Chapter 87: First Trial of the Furnace
Ye Zhao Zhao still stood guard outside. The Jade Slip, incapable of independent movement, remained within, leaving Li Shuang in a dire predicament.
Yet—
Observing Su Mu’s leisurely demeanor, Li Shuang simply sat beside him with an air of calm.
She extended her hand toward him.
Su Mu glanced at her, perplexed.
“Fishing rod,” Li Shuang stated.
Su Mu was silent for a moment before waving his hand. A fishing rod materialized in Li Shuang’s grasp.
Without another word, she began fishing.
Su Mu gave her a sidelong glance. “You truly remain unfazed. That Ye Zhao Zhao is quite the enigma—she has been standing guard outside all this time. Are you not afraid of death? The Jade Slip can only sustain you for ten days. What will you do once you leave?”
Li Shuang shook her head. “Of course, I fear death.”
There were many things left unfinished. Naturally, she feared death.
Su Mu’s lips twitched. “You certainly don’t look like it.”
Li Shuang’s expression was steady. “Panic will not resolve the crisis before me.”
And with that, she earnestly immersed herself in fishing.
Su Mu raised a brow. He was indeed curious about how Li Shuang intended to resolve her predicament.
Watching the gentle movements of the fish in the water, Li Shuang’s heart grew still, her mind settling into tranquility.
She always possessed intense focus—whether practicing the sword or fishing.
Before long—
The first fish took the bait.
A faint smile graced Li Shuang’s lips as she placed it into a nearby bamboo bucket.
Su Mu glanced at her catch.
He had been fishing for half the day without so much as a nibble!
Fine. Perhaps this was just beginner’s luck.
But soon—
One fish after another bit her line. The bamboo bucket beside Li Shuang quickly filled to the brim.
Su Mu glanced at her bucket, then at his own, which remained empty. A long silence followed.
His fingers twitched slightly. In the next moment, a fish swam up and obediently bit onto his hook.
A smile surfaced on Su Mu’s lips as he leisurely pulled in a large fish. “Fishing is about quality, not quantity. Look at mine—one of these is worth several of yours.”
He turned to glance at Li Shuang, only to find her staring blankly into space, utterly unresponsive.
Su Mu frowned slightly.
Was she… stunned by the sight of his catch?
At that moment—
Li Shuang’s consciousness had already plunged into her spiritual sea as she conducted an experiment.
She had confirmed several things.
First, in order to place an item into the Heaven and Earth Furnace, she had to possess clear ownership of it.
For example, earlier, she had attempted to command the Furnace to exchange all the sand within a ten-mile radius. Yet, the Heaven and Earth Furnace remained unresponsive.
Because that sand did not belong to her.
However, all the items within her Storage Pouch could be refined—these were deemed to be under her ownership by the Heaven and Earth Furnace.
Second—
The concept of equivalent exchange within the Heaven and Earth Furnace disregarded most additional factors of value.
Just moments ago, she had exchanged a freshly picked Second-tier Flaming Grass for a Second-tier Soul Spirit Grass, which had been extinct for a thousand years.
If sold, the Soul Spirit Grass would undoubtedly fetch far more Spirit Stones than the Flaming Grass.
The Furnace’s valuation process was independent of rarity.
Previously, when she sought to upgrade her treasured sword, she had needed to travel across vast lands to locate the right ore.
But with the Heaven and Earth Furnace—
She merely needed to find any ore of the same tier and use the Furnace to transmute it.
This function alone would save her an incalculable amount of time.
With this understanding of the Furnace’s capabilities, a thought took root in Li Shuang’s mind.
She silently commanded: “Exchange one bottle of Third-tier Rejuvenation Pill for one Third-tier Demon-Luring Grass.”
A voice echoed in her mind:
“Former item value: 133 points. Latter item value: 135 points. Probability of successful exchange: extremely high. Proceed with exchange?”
Though the values were similar, there remained a slight difference.
This time, Li Shuang had no intention of taking risks—she sought nothing less than absolute success.
Thus—
She casually added something extra, ensuring that the exchange was of equal value.
“The exchanged items are of equivalent worth. The trade can be completed with a hundred percent certainty. Would you like to proceed?”
This time, Li Shuang did not hesitate. She nodded decisively. “Exchange!”
Without a sound, the item designated for the trade vanished from her Storage Pouch, and in its place appeared a small stalk of white grass.
A third-tier spirit herb—the Demon-Luring Grass.
This herb possessed an irresistible allure for Foundation Establishment Stage members of the Demon Race.
If Ye Zhao Zhao wished to rely solely on her Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, it would not be enough to contend with the Demon Race. Once demons were drawn to her, survival would require her to unleash her Nascent Soul Stage strength once again.
Li Shuang refused to believe that Ye Zhao Zhao could wield such power indefinitely.
Let the battle against the Demon Race deplete the time she could sustain her unsealed strength. Once exhausted, she would no longer be a threat.
The only pity was—
Within the Inner Region and Core Region of the Langya Secret Realm, the Command Token could not be used, nor could a Recording Stone truly capture images. Otherwise, if Li Shuang could record Ye Zhao Zhao’s eerie abilities, she could tear away her false mask completely.
Yet, Li Shuang was in no hurry.
A person may hide for a time, but not for a lifetime.
Ye Zhao Zhao—her downfall was only a matter of time.
…
By the lakeside.
Su Mu coughed lightly and said, “Li Shuang, don’t be too disheartened. Fishing is a gift not everyone possesses. Though I have caught an unprecedented King of Fish, your harvest is not too bad either…”
“Senior Su.” Li Shuang suddenly turned to look at him.
Su Mu instinctively felt guilty.
Had she noticed his little trick just now?
…
In the next moment, a small stalk of blue grass appeared in Li Shuang’s hand.
Su Mu was briefly stunned. His brows arched slightly in surprise. “Oh? This is… Demon-Luring Grass?”
Li Shuang nodded. “Senior Su, I just happen to have a stalk of third-tier Demon-Luring Grass in my Storage Pouch. Its potency is enough to be sensed by every Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Race within a hundred miles.”
Su Mu stroked his chin. “You want to… draw the nearby demons here?”
Li Shuang did not hesitate. “Exactly.”
Since Ye Zhao Zhao was so powerful, why not let her rid the realm of a few demons? Consider it a contribution to the Six Great Righteous Sects.
Su Mu raised an eyebrow. “When ground into juice, Demon-Luring Grass is completely colorless and odorless to the Human Race. But to the Demon Race, it exudes an intoxicatingly fatal scent. Any nearby demons who catch the scent will swarm to this place.”
“However, how do you intend to ensure that Ye Zhao Zhao is stained with the juice?”
A sly glimmer flashed in Li Shuang’s eyes as she asked, “Senior Su, how much force can this Jade Slip withstand?”
Su Mu’s expression immediately turned proud. “No one in this world possesses the strength to destroy this Inheritance Jade Slip.”
Otherwise, it would not have been passed down through so many generations.
“Then it’s simple.” Li Shuang murmured a few words.
Su Mu’s gaze flickered, and after a moment, he chuckled. “You certainly have no shortage of ideas. Very well, let’s proceed.”
Their plan was set.
…
At that moment, the meditating Ye Zhao Zhao suddenly opened her eyes.
In the vast desert of golden sands before her, a Jade Slip had appeared out of nowhere.
It was none other than the Inheritance Jade Slip.
Su Mu had deliberately lifted its concealment, revealing its true form.
Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes shone with barely contained delight!
She had found it!
So—
Li Shuang had been hiding inside this all along!
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