Another day passed without any movement from Bai Yan.
Wen Xian feared that entering the cave might disturb the girl’s cultivation and cause her energy to turn against her. With nothing else to do, she built a fire beneath a tree and tried to roast one of the fallen birds.
Unfortunately, she possessed no talent for wilderness survival. The bird became a black lump that no longer resembled its original form.
Wen Xian threw it aside and sighed. Bai Yan was taking far too long. When would she finish cultivating? Wen Xian was already tired of this place.
[What? You aren’t dead? And you reached Foundation Establishment?!]
The electronic voice exploded inside Wen Xian’s head, making her jump.
“If you’re going to return, then return. Must you shout inside someone’s mind? You’ll frighten me into madness someday!”
[Sorry. I was so surprised that I couldn’t control my volume. How did you reach Foundation Establishment? You were only at the fifth level of Energy Refining several days ago. Did you find another treasure?]
Wen Xian smiled proudly. In vivid detail, she boasted about how she had taken the Blood-Remnant Sword from two powerful Foundation Establishment experts, Gu Ningxue and Ming Yuan.
Her glorious achievement amazed the system.
[You always stumble into unbelievable luck. Is the Luck ability really this useful? I only gave it to you because I thought it was worthless filler.]
The system spoke the last sentence very quietly, but Wen Xian still heard it.
“What did you just say?”
[Nothing! I was talking to myself!]
The system tried to escape the subject, and Wen Xian chose not to pursue it.
“I want to exchange for something. Open the store.”
[You truly don’t bother with manners.]
Despite complaining, the system opened the store. Then it noticed something and sounded surprised.
[Reaching Foundation Establishment awards one thousand exchange points. Consuming the Blood-Remnant Sword, one of the Four Demon Swords, awards two thousand. Special mission unlocked: Soul, Severance, Remnant, and Sorrow. Consume the other three Demon Swords and complete the set to receive forty thousand exchange points. Please continue working hard, Host.]
“Soul, Severance, Remnant, and Sorrow? What kind of strange achievement is that?” Wen Xian frowned. “Is the title formed from the sword names?”
[Correct. The Four Demon Swords are the Soul-Slashing Sword, Thought-Severing Sword, Sorrow’s End Sword, and the Blood-Remnant Sword you already possess.]
Wen Xian curled her lip.
“The main mission is still nowhere in sight. I see no hope of completing the task to repair the Spirit-White Divine Bow and restore it as an immortal artifact. Why give me another special mission?”
[The main mission’s lack of progress is exactly why you need other things to do. I wasn’t wasting time while I was away. That… the main system said we cannot rush the main mission. This is a cultivation world. Living for hundreds or thousands of years won’t be difficult for you. We’ll use time to change the villain until she finally recognizes her mistakes!]
Wen Xian fell silent.
That sounded harder than finding a needle in the ocean or catching a fish in a sea of fire. It was the most terrible mission in hell.
“We can discuss that later. My head already hurts. First, tell me what I can obtain with three thousand points.”
Only an extraordinary new ability could rescue her from this crushing pressure.
[I have selected every item costing no more than three thousand. Choose for yourself.]
A flood of words poured into Wen Xian’s mind. She scanned everything with her spiritual awareness until one ability made her eyes brighten.
“Master Alchemist! Explain this one.”
[It grants instinctive mastery of alchemy. You will also receive every pill recipe in this world, including lost formulas from ancient times.]
Wen Xian’s eyes shone even brighter.
“That’s the one. Exchange for it!”
The system immediately deducted the points. A much greater ocean of knowledge filled Wen Xian’s mind. She sat cross-legged and began absorbing the countless pill formulas, techniques, and experiences.
After a long while, Wen Xian opened her eyes. Wild joy was impossible to hide.
With this ability, she never had to fear failure. As long as she possessed enough ingredients, every cauldron would produce a full batch of pills.
Pills were worth enormous amounts in this world. Spirit stones would soon pour into her hands.
She was truly going to become wealthy!
Once she calmed herself, Wen Xian asked, “How many exchange points remain?”
[One thousand. Would you like to continue?]
“Yes. I need a movement ability. Select those for me.”
Wen Xian spent her last thousand points on Shadow Escape. It allowed her to enter a shadow and travel freely through connected darkness. As long as she did not encounter light, she could remain hidden within it.
It was the perfect skill for anyone playing a stealth game.
Delighted with her new abilities, Wen Xian began humming. Her voice was so painfully out of tune that the system activated a blocking function.
Wen Xian had no understanding of her own musical failure. Humming soon failed to satisfy her, and she began singing loudly.
“Demoness, I’ll conquer you just like this, conquer you just like this. Your heart has already lost its way, walking straight into the trap I laid…”
Far away, Feng Lingruan was cultivating in seclusion at the Demon Palace. Although completely focused on her new manuals, she suddenly shivered. A terrible feeling came over her, as if something filthy had attached itself to her fate.
A violent shock came from the cave, ending Wen Xian’s musical attack.
Bai Yan slowly emerged, her face filled with fear.
“Master, did you hear that horrible sound? Are enemies attacking us? That singing was terrifying!”
Wen Xian fell silent.
What an uncultured snake. Bai Yan possessed no ability to appreciate music.
…
The next day, the woman and snake returned to Cloudsky City.
After disguising herself, Wen Xian went directly to Water-and-Sky. The two guards greeted her with the enthusiasm of sons seeing their long-lost mother and respectfully welcomed her inside.
She was escorted to an honored guest room and treated as the establishment’s finest customer.
Shui Lanxin arrived before half a cup of tea had passed. Surprise flashed through her beautiful eyes when she saw Wen Xian, followed by a gentle laugh.
“Our honored guest appears to have encountered a fortunate opportunity. Your cultivation has risen at remarkable speed. Lanxin offers her congratulations.”
Several days apart had not weakened Shui Lanxin’s skill with words. Her praise made Wen Xian wonderfully comfortable. She would have enjoyed it even more if the woman were not a leech spirit.
Wen Xian removed Ming Yuan’s storage belt from her ring.
“How many spirit stones will you offer for this belt and everything remaining inside it?” she asked in a low male voice.
Shui Lanxin accepted the belt and examined it with her spiritual awareness.
“Our honored guest possesses impressive methods. It seems the former owner has already fallen into your hands.”
Wen Xian neither confirmed nor denied the hidden accusation. She had not killed Ming Yuan, but she did not mind allowing Shui Lanxin to believe otherwise. A dangerous reputation could prevent unnecessary trouble.
“We both understand what happened. There is no need to say it aloud. I only wish to know whether your establishment dares accept this transaction.”
Wen Xian calmly drank her tea.
Shui Lanxin smiled with confidence. “There is no business in this world that Water-and-Sky fears.”
Wen Xian raised a brow. “Excellent. Name your price.”
“For the highest-tier storage belt and its remaining contents, four million middle-grade spirit stones. Does that satisfy you?”
*Master, her mental activity is normal. She isn’t cheating you.*
Bai Yan spoke directly into Wen Xian’s mind from her place around Wen Xian’s wrist.
The secluded cultivation had brought Bai Yan enormous gains. She had reached Foundation Establishment, and her spiritual awareness had grown greatly. If she met Feng Lingruan again, she was confident that the Demon Lord could not casually throw her aside.
Bai Yan could now sense another person’s mental changes. Shui Lanxin’s remained steady, without the sudden excitement one might feel after gaining an unfair advantage.
Wen Xian silently acknowledged the report. Then she studied the smiling Shui Lanxin.
This woman never allowed happiness or anger to appear openly. She would not become visibly excited over a minor profit. Instead, she would use small advantages to increase her long-term gains, carefully calculating every choice.
Reading Shui Lanxin’s mental state was useless.
Still, Wen Xian would not discourage Bai Yan. Very few people possessed Shui Lanxin’s control. Against most others, the ability would be valuable.
“Naturally, I trust Boss Shui.” Wen Xian set down her cup and traced one finger around its smooth rim. “Could these spirit stones purchase a good alchemy furnace from your establishment?”
Shui Lanxin froze. “Honored guest… are you an alchemist?”
Wen Xian laughed softly, straightened, and adopted the manner of a hidden expert.
“Yes, though I am only a beginner. My master’s alchemy has reached a divine level that inspires endless admiration. Unfortunately, while he was recently cultivating in seclusion, I secretly used his most treasured furnace. My poor skill caused it to explode. I came here to buy a replacement and correct my mistake before he emerges.”
Inventing lies without preparation was one of Wen Xian’s greatest talents. Her face did not change, and even the system admired her performance.
Shui Lanxin’s eyes grew brighter with every sentence.
“May I ask your honored master’s name?” she tested.
Wen Xian waved a hand and sighed.
“My master withdrew from the world long ago. He cares nothing for fame or wealth. Only a fortunate accident led him to accept me as a disciple. I remain deeply grateful. How could I dare question him further?”
Shui Lanxin believed the story and asked no more. She rose respectfully.
“Honored guest, please wait. I will have someone bring the finest alchemy furnace in our establishment.”
She hurried away.
Only then did Wen Xian remove her veiled hat. She leaned back and lazily used it as a fan.
[Impressive, Host. Your lies have reached perfection. It’s a shame you never became a wandering fraud!]
“Stop mocking me. If I hadn’t said that, would she bring me her finest furnace?” Wen Xian answered. “Just watch. She’ll offer it with both hands and charge only half the price.”
Wen Xian smiled proudly, her eyes filled with calculation. Everything remained under her control.
This world lacked alchemists more than anything. Now a supposed disciple of a hidden master had appeared before Shui Lanxin. A clever merchant like her would hold tightly to this living source of wealth and use every method to win favor.
That was a merchant’s nature.
Wen Xian would use Shui Lanxin’s nature and turn her into a source of intelligence.
Information was essential in every world.
