Chapter 211
Chapter 211
Swoosh!
The power of the rules clearly took precedence over teleportation. In a single instant, it returned Zhou Ming to the area outside the Dragon Domain.
Zhou Ming was more than happy to enjoy the free time.
Leaving the first round of the Team Competition to Wuwei Erzhi gave the man an opportunity and saved Zhou Ming effort. What was not to like?
Whether anything developed between the two of them was none of his concern.
As though something had occurred to him, he turned toward the beauty in white standing nearby…
Amid the snow filling the sky, the young woman stood in silence like a spirit of winter. Her features were exquisite, her eyes bright, her teeth white, and her skin as smooth as snow.
“What’s wrong?” Sensing Zhou Ming’s gaze, Qianying looked back at him.
“Nothing!”
Zhou Ming grinned, at a loss for what to say.
How miserable!
He had never even properly held a girl’s hand, yet here he was playing matchmaker for someone else!
Honestly, why did they have to disturb his state of mind?
“Oh.”
Qianying pursed her lips in a smile and said nothing more.
“…”
The atmosphere inexplicably grew a little awkward.
Come to think of it, he ought to be the one to take a step forward. He could not simply stand around until a perfect opportunity slipped away…
Zhou Ming’s thoughts ran wild. He drew a deep breath and began, “Qianying, actually…”
Whoosh!
The Dragon Domain was clearly extremely efficient.
Yun An and Abel had become especially proactive after making the agreement.
Upon returning, Yun An saw Zhou Ming speaking with the Divine Ember Queen and smiled. “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything?”
“Not at all!”
Zhou Ming beamed. “Not even slightly!”
Yun An: “…”
“Well? Did you gather everything?” Zhou Ming composed himself and returned to the main subject.
“We gathered enough varieties of dragon meat to prepare nine delicacies with different effects!” Yun An solemnly handed over everything they had managed to collect. “And one drop of Flame Dragon blood essence!”
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Congratulations! You have received the quest rewards for the hidden side quest [Three-Month Pact] (Difficulty: D-Rank): [Flame Dragon Blood Essence], [Light Dragon Meat], [Dark Dragon Meat], [Earth Dragon Meat], [Water Dragon Meat]…]
“Many thanks!”
Zhou Ming cupped his hands. “Once I break through to Saint tier, I will certainly help both of you cross the dimensional barrier!”
“With that promise, I can rest easy!” Abel was thoroughly satisfied with their agreement.
In his view, true wisdom in life meant making the correct choice at the correct moment.
That did not mean effort was unimportant, of course, but choice unquestionably mattered more.
“Then I won’t disturb you any longer!” His goals for the trip accomplished, Zhou Ming turned to leave.
Three months was neither long nor short.
He still had many matters to handle. The most important was settling all the grudges of the past.
That would not be easy.
Although the Hope Faction now possessed a considerable foundation, openly challenging the gods and demons would remain extremely difficult.
The wind howled bitterly across the snowfield.
Yun An and Abel watched Zhou Ming leave. Abel asked meaningfully, “Yun An, do you really think we can stay out of this?”
He had not become the Dragon God without possessing keen judgment.
When faced with a matter of right and wrong, he would never allow himself to be confused.
“We’ll see how things develop!”
After a moment’s thought, Yun An said, “If the Dragon Domain’s strength happens to be the missing piece, we’ll join the battle. But how much Zhouyou Shijie can accomplish in his final confrontation with Gu Ming will depend on him.”
Even Yun An could not analyze Zhou Ming’s chances of victory.
Perhaps he had a chance to win. Perhaps he would be killed instantly. Until it happened, no one could see the ending.
“You understand me best!” Abel said happily.
…
Afterward, Zhou Ming traveled to Godreach Cliff.
Splash! Splash! Splash…
The tide surged, and towering waves crashed against the shore.
A fierce wind tugged at Zhou Ming’s robes, making them snap loudly.
This was the place where Ning Wushen had shattered the void, and countless visitors came to pay their respects.
However, Zhou Ming always had a purpose when traveling from place to place. His special trip to Godreach Cliff was no exception.
“You’ve been doing quite well for yourself lately, little brother!”
The moment Zhou Ming arrived, Mysterious Merchant No. 2 appeared before him without needing to be summoned. His tone was impressed and his attitude friendly.
A person’s reputation followed them like a tree’s shadow!
The current Zhouyou Shijie truly was the most influential figure on the Destiny Continent, unrivaled by anyone.
More absurdly, he had actually formed a connection with Ning Wushen.
“As expected, Brother, you’re still at Godreach Cliff!” Zhou Ming nodded in greeting, then got straight to the point. “I want to buy items and foods that permanently increase Attributes!”
Mysterious Merchant · No. 1 had managed to gather nine different items at once. How could Zhou Ming possibly forget about Mysterious Merchant No. 2?
“No problem, no problem!”
Mysterious Merchant No. 2 had no reason to refuse legitimate business. He immediately waved a hand and displayed his shop inventory before Zhou Ming.
[Green Chives] (Rare S-Rank Item)
Description: Chives are wonderful things. Cut one crop, and another grows in its place, an endless and inexhaustible supply.
Item Effect: After consumption, HP Recovery per Second +200.
Restriction: Can only take effect once.
Price: 300,000 Gold Coins
[Super Daylily] (Rare SS-Rank Item)
Description: It doesn’t taste good once it gets cold.
Item Effect: After consumption, permanently reduces skill cooldowns by 2%.
Restriction: Can only take effect once.
Price: 630,000 Gold Coins
[Fresh Tender Cucumber] (Rare SS-Rank Item)
Description: Not only can it be used, it can also be eaten.
Item Effect: After consumption, All Elemental Resistances +1%.
Restriction: Can only take effect once.
Price: 850,000 Gold Coins
…
Just as Zhou Ming had expected, any Attribute-increasing items held by a Mysterious Merchant would be extremely expensive, if they had such items at all.
That was precisely why he had tried to spend as little as possible with Mysterious Merchant · No. 1. Otherwise, he could not have afforded this.
“How many do you want?” Mysterious Merchant No. 2 asked.
“Everything!”
Zhou Ming’s tone was firm. “Give me the friends-and-family price!”
“Your financial resources are truly admirable, Brother!”
Mysterious Merchant No. 2 perked up and immediately began calculating. “Five items in total, for 3.23 million. I’ll knock off the remainder and make it 3.2 million!”
“Sold!”
This time, Zhou Ming paid without hesitation.
He currently had more than six million Gold Coins. This purchase only cost half of that, so he could easily afford it.
With this, Zhou Ming now possessed twenty-four Attribute-increasing foods.
“Big spender!” Merchant No. 2 repeatedly praised him with a raised thumb. “Anything else you’d like to buy?”
“Let me see!”
Zhou Ming carefully browsed the other shop pages, but little caught his interest.
The shop held piles of things he once urgently needed. Now that his strength had reached a certain level, however, he had lost any desire to buy them.
Something suddenly occurred to Zhou Ming. “Do you still have any Double Reward Cards?”
Doubling his next reward was the item with the highest potential in his mind.
“…I do, but the price has gone up!”
After a moment’s hesitation, Merchant No. 2 told him honestly, “Inflation has been fierce lately. The rules have already restricted its price to two million, and it may rise even higher in the future.”
“I’ll buy it!”
Without a second thought, Zhou Ming bought it with extravagant decisiveness.
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: You have successfully spent 2,000,000 Gold Coins to purchase [Double Reward Card] (Rare S-Rank Item)!]
After spending a vast sum of money, he left in complete satisfaction.
Finding the remaining six delicacies within eight days would not be difficult for him.
After Zhou Ming departed, Merchant No. 2 confirmed no one was nearby and carefully counted the total Gold Coins he had accumulated. He murmured to himself, “After collecting this much, I should be almost there…”
…