Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 320: A Little Game

Xia Chichi understood the significance of a sword pellet.

It was essentially a flying sword, just that it was shaped like a pellet. It could be stored inside the body and used to behead targets with a mere thought. It did not conflict with Iceheart, and she could use it as a trump card.

More importantly, it matched her dragon and tiger attributes perfectly. While she might not be able to use other sword pellets of the same caliber, this one was very much within her reach. Moreover, it could deepen her understanding of the concepts of the Azure Dragon and the White Tiger, enhancing her grasp of the elements of wood and metal corresponding to the two idols.

The Four Idols Cult also had records of a sword physique that could potentially be refined with such an item.

None of these, however, was the main reason to get the item. Sword pellets were considered lost items in the current world, items that belonged to the previous era. For those in the current era who strived to become like the gods and demons of the previous era, an item such as this was a crucial step toward achieving similar divine abilities. Understanding it could potentially lead to the mass production of flying swords and sword immortals, benefiting many people at once.

Additionally, while the third layer of the Profound Mysteries was considered the peak in the current world, cults with ancient heritages like the Four Idols Cult knew very well that there existed higher cultivation levels. Unfortunately, the paths to reach those levels had been lost. This was why things like the Rejuvenation Art and the sword pellet, which pointed to the deeper essence of the ancient era, were so highly valued.

Although the Four Idols Cult had a fairly formidable foundation and had similar treasures, this particular item especially suited both the cult and Xia Chichi personally. It was as if it was tailor-made for them.

Yet, after a long silence, Xia Chichi responded, “I don’t want it.”

Ye Wuzong was extremely surprised. “Why not?”

“To possess something beyond one’s means only invites disaster,” Xia Chichi said calmly. “This item from the era of the gods and demons interests you, senior. I am unable to compete with you at the moment, so forcibly taking it would come at an unbearable price. With you keeping it, at least I would know its whereabouts. In the future, I could simply have the two venerables pay you a visit.”

Ye Wuzong was even more surprised after hearing her reply. “This really is surprising. I honestly didn’t expect you to be such a clear-headed witch who knows when to advance and retreat and when to be ruthless. I really don’t understand how someone as sensible as you can fall so deeply in love, wandering the streets with a random man, feeding each other wontons. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Xia Chichi: “...”

Zhao Changhe: “Could you use fewer adjectives?”

“No,” Ye Wuzong said. “If anything, I’d use even more. Wait, let me think...”

“Senior, it’s alright, you can stop there. Just take the pellet,” Zhao Changhe said. “Chichi’s right. Knowing where it is at least gives us peace of mind and provides us with room for collaboration in the future. We aren’t foolish enough to compete with you over this.”

The corners of Ye Wuzong’s mouth twitched. He was actually starting to feel a little frustrated.

Why are these two so pragmatic?

If anything here was useful to him, it would actually be the Classic of Materia Toxica and the pill furnace. The poison manual was an incredibly valuable source of knowledge, while the pill furnace was a useful device.

In comparison, the sword pellet was actually fairly useless. As someone who pursued the Dao of theft, he had acquired countless treasures and explored numerous secret realms. As a result of all that he has seen, his knowledge of the stages of the Profound Mysteries was among the very best of the world. This was why others were unsure whether he was actually at the second layer or the third layer of the Profound Mysteries. Furthermore, this was why those on the Ranking of Heaven were wary of him despite him still being in the Ranking of Earth.

There were many reasons as to why he had not reached Xia Longyuan’s level, but lacking this sword pellet was definitely not one of them. This item was irrelevant to his cultivation and was essentially meaningless to him.

Of course, even a meaningless treasure was still a treasure, and he did have an interest in collecting it. But taking it outright just felt too dull. Little did the couple know that all the old rascal wanted was to see them struggle to obtain it through a series of unequal agreements, and then he would entertain himself a bit more by having a look at their faces once he stole it back soon after.

Unfortunately for him, the situation was not unfolding in such a direction at all.

Ye Wuzong maintained a calm expression and said persuasively, “This item is something we found together, so you naturally must have a share as well. If you want it, you can take it away if you just give me some compensation. What’s the difference between me discussing with the venerables of your cult and negotiating with you now?”

His words made sense. However, with them being in Kunlun, there was simply no such thing as everyone having to have a share.

If Ye Wuzong had not said such words, they would have felt it to make more sense. In the end, they could only say, “Senior, you should just take it. If we have to, then how about we take something else?”

Ye Wuzong asked, “What else is useful here? The poison manual? The pill furnace? Or that token?”

Xia Chichi said, “I’m actually quite interested in the poison manual. It would be a great addition to our holy cult’s Azure Dragon lineage.”

Ye Wuzong looked at Zhao Changhe. “What about you?”

Zhao Changhe said, “I’m a bit interested in that token...”

Ye Wuzong asked in surprise, “What’s the point in taking the token? It’s probably just an identity token for a sect. Hmm, it might actually be the identity token of the sect master, but still, that sect has long disappeared, so why bother? You can’t possibly be thinking that you can use it to unlock some more relics in the future, are you? Let me tell you, when I was young, I thought the same and collected a bunch of seemingly useful things, but none of them ever came in handy.”

Zhao Changhe smiled and said, “Everyone has different fortunes. Now that I can use a storage ring, it won’t hurt to collect a few more items.”

“Damn it.” Ye Wuzong was really starting to feel too lazy to waste time here with the two juniors. He simply said, “Sorry, but I want these two things.”

Now, you should want the sword pellet, right?

But then, the young couple exchanged glances and said, “Then we’ll take the furnace.”

Ye Wuzong: “?”

Just ask for the damn sword pellet, fucking hell...

“Forget it.” Ye Wuzong rubbed his brow and decided to lay his cards on the table. “The things you just asked for were what I was after from the beginning. I’ll take them, and you take the sword pellet. I’ll just be frank with you, I will come to steal it later. If I succeed, it is what it is, you end up with nothing.”

The young couple had actually guessed this. Zhao Changhe said, “If you want to play such a game, then we’ll naturally play along. However, there must be a time limit. We can’t possibly play that game our entire lives, can we?”

Ye Wuzong nodded and said, “If I don’t manage to steal it within three days, then it’s truly yours, and I’ll even give you the token. As for the poison manual and the furnace, I’ll be taking them no matter what. If your Four Idols Cult wants the poison manual, you can make a copy.”

After saying this, he impatiently tossed the sword pellet to Xia Chichi and said, “The timer starts now.”

Zhao Changhe grabbed the sword pellet and said, “I’m keeping it. Come steal from me.”

Ye Wuzong said, “You can’t possibly think that putting it in the storage ring will be of any use, right?”

“Of course not,” Zhao Changhe said expressionlessly. “I just don’t want you to touch her, no matter how old you might be.”

Ye Wuzong was dumbfounded, and Xia Chichi turned her head, trying to hide her expression.

After a long while, Ye Wuzong could not help but laugh as he waved his sleeve. “Not everyone in the world is interested in such things... Anyway, you’d better heed my advice, being obsessed with such things is detrimental to your pursuit of martial arts.”

Zhao Changhe had a look on his face that seemed to say that he knew but had no plans of changing his lifestyle anytime soon. “Thank you for the advice, senior.”

Ye Wuzong casually waved his hand, and the token, poison sutra, and alchemy furnace all disappeared in an instant. Zhao Changhe assumed they had been placed inside a storage ring, but he had no idea how that worked just yet.

“Alright.” Ye Wuzong, in high spirits, pointed to the passage and said, “The game starts one incense stick of time after you’ve left.”

Zhao Changhe sat down on the spot and started examining the sword pellet.

Ye Wuzong tilted his head in confusion.

“Sorry, senior, it might not be with me for long, so I feel like I’ve got to study it while I have it... You want to steal it, not snatch it, right?”

Ye Wuzong laughed in exasperation. “Do you seriously believe that you can fully comprehend the mysteries behind the sword pellet in such a short time?”

“That’s not it,” said Zhao Changhe. “If I’m not mistaken, one of the materials that was used to refine this sword pellet was the Dragon Elephant Blood Ginseng.”

“So what if that’s the case? You can’t extract it unless you refine the sword pellet into your own weapon and fuse it into your body. Only then will it even be a possibility for you to absorb the essence of any of the materials used to make it.” Ye Wuzong seemed amused and laughed. “So, are you going to fight your little lover over the sword pellet?”

Zhao Changhe examined the sword pellet for some time, his mind sinking into the golden foil, looking at the words that were projected: “Dragon Tiger Sword Pellet. It is an extremely sharp flying sword. It can also be used to cultivate the Four Idols Sword Body, but a soul of ice and the essence of fire are also required.”

“If missing one of the three components, the sword pellet can be used to sense the location of the final component.”

Zhao Changhe looked at the Iceheart[1] in Xia Chichi’s hand and gestured for it.

Xia Chichi, not knowing what he wanted to do, handed it over anyway.

When he received Iceheart, the sword pellet reacted slightly. A fine thread of sword qi then sprang out like a steel wire, pointing northwest.

Sure enough, Iceheart was made from a soul of ice. The final component, the essence of fire, must be at the northwest.

There must be a reason as to why the poison master decided to refine the sword pellet in Kunlun... He probably did so because the essence of fire was nearby.

Kunlun has many secret realms. After the dimensional collapse, many treasures were scattered across this vast mountain range, forming various secret realms. There was likely another secret realm in the nearby mountains containing the essence of fire.

Zhao Changhe quickly recalled hearing about a volcanic eruption. He believed that the essence of fire had to be there. If the Dragon Elephant Blood Ginseng grew widely in this area during the ancient era, then it was possible that he could find one in that secret realm. He could only hope that they had not all burned up.

Zhao Changhe stood up, returned Iceheart to Xia Chichi, and said with a smile, “Let the game begin.”

1. In the raws, Iceheart is actually written as 冰魄, with 魄 literally meaning soul. I just named it Iceheart since Icesoul doesn’t sound as good. ☜

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