Chapter 208
Chapter 208
The Mysterious Merchant was stunned.
He had heard that Zhouyou Shijie had robbed the Light Faction of a million Gold Coins, so that part did not surprise him. But now, somehow, the man’s wealth had climbed into the several millions.
“I made a small fortune!”
Zhou Ming nodded, then stated his request directly. “I need medicinal ingredients or food that can permanently increase Attributes. Do you have anything in stock?”
“Of course I do!”
The Mysterious Merchant immediately displayed his goods to Zhouyou Shijie. “But let me make one thing clear first: you get what you pay for. My prices are fair to young and old alike!”
“Listen to you. When have I ever tried to cheat you?” Zhou Ming laughed.
The Mysterious Merchant was clearly being too suspicious!
[Heavenly Demon Serpent Egg] (Rare S-Rank Item)
Description: Can hatch into the rare pet Heavenly Demon Serpent. The egg itself also possesses extremely high nutritional value.
Price: 300,000 Gold Coins
[Super Pickled Mustard Greens] (S-Rank Item)
Description: Made from top-quality spirit vegetables. Particularly suitable for use in noodle soup.
Item Effect: Once prepared as food, permanently increases HP. The exact amount depends on the cook’s skill.
Restriction: Can only take effect once.
Price: 200,000 Gold Coins
[Great Strength Pill] (Rare SS-Rank Item)
Description: A medicine long lost to the Dwarves that grants the user greater strength.
Item Effect: Permanently increases Attack by 100 points after consumption.
Restriction: Can only take effect once.
Price: 600,000 Gold Coins
…
Zhou Ming also examined medicines related to increasing Attributes.
Cooking medicine together with food ingredients created medicinal cuisine, which ought to count as a delicacy as well.
“These prices are outrageous!”
Zhou Ming felt a headache coming on.
The Mysterious Merchant’s goods were excellent, but each one cost hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins. Even with five million Gold Coins to his name, Zhou Ming could burn through them in minutes.
He had to find a way to spend less…
Creak!
Suddenly, the door opened again. The bright-eyed little girl poked her head out and peered at them cautiously.
“Keke, are you disobeying Daddy?” The Mysterious Merchant put on a stern face.
“Hey!”
An idea flashed through Zhou Ming’s mind, and he hurriedly intervened. “Why are you losing your temper with a child? She must have opened the door because she has something to say. Let her finish.”
As he spoke, Zhou Ming walked over and rubbed Su Keke’s head. “Is there something you want to ask me, little one? I’m your father’s nearest and dearest friend, so you can tell me anything!”
Mysterious Merchant: “…”
Nearest and dearest friend?
Since when?
Su Keke blinked. “Daddy, is this big brother really good with a sword?”
Just as he expected!
An imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Zhou Ming’s mouth.
The little girl’s description clearly stated that she was passionate about sword-type weapons. Since the game had given her that background, there had to be a reason.
“He’s all right, I suppose!” the Mysterious Merchant admitted grudgingly.
“But his class sounds amazing!” Su Keke stared eagerly at Zhou Ming.
She cared deeply about “swords,” so how could she have failed to notice the class of her father’s friend?
[Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie] (Flame Demon Emperor/Sword Demon Emperor)
Venerable, flame, sword, demon, emperor!
For a child, combining those words had an overwhelming impact.
Mysterious Merchant: “…”
“Your daughter has an excellent eye!” Zhou Ming praised. “Truth be told, in terms of maximum potential, there isn’t a class in the world that can surpass the Sword Demon Emperor. It was born from the legacies of two Sword Saints!”
“It’s that incredible?!”
Su Keke’s eyes shone. “Then can Big Brother become my mentor?”
She did not want to grow up and spend her life running from place to place doing business like her father.
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Accept [Sword Apprentice · Su Keke] (Silver-Grade Boss) as your disciple? (Note: If accepted, the disciple will receive a branch class of [Sword Demon Emperor], the SSS-Rank Unique Hidden Class [Demon Swordsman].)]
The sudden system chime struck Zhou Ming as rather novel.
So if he chose to accept a disciple, that disciple would receive a corresponding legacy?
“No!”
Zhou Ming declined and said apologetically, “Sorry, but Big Brother isn’t planning to accept a disciple right now. I’m in the middle of discussing business with your father!”
“You bastard!”
The Mysterious Merchant gritted his teeth. How could he possibly fail to see what Zhou Ming intended? He immediately put on a stern face. “Keke, back inside!”
“Oh…”
Su Keke returned to the house in disappointment. Before closing the door, she cast Zhou Ming several reluctant glances.
Somewhere deep inside, she sensed that this was an opportunity great enough to change her fate.
“Merchant, I’m sincerely trying to buy every medicine you have that might increase Attributes!” Zhou Ming returned to the main topic. “Give me a fair price!”
“How much are you buying?”
“Everything!”
“???”
The Mysterious Merchant froze for a moment, then said, “I have nine items in total. Since you’re a regular customer, I’ll give you a ten-percent discount. That’s 3.41 million Gold Coins. I’ll even round off the remainder and make it 3.4 million!”
“One million!”
Zhou Ming countered.
“Why the fuck don’t you just rob me?” the Mysterious Merchant’s tone changed completely.
“No, no, no!”
Zhou Ming explained, “What I mean is, although I can’t accept your daughter as my disciple, I can pass down part of my legacy to her!”
The Mysterious Merchant narrowed his eyes. “You’re trying that trick on me?”
“I believe every father and mother wants their child to have a brighter future. Am I wrong?” Zhou Ming coaxed patiently.
“…”
The Mysterious Merchant remained silent for a long time.
After hesitating for dozens of seconds, he gritted his teeth. “Fine. One million it is!”
“Deal!”
Zhou Ming held out his hand. “Hand it over!”
“…That’s not how the math works, is it?” The Mysterious Merchant was dumbfounded.
“You waive the entire cost, then give me an additional one million. That’s right, isn’t it?” Zhou Ming asked in confusion.
It seemed the two of them had understood the deal rather differently.
Tuition was expensive these days!
“You’re ruthless!”
The Mysterious Merchant had no choice but to hand over one million Gold Coins.
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: You have received the rare hidden quest [Legacy] (Difficulty: D)!]
[Legacy] (Difficulty: D)
Description: Although it is only part of your legacy, it is sufficient to grant another person the potential to become a peerless expert.
Quest Details: Accept [Sword Apprentice · Su Keke] as your disciple.
Quest Reward: All current purchases are free, and you receive an additional 1,000,000 Gold Coins.
Failure Penalty: Level -10
…
“You know perfectly well how much you’re gaining, so there’s no need to pretend you’re suffering some enormous loss!” Zhou Ming shook his head, easily seeing through the man’s act. “Four-point-four million Gold Coins for an SSS-Rank Hidden Class. There isn’t a better bargain in the world.”
“…Looks like I still couldn’t fool you!”
The Mysterious Merchant gave an awkward smile. “I was mainly afraid that if I agreed too quickly, you’d change your mind!”
“I, Zhouyou Shijie, always keep my word. Of course I won’t go back on it.” Zhou Ming shook his head and laughed.
The Mysterious Merchant then hurried back inside and brought his precious daughter out to formally take Zhou Ming as her mentor.
“Su Keke, are you willing to become my disciple?” Zhou Ming asked solemnly.
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie wishes to accept you as his disciple. Accept? (Note: After becoming his disciple, you will receive the SSS-Rank Unique Hidden Class [Demon Swordsman].)]
“This disciple greets her master!”
Overcome with excitement, Su Keke knelt and performed the proper salute with surprising formality.
Zhou Ming hurriedly reached down to help her up, but the Mysterious Merchant stopped him. “The necessary rites cannot be omitted.”
The Mysterious Merchant understood perfectly well.
Becoming Zhouyou Shijie’s disciple was itself an extraordinary stroke of fortune.
Perhaps in the future, Zhou Ming would remember the bond between mentor and disciple and look after his daughter.
After kowtowing three times, Su Keke’s body erupted with intense sword intent. It was as though she had received the blessing of heaven and earth. Her slender body floated into the air and underwent a baptism.
“That will do.” Zhou Ming turned to leave without lingering. “Until we meet again!”
“Wait!”
The Mysterious Merchant called out to Zhou Ming. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why were you willing to accept my daughter as your disciple?” The Mysterious Merchant could not understand his reasons.
For a few million Gold Coins?
Truthfully, Zhouyou Shijie probably did not care that much about money.
“Two reasons!”
Zhou Ming answered honestly, “First, I need enough wealth to purchase more Attribute-increasing items. I urgently need them right now.”
“Second…”
Zhou Ming gave Su Keke a long look. “Descriptions don’t lie, and neither do a child’s eyes. I can tell your daughter sincerely loves practicing swordsmanship, so I decided to go along with it and grant her an opportunity.”
“That’s all?” the Mysterious Merchant asked in astonishment.
“Of course!”
Zhou Ming laughed freely, his manner open and magnanimous. “I only reached where I am today because many seniors granted me opportunities. Now that I am the senior, I am willing to look after those who follow!”
With that, he strode away.
The Mysterious Merchant watched the man’s carefree back with a complicated expression. A sudden insight came to him, and he called out a reminder. “If you want more foods that permanently increase Attributes, try visiting the Dragon Domain. Every part of a dragon is treasure!”
He had not intended to say that.
After all, those words risked offending the Dragon Domain.
“Thank you for the information!”
…
When Su Keke regained consciousness, she was brimming with energy and excitement.
This brief meeting with her mentor was enough to alter the course of her entire life.
“Where’s Master?”
Su Keke looked around eagerly. “Where did he go?”
“He has matters of his own to handle. He asked me to tell you that your future cultivation will depend on you. You don’t need to worry about skills. Once your class advances, you will certainly gain something,” the Mysterious Merchant explained.
“I see…”
Su Keke scratched her head, yearning filling her heart. “Daddy, I want to become as strong as Master one day!”
Being able to casually grant someone an SSS-Rank Unique Hidden Class had completely upended her understanding of the world.
“When you’re a little older, perhaps you’ll understand who he is!” the Mysterious Merchant said with emotion. “Now he is only one final battle away from becoming a legend of the Destiny Continent!”
He could already sense it.
A great battle that only god-tier experts were qualified to enter was about to begin.
Everything Zhouyou Shijie was doing now was merely his final preparation for that war.
…