Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 196: Mysterious Jewelry Merchant’s Limited-Time Task
Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Mysterious Jewelry Merchant’s Limited-Time Task
It’s been just over an hour since Hu Zhile was dropped off at the Cyan Fish Mountain Market, and the market has just entered a lively atmosphere, with twisted shadows on the cobblestone road bustling around.
Jiang Yuan adjusted his black cloak and quickly left the grocery store, blending into the flowing crowd, becoming an inconspicuous shadow.
"Third Sister, when we’re transforming, can’t we choose what kind of appearance we want?" Miss Hu Jiu’s emotions were excited yet uneasy, still relying on Third Sister to introduce her quickly to the little gentleman she yearned to meet.
But she was really worried about what would happen if she wasn’t as beautiful and stunning as she imagined after transforming.
Hu Zhile was sitting cross-legged, attentively cultivating, and opened his eyes upon hearing her whispers, with eyebrows slightly furrowed, "The Transformation Technique is not the Transformation Technique; how can you casually choose your appearance? The Transformation Technique lets your demon beast form fade away into human form. As you are born, you cannot change."
"Then...what if I’m not pretty?" She pouted, almost crying, "The chance that Third Sister worked so hard to get would be ruined by an unattractive appearance, and I’d have no hope!"
Really, she doesn’t know what kind of jumbled thoughts she has in her head. Hu Zhile rolled his eyes, wanting to give her a good hit, "If I hadn’t raised you since you were little, I’d suspect if we picked up the wrong child. Are you really a fox spirit?"
Miss Hu Jiu lowered her head in distress; it’s her first time being a fox spirit. How would she know what an ideal fox spirit should be like?
"Concentrate on your cultivation! If you’re not fully transformed by dawn, don’t even think about meeting the little gentleman. I can’t afford to lose face like that!" Hu Zhile huffed and left her with that, no longer paying her any attention. He swallowed a Spirit Core Pill and diligently refined the medicine’s immense spiritual energy.
"Cultivation, cultivation! I’ll cultivate properly now, okay?"
She closed her eyes and entered a state of cultivation, diligently refining the medicine. With each breath she took, the snowy, fluffy fox face began to slowly fade, revealing delicate white skin.
On the other side, Jiang Yun quickly found the Mysterious Jewelry Merchant marked with a conspicuous label among the many shadows.
"Would the guest like some jewelry?" The familiar opening line received a positive response, after which the Mysterious Jewelry Merchant opened his cloak, revealing rows of dazzling jewelry pieces.
But compared to last time, several medium pieces were missing, indicating they were sold.
[Exquisite Diamond Necklace, wearable]
[Crafted by an Artifact Refining Master, sold by the Mysterious Jewelry Merchant, non-upgradable. Attack Power +1000, Speed +50, Critical Strike +45%, Defense +20%]
Among the most expensive necklaces, Jiang Yuan seriously compared and chose the Diamond Necklace.
One million Spirit Stones vanished instantly.
"Are these the only pieces of jewelry? Do you have any face covers or belts?" Jiang Yuan also spent twenty thousand Gold Coins on jade and gold accessories to make protective talismans.
The merchant shook his head with a smile, "Those items won’t sell at Cyan Fish Mountain Market, so I didn’t bring them. I’ll be going to Golden Carp Lake Market in a few days; there are more cultivators there who spend generously. The jewelry varieties will naturally be more extensive. If the guest can visit Golden Carp Lake Market, please wait patiently for a few days."
[Mysterious Jewelry Merchant has a limited-time task, would you like to inquire further? Additionally: Accepting the limited-time task and completing it will earn a generous reward; failure will lead to a penalty. Please choose carefully.]
What kind of penalty? Without clear details, should I even take on the task?
Jiang Yuan hesitated for two seconds but wanted to try, thinking he could inquire without spending money and decide later if the task seemed difficult.
Choosing to inquire further, the Mysterious Jewelry Merchant sighed heavily and said, "Honestly, according to my schedule, I hadn’t planned to stay long at Cyan Fish Mountain Market. However, I accepted an order to bring here. I originally agreed to meet with the guest here, exchanging money for goods, but she was supposed to arrive two days ago, and I’ve been waiting without a sign.
I don’t know if there was an accident that made it impossible for her to come on time. My messages sent through the Communication Stone have not been answered. Does the guest know the area around Cyan Fish Mountain Market well? Due to circumstances, I cannot leave the market, but if you can help find the guest’s whereabouts, I’ll be deeply grateful!"
"Among so many people, how am I supposed to help you find her?" Jiang Yuan sighed, encountering another search mission, but when the merchant mentioned a "Communication Stone," it seemed to have cellphone-like functionality in reality. He wondered if the Communication Stone had any tracking ability.
"I once traded jewelry with a guest using the Search Technique in my youth. Although it is just a small magic technique, it’s quite useful. If the guest is willing to help, I can teach it to you."
The Mysterious Jewelry Merchant paused before adding, "For fairness’s sake, the guest must pawn some valuables with me. If you learn the Search Technique and fail to find her, I can’t teach it for free."
[Limited-Time Task: Assist the Mysterious Jewelry Merchant in finding the missing guest. A time limit of three days, starting from when the Search Technique is learned; failure to complete the task within the designated time will deduct one million Spirit Stones. Completing the task will grant a reward: an introduction letter from the Mysterious Jewelry Merchant. Accept the task?]
Jiang Yuan thought for a moment and felt it’s not a bad deal.
If he couldn’t find her and complete the task, it would be like spending a million Spirit Stones to learn a new skill. If completed on time, receiving an introduction letter would likely be an item to enter the "NPC" circle, not a loss!
"How much do I need to pawn?" After seeing the system prompt, he asked again.
The merchant replied, "You seem generous, which is why I’ve entrusted this to you. After all, guests who can easily spend two million Spirit Stones on jewelry at Cyan Fish Mountain Market aren’t common.
I require you to pawn one million Spirit Stones or goods of equivalent value temporarily.
Should you find her, I won’t treat you poorly, returning the belongings and handing you an introduction letter. With the letter, you may go to the famed Wo Hu Temple Market’s Treasure Pavilion and give it to the Pavilion Master. You will then become a distinguished guest, able to attend rare treasure auctions and meet more friends;
If you fail to find her, consider the million Spirit Stones as payment for a practical magic technique."
Oh? Wo Hu Temple! Linked to the Immortal Peach!
Possibly a new map only accessible to level three or higher markets, Jiang Yuan immediately and unhesitatingly nodded in agreement.
"My Search Technique is practical but challenging to learn. Please watch." Upon receiving the traded one million Spirit Stones, the Mysterious Jewelry Merchant gathered his cloak, took Jiang Yuan to a deserted Peach Blossom Forest behind the Black Market, and handed him a parchment scroll.
[Would you like to learn the Search Technique?]
The parchment scroll was full of flamboyant illustrations that Jiang Yuan couldn’t comprehend, but he saw the system prompt appear, choosing "Yes" as the progress began slowly moving forward, the speed was annoyingly slow.
"This technique requires slow comprehension; take your time." After a moment, the Mysterious Jewelry Merchant put away the scroll, reminding, "If you still can’t grasp it after cultivation, return here tomorrow night, and I will let you see it again."
Jiang Yuan looked at the slowest progress bar since entering the Wilderness World, calculating it’d be good if it finished by tomorrow night.
The biggest worry was that it would stop at 99%, like downloading learning materials online, suggesting restarting due to failure.
"Once you successfully cultivate and master the Search Technique, you can use this item to find her whereabouts." The merchant handed over a delicate sachet, reminding him, "I can’t stay too long at Cyan Fish Mountain Market, so please make haste with the search."
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