd erupted.
“A hidden compartment? What’s going on?”
“Spirit Treasure Pavilion always spoke of fairness and honor. Are they resorting to trickery now?”
Waves of suspicion swept through the gathered martial artists.
Manager Qiu’s forehead glistened with panic.
“Celestial Maiden, that stone…” Manager Qiu stammered.
“I choose this one,” Li Shuang calmly interrupted.
Manager Qiu’s face instantly drained of color.
This “contest” had always drawn in countless hopeful martial artists by dangling a grand prize before their eyes. Secretly hidden away, the stone was meant for one of their own—ensuring the Pavilion would never lose.
But now, Li Shuang had uncovered their trickery openly!
This was no mere loss of a hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones. It was a deadly blow to the Pavilion’s century-old reputation!
Manager Qiu stood frozen, thoughts collapsing into chaos.
Li Shuang casually opened the Spirit Stone in full view of everyone.
Nestled within its core lay an exquisite jade pendant.
“The Clear Heart Jade Pendant! Worth one hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones!” someone exclaimed.
“The grand prize has finally emerged!”
The crowd surged closer, excitement flaring.
Li Shuang smiled softly, tying the jade pendant gracefully at her waist. “Manager Qiu, I’ll gladly keep this prize. But hiding it so cunningly was rather underhanded. Had luck not favored me, no mere cutting of stones would ever reveal this treasure.”
Her words rippled through the crowd, realization dawning.
Fury ignited among the martial artists as they glared fiercely at Manager Qiu.
“Manager Qiu! Such deception!”
“You claimed it was all about luck, yet you secretly concealed the greatest prize?”
“We trusted the honor of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, yet you have stained its hundred-year legacy!”
Manager Qiu’s lips quivered helplessly. “Please, everyone, calm yourselves. I—I can explain…”
But his feeble protest vanished within the storm of outrage.
Li Shuang, holding her Clear Heart Jade Pendant, quietly slipped away from the tumultuous scene.
Among the treasures available, many stones far exceeded the entry price of five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Had Li Shuang desired, she could have seized a fortune.
Yet she only took the single grand prize.
Not out of fear of the Pavilion, but because grasping too much would reveal her secret—the extraordinary treasure hidden within her.
“Little Junior Sister, well done!” Luo Ming Yue praised warmly, raising a thumb in approval.
Li Shuang smiled softly. “It was merely luck.”
“If luck is with you today, let’s wander through the Market and hunt for hidden treasures!” Luo Ming Yue eagerly suggested.
The Market was a realm where truth and illusion danced together. Even the merchants often failed to recognize the worth of their wares. Some squandered fortunes on useless baubles, while others discovered priceless gems hidden among ordinary items. The outcome relied entirely on one’s keen eye.
For Li Shuang, this was the perfect opportunity. With the mysterious Heaven and Earth Furnace in her hands, misjudging value was impossible.
Yet the Heaven and Earth Furnace was her deepest secret.
She could openly discuss the profound secrets of the Grand Supreme Emotionless Art without fear. But the Furnace’s existence was a truth she must forever conceal.
Li Shuang planned to blend her purchases carefully, selecting both treasures and trivialities. As long as her gains outweighed her losses, no one would suspect anything unusual.
Before departing, she glanced upward toward the second floor.
It stood empty.
A gentle smile appeared on her lips.
Earlier, a wisp of spiritual energy had surged mysteriously within her.
Before today, its cause had remained a mystery. Now, she had a clue.
The person on the second floor harbored deep hostility toward her.
A malice far greater than Manager Qiu’s—by thousands, even tens of thousands!
She had felt such intense hatred only once before—from Ye Zhao Zhao.
The mysterious figure upstairs had to be Ye Zhao Zhao.
This elaborate trap had surely been set by her, a plot to rob Li Shuang blind.
Yet, Li Shuang had turned disaster into triumph.
Ye Zhao Zhao must now be consumed by anger.
Remembering her past surge in spiritual energy, Li Shuang realized it had also occurred because of Ye Zhao Zhao.
During her victory in the competition, Ye Zhao Zhao’s expression had grown especially bitter.
[Could it be that Ye Zhao Zhao’s hatred is strengthening my cultivation?]
Li Shuang did not yet fully understand this mystery, but she was unconcerned. If it happened again and again, the truth would eventually reveal itself.
As Li Shuang leisurely browsed the bustling Market, Ye Zhao Zhao was fleeing desperately back to Sword Sect.
Not only had she caused the Spirit Treasure Pavilion significant loss, but she had also damaged its reputation. Manager Qiu would never forgive her!
She needed to vanish quickly.
More importantly—
She could never meet Manager Qiu again in this identity.
Her partnership with the Pavilion was finished.
Knowing Manager Qiu’s ruthless greed, he would never let her off lightly.
Ye Zhao Zhao’s face twisted with fury and resentment.
Her carefully woven trap had fallen apart so easily.
[How did Li Shuang discover the hidden compartment?]
“Host, your spiritual energy has dropped again,” the System’s cold voice warned. “Continue failing, and I’ll erase you to find a better host.”
Ye Zhao Zhao’s heart seized in fear. Trembling, she promised, “This is only the start. I…I have many other ways to handle Li Shuang!”
“You had better,” the System responded coldly before fading back into silence.
Ye Zhao Zhao bit her lip fiercely.
[Li Shuang, why couldn’t you remain in the dirt where you belonged? Why must you rise again?]
Her cultivation couldn’t continue declining. She had to find a way to crush Li Shuang beneath her feet again!
Meanwhile, inside the Spirit Artifact Pavilion, Manager Qiu’s expression was dark and grim.
To soothe the angry cultivators, he had paid dearly.
Yet the Pavilion’s prestigious name had been severely tarnished.
This disaster was beyond his ability to contain.
The Spirit Artifact Pavilion held its honor above everything. News of this would reach headquarters soon.
When that happened…
His fate would not be pleasant!
“Manager, Miss Ye has already fled,” a subordinate reported cautiously.
Manager Qiu’s expression twisted with fury.
“Does she think escaping is that simple? Does she truly believe I don’t know her true identity? Summon Retainer Hong! We leave for Sword Sect immediately!”
If he was doomed, Ye Zhao Zhao would not escape unpunished!
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation