Chapter 42 - 41: Guarding the Magic Beast Gate World
Chapter 42: Chapter 41: Guarding the Magic Beast Gate World
Fang Xiu was a little confused by what Uncle Zhao said.
It seemed... he knew his father.
’Holy crap. I’ve never even met my own father.’
According to the original body’s memories, Fang Xiu had been an orphan for as long as he could remember.
He had wanted to ask more about his father.
But now that Uncle Zhao mentioned a Demon Core suitable for a Sacrificial Master, Fang Xiu suddenly felt that his father’s past wasn’t so important after all.
"Yes, let me get it for you!"
Uncle Zhao didn’t say anything more.
Instead, he turned and went into the back room to retrieve it.
"Who exactly is this Uncle Zhao?"
Seeing Uncle Zhao go inside, Fang Xiu moved closer to Chu Qingxue and asked.
Hearing this, Chu Qingxue shook her head. "I don’t know much about Uncle Zhao either. His real name is Zhao Yao."
"Huh? Like... ’start a rumor’?"
Fang Xiu was stunned. ’Good grief, so it’s a homophone?’
"No... his name is Zhao Yao. All I know is that he’s been selling things here for over a decade. He sells things that Awakened need. Beyond that, nobody knows anything," Chu Qingxue explained.
Fang Xiu nodded slightly. "Then how did you find out about this place? It’s so well-hidden."
Besides, from the way Fang Xiu saw it, Chu Qingxue and Zhao Yao’s relationship didn’t seem so simple.
"I’ve known Uncle Zhao for five years now. Five years ago, my family and I were out when we ran into a spatio-temporal vortex. Uncle Zhao was the one who saved us!"
Chu Qingxue continued, "After that, I started coming here whenever I had time. Uncle Zhao’s business runs on fate. Only Awakened who are ’fated’ to find this place can come here."
"Five years ago?"
Fang Xiu’s heart skipped a beat.
Five years ago was right when he had transmigrated to this world and become the orphan, Fang Xiu.
’A spatio-temporal vortex?’
’Is there a connection?’
Of course, Fang Xiu wouldn’t mention any of this to anyone.
"Yes. For the past five years, I’ve come over to Uncle Zhao’s whenever I’m free, so I’m very familiar with his wares. I never thought he’d be hiding something," Chu Qingxue said, glancing toward the room Zhao Yao had entered.
"Maybe it’s new stock," Fang Xiu suggested after a moment’s thought.
Chu Qingxue nodded slightly, offering no comment.
Just then, Zhao Yao emerged from the room, holding a black box.
He walked up to Fang Xiu and Chu Qingxue.
Fang Xiu saw that the box was covered in a thick layer of dust. It looked like it had been sitting there for a very long time.
"Uncle Zhao, what is that?" Chu Qingxue asked, looking at the box with curiosity.
"A Demon Core. One that’s suitable for a Sacrificial Master."
Zhao Yao gave a mysterious smile and blew on the box, sending a cloud of dust straight into Fang Xiu’s face.
"COUGH, COUGH!"
Fang Xiu waved his hand in exasperation.
Then he looked at the black box, curious about what kind of Demon Core could possibly be inside.
’It seems to have been in this shop for a long time.’
’He’s never brought it out before?’
’Perhaps because it’s only suitable for a Sacrificial Master?’
"What Level is this Demon Core?" Fang Xiu asked curiously.
Beside him, Chu Qingxue didn’t speak, but she also looked over with a curious expression.
"See for yourself. I don’t remember!"
Zhao Yao smiled and handed the black box to Fang Xiu.
Fang Xiu took the box without the slightest hesitation.
He glanced at Zhao Yao and saw that the older man seemed very attached to the box as well.
"Uncle Zhao, if you’re not willing to part with it, I won’t force you," Fang Xiu said, noticing Zhao Yao’s apparent reluctance.
But Zhao Yao waved his hand. "Stop dawdling. Hurry up and open it."
"Uncle Zhao, why do you seem even more curious than we are?"
Chu Qingxue, standing to the side, found this strange.
’Judging by his tone, he seems really invested in this!’
"What are you talking about? It’s my merchandise. What’s there for me to be curious about?" Zhao Yao said, glancing at Chu Qingxue.
Hearing this, Chu Qingxue fell silent.
Meanwhile, Fang Xiu was growing impatient.
After all, this Demon Core might grant him a new Skill.
As he opened the box, a black mist suddenly billowed out.
"This is..."
The expressions on Fang Xiu’s and Chu Qingxue’s faces changed slightly.
Even Zhao Yao’s expression turned grim.
Inside the black box lay a pure black Demon Core.
It seemed different from an ordinary Demon Core.
Fang Xiu had never heard of a black Demon Core before.
"I never would have guessed... this is actually a Magic Core!" Zhao Yao said, his expression grave.
"Magic Core?"
Fang Xiu and Chu Qingxue said almost in unison.
"Yes."
Zhao Yao nodded and explained, "As the name suggests, a Demon Core is the core part of a Demon Beast’s body. And a Magic Core... is the core part of a Magic Beast’s body."
"But... there are Magic Beasts in this world?"
Fang Xiu had been in this world for five years and had a basic understanding of it.
Everyone, whether they were an Awakened or an ordinary person, knew that Demon Beasts appeared from within the Gate Worlds.
But this was the first time he had ever heard of Magic Beasts.
From the expression on Chu Qingxue’s face, he could tell she had never heard of them either.
"Yes. This world is connected to countless Gate Worlds. Behind most of these Gate Worlds are Demon Beast Worlds."
Zhao Yao explained to them, "But behind a few hidden Gate Worlds, you won’t find Demon Beasts. Instead, you’ll find a far more terrifying existence: Magic Beasts."
Fang Xiu then learned more.
Gate Worlds leading to Magic Beasts were exceedingly rare. Forget ordinary people—even most Awakened would never encounter one.