Online Game: Crazy Skeleton-Chapter 97: Reunion with the Cunning Merchant

"So, what’s inside this again? Your explanation left me all confused," Su Ran tried to steer the conversation.

"No need for further queries," Blacksmith Li cryptically remarked, then handed an antique bone cauldron to Su Ran.

Soon after, the system’s prompt rang out.

"Ding! Congratulations player Skeleton on completing the special mission, ’Blacksmith Li’s Request’, defeating 1 boss of the ’Demon Tower’ solo. Completion level, barely passable. Reward received, an abandoned bone cauldron."

Damn it!

Su Ran lost his cool in an instant.

"Blacksmith Li, what do you mean by this? It’s clear the boss I caught was overwhelmingly powerful, what does ’barely passable’ mean? I refuse to handover this mission!"

"Lord, keep calm. This mission only requires quantity, not quality," Blacksmith Li looked at Su Ran unfazed, "As for the mission, you already said it yourself, hand it over first."

Su Ran seethed in anger, with no chance of arguing with the system NPC, he was forced to accept the reality. He picked up the worn-out bone cauldron.

[Damaged Bone Cauldron] (Bronze)

Increases the success rate of bone utensil refinement by 1%.

Note: A forgotten nameless bone cauldron with dispersed cauldron soul, only the shape remains.

Su Ran’s lips twitched in irritation.

Blacksmith Li comforted, "My Lord, don’t be upset. This cauldron is quite extraordinary, and it was picked up from an ancient battlefield. It just lacks a cauldron soul."

Damn it!

How is a bronze bone cauldron, which only increases the success rate by 1%, extraordinary? How formidable could it possibly be? Try using this to manufacture a bone tool! Depressed, Su Ran carelessly slung the bone cauldron around his bladder and solemnly took out the Illusion Demon Stele.

With the ancient stele in his hand, Su Ran felt a great sense of relief, all his previous frustrations dissipating entirely.

"My Lord!" Blacksmith Li was taken aback by the sight of this treasure, booming, "May I borrow this treasure for a look?"

"No."

Su Ran immediately transformed it into an Illusion Demon Black Robe and draped it over himself.

Unbelievable!

Blacksmith Li was taken aback and after witnessing the transformation of the stele, gasped in awe, "My Lord, I have to say this, you are incredibly lucky! If I’m not mistaken, this stele is the infamous Illusion Demon Stele, isn’t it?" freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"That’s right. Might I ask Blacksmith Li how to unseal this stele?" Su Ran had no choice but to admire the blacksmith’s vast knowledge. He seemed to know everything. Was there anything he didn’t know?

"I am not sure," Blacksmith Li shook his large skull, sighing, "It is a shame that such a treasure is covered in dust."

Blacksmith Li returned to his smithing work, leaving behind a remark, "Perhaps, Lord Yin Si might know how to unseal it."

"Thanks, Blacksmith Li, I’ve taken up enough of your time!" Su Ran quickly left to find the house that the cunning merchant Yin Si had forcefully occupied.

Watching the Skeleton Lord dash out, Blacksmith Li whispered, "Gods and demons are in chaos, winds are rising and clouds are surging. Will this Lord be able to stand atop the continent and transform from a water serpent into a dragon?"

...

After virtually searching the entire territory, Su Ran finally found a coffin lying flat on the ground in the most inconspicuous house in the Skeleton Village. He recognised the coffin. Cough cough, he was the one who had carried it back.

Su Ran pushed the door open and walked over to the coffin.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Su Ran politely knocked on the coffin. This swindler, sleeping as if he had died, didn’t move a muscle.

"Honorable Mr. Yin Si!" Su Ran’s voice rose a pitch, but the coffin remained still.

"Sir, I have a favor to ask of the Skeleton Lord!" Su Ran’s voice rose an octave.

"Damn it!" The little skeleton muttered under his breath, "A lazy lump! What do you even need him for!"

Left with no other choice, Su Ran had to continue knocking on the coffin, pleading for Yin Si to grace him with his presence. The rhythm of his knocks were like music, but to no avail.

The little skeleton’s fire of anger burned brightly. He was a lord after all, and this swindler had no respect, living in his house for free!

The enraged little skeleton picked up the heavy coffin and walked out the door, heading straight for the graveyard.

By the time Su Ran arrived at Yin Si’s home, the grave had vanished. The little skeleton was not in a hurry. He dropped the coffin on the ground with a clash, took out a pickaxe and started digging beside a small grave. Before long, Su Ran had dug up the grave, revealing an old coffin. Su Ran dragged it aside and tossed Yin Si’s black coffin into the hole, then covered it with soil. Dusting his hands off, his job was done!

"Go back to your old home!"

The little skeleton stomped on the new grave with his foot, feeling unsatisfied.

"Little skeleton, what are you doing?" A gloomy voice sounded behind Su Ran.

Su Ran, who was in his stride, froze. A chill invaded his back, hairs on end. He turned around awkwardly, tightened the Illusion Demon robe around him to fully conceal his bladder, and laughed dryly, "Oh, it’s Mr. Yin Si. I was actually looking for you, sir."

"Oh?" The newcomer was none other than the Black Market Skeleton Merchant, Yin Si. He was expressionless and his tone was ambiguous. "I’m flattered that the Skeleton Lord came to find me, a mere businessman. What is it?"

Su Ran glanced at the swindler Yin Si, relieved to see no signs of anger on the merchant’s face. He let out a sigh, and his tone naturally normalized, "Mr.Yin Si, I wanted to ask about this Illusion Demon robe I’m wearing. It was formed by the Illusion Demon stele, may I know how to unseal it?"

"Hiss... The Illusion Demon stele?" Yin Si’s expression changed drastically. A bony claw was instantly extended to grab the robe that Su Ran was wearing. His expression was changing consistently. He urged, "Quick, let me take a look!"

"No way."

The little skeleton shook his head immediately. As if he would willingly hand over such a treasure to him! Once it was in his hands, would he ever get it back?

Yin Si, the black-robed swindler, was seething with rage, staring at the little skeleton without moving.

Su Ran, trying to maintain his composure with cold sweat pouring down, stood his ground without backing down.

"Humph!" Yin Si in his black robe seemed a bit angry. His body’s anger suddenly subsided. He said to Su Ran, "You are the lord, so I’ll give you this one."

Su Ran let out a sigh of relief and gratefully said, "Thank you, Mr. Yin Si. I am truly grateful, and I would appreciate it if you could give me some guidance."

"Five Underworld Coins." Yin Si, in his black robe, stated the price with a blank expression, leaving no room for negotiation.

"How did you know..." Just as Su Ran was bowing his head, he suddenly realized that when the crooked Yin Si was inspecting the Illusion Demon robe, he had accidentally lifted the robe to expose Su Ran’s bladder...

God damn it!

Yin Si, you swindler, we are enemies!

Speechless, Su Ran reluctantly took out five Underworld Coins and handed them to the swindler Yin Si, his bony claw trembling slightly.

"Hehe." Yin Si, in his black robe, took the coins and said to the little skeleton, "The Illusion Demon stele has appeared, but whether it’s a blessing or a curse is unknown. Well, leave it to fate. Little skeleton, remember this."

Yin Si in his black robe gathered his mood, his tone chilly, each word deliberate, "The ancient stele appears, Illusion Demon is born. To unseal, the Soul Extending Lamp!"