Chapter 41 - 40: The Sacrificial Master’s Skill Demon Core
Chapter 41: Chapter 40: The Sacrificial Master’s Skill Demon Core
She nodded slightly.
Then, under the envious gazes of every student in the school, the two left the Gate World, one after the other.
CRACK!
It was the sound of someone’s heart breaking.
...
"Whew, the air out here is so much better!"
Fang Xiu looked outside and stretched.
Just then, a flash of red light streaked by.
Fang Xiu smiled and looked up to see a red figure sitting on the railing of the seventh floor of the school building.
Seeing Fang Xiu look over, she waved at him.
Then she suddenly vanished again.
"Let’s get going,"
Chu Qingxue said, turning to Fang Xiu.
"Yeah, okay."
Fang Xiu nodded.
The two left the school, not speaking a word the entire way.
Chu Qingxue was lost in thought.
Fang Xiu was still conflicted about Lu Yu’Er.
He followed Chu Qingxue for a long time without even realizing it.
Finally, Chu Qingxue led Fang Xiu into a small alley.
"Huh?"
Fang Xiu looked around. The place was unfamiliar.
’I don’t think I’ve ever been here before.’
"What’s wrong? Scared?"
Chu Qingxue asked, looking at his expression.
Fang Xiu smiled. "A little."
Chu Qingxue didn’t say anything, just nodded slightly.
Then, she picked up a stick from a nearby pile of junk and tapped it against the wall.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
’It sounded a bit like an old messaging notification.’
RUMBLE...
Just as Chu Qingxue put the stick back where she found it, a door actually opened in the wall.
’There’s a place like this here?’
Looking through the doorway, he saw a staircase leading down into the darkness. It looked bottomless.
Chu Qingxue just gave a slight nod, offering no explanation.
She walked straight through the door.
Fang Xiu hesitated for a moment, then gestured for his Succubus not to follow.
’After all, I don’t know this place. If I let the Succubus in, there’s no telling what might happen.’
’In any case, even if it’s dangerous inside, I still have my Sacrifice ability.’
’Coupled with my strength, which is comparable to the Power System, stalling for a little while won’t be a problem.’
With that, Fang Xiu followed her through the stone door.
RUMBLE...
Just then, the stone door rumbled shut behind them.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Along the staircase, ...electric lights had turned on?
"They’re sound-activated," Chu Qingxue explained.
Fang Xiu was speechless.
’Seriously? After all that mystery, I thought we’d be fumbling around in the dark, or maybe there’d be some glowing fluorescent stones or something.’
’But nope, they just installed electric lights on the staircase.’
’Just like that, all sense of mystery was gone.’
TAP, TAP, TAP.
He followed Chu Qingxue down the stairs.
Along the way, their echoing footsteps were the only sound.
The lights ahead of them turned on with the sound of their steps.
Behind them, where they had passed, the lights went out, plunging everything back into darkness.
’They really are sound-activated lights,’ Fang Xiu thought, a little exasperated.
’But on the bright side, the lights also ruined the mysterious atmosphere.’
’The place didn’t seem so dangerous now.’
"Do you find it strange that a shop selling Equipment for the Awakened is built here?"
Chu Qingxue suddenly asked.
Fang Xiu shook his head. "Is it for the mystery? To keep people from finding it?"
He didn’t find it that strange. ’That’s how it always is on TV.’
"No."
Chu Qingxue shook her head.
"Is it to spare the feelings of ordinary people? After all, they once had a chance to become Awakened, so seeing this stuff might make them feel dejected and upset their mood?"
Fang Xiu thought about it. ’Perhaps that was it. A rather considerate design choice, in a way.’
"Huh?"
Chu Qingxue stopped and looked at Fang Xiu, slightly taken aback. "That’s the first time I’ve heard that answer."
"Ah?"
Fang Xiu didn’t see what was wrong with his answer.
"Well, your idea is very nice. It shows you’re considerate of others’ feelings, but... that’s not it."
Chu Qingxue continued walking. "The main reason is that the owner is a bit of a cheapskate. This place was cheap, so he moved here. It’s the same with the sound-activated lights—they use less electricity. So, when you buy something later, remember not to get ripped off too badly!"
Fang Xiu was speechless.
’You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s the real reason?’
’Sure enough, I overthought it. I completely overthought everything.’
Fortunately, the two of them soon arrived at another door.
She opened the door, and the room inside was brightly lit.
It was very well-illuminated.
Fang Xiu peered inside. The room was filled with all sorts of items, a truly dazzling array.
Inside, a middle-aged man was lying in a rocking chair, seemingly asleep.
"Uncle Zhao."
Chu Qingxue called out.
Hearing her voice, the man opened his eyes and smiled. "Qingxue, you’re here. What are you buying today?"
"I brought a classmate over to have a look today,"
Chu Qingxue said.
"Mm, okay. Feel free to look around, but... no credit, haha!"
Uncle Zhao said with a smile.
"I know!"
Chu Qingxue nodded.
Then she led Fang Xiu toward the display counters.
"The selection here is quite comprehensive. You can take a look,"
Chu Qingxue whispered to Fang Xiu. "But the prices are a tiny bit expensive."
"Qingxue, my girl, I heard that!" Uncle Zhao’s voice drifted over just as she finished speaking.
Chu Qingxue ignored him, however, simply winking at Fang Xiu.
Fang Xiu nodded slightly.
He then began to look around the shop.
’A Tier Five Demon Core!’
When Fang Xiu saw that the shop even had a Tier Five Demon Core, he finally understood what Chu Qingxue meant by ’comprehensive.’
’But it’s just an ordinary Tier Five Demon Core.’
’It doesn’t have a Skill.’
’Otherwise, its value would be immeasurably higher.’
’A Magic Staff?’
Fang Xiu saw a Magic Staff right in front of him.
But he shook his head and walked past it.
"Picky little guy, aren’t you? What’s your Profession? If you’re a Mage, this Magic Staff is pretty good. You should check out its Attributes!"
Uncle Zhao suddenly spoke, as if he had noticed Fang Xiu’s reaction.
"This Magic Staff isn’t very useful for me, but there are some things I do need."
’Since the shopkeeper had spoken up, I can ask my question,’ Fang Xiu thought.
"Oh? What’s that?"
Uncle Zhao was still lounging in his rocking chair, showing no intention of getting up.
Chu Qingxue was already used to this.
"I want a Demon Core with a Skill," Fang Xiu said directly.
’What he needed was a Skill.’
’After all, his only Skill was Sacrifice, which obviously wasn’t enough.’
’If possible, I’d like to get a Combat System Skill as well.’
"A Demon Core with a Skill? Those are quite rare, but I do have a few in the shop. What’s your Attribute? What Profession? I’ll see if I have anything suitable for you."
Hearing that Fang Xiu wanted to buy a Demon Core with a Skill, Uncle Zhao was a little curious, but not overly surprised.
After all, Chu Qingxue had come to buy one before.
Unfortunately, his shop didn’t have any Demon Cores with Ice Element Skills.
"I need a Demon Core suitable for a Sacrificial Master,"
Fang Xiu stated plainly.
"What? A Sacrificial Master?"
Hearing this, Uncle Zhao’s eyes finally shot open, his face filled with shock.
He stood up from his rocking chair, walked over to Fang Xiu, and studied him carefully.
After a moment, he asked, "What’s your name?"
Hearing the question, Fang Xiu hesitated for a second before saying, "Fang Xiu."
"Fang Xiu? Your surname is Fang, too?"
Uncle Zhao murmured to himself, then looked at Fang Xiu and suddenly smiled. "There is a bit of a resemblance in your features. Is your father named Fang Chun?"
"Uncle Zhao, you know my father?"
That’s right. Fang Xiu’s father’s name is Fang Chun.
He had never mentioned this to anyone before.
At this, Uncle Zhao just smiled, not answering Fang Xiu’s question. He simply said, "I don’t have any Skill Demon Cores for a Sacrificial Master here."
"You don’t have any?"
Fang Xiu was a little disappointed.
’I’m Level 10 now; the sooner I absorb a Skill, the better.’
’But a Skill Demon Core for a Sacrificial Master really is hard to find.’
"However, I do have one Demon Core here that, while not for a Sacrificial Master, might be very suitable for you. Want to give it a look?"
Uncle Zhao asked, looking at Fang Xiu.
Fang Xiu was curious. "What kind of Skill Demon Core is it?"