"Just now, when I was chopping trees in the jungle, I suddenly encountered an old tree with a human face, very terrifying."
Qian Gongyu made a grimace, unsure whether to show her startled foolishness or mimic that old tree: "But I remained calm under the circumstances, didn’t walk away, and instead began conversing with it. It said that if I gave it fifty Spiritual Jades, it would gift a Cultivation Technique Manual."
"After I threw the fifty Spiritual Jades into its mouth, it chewed for a mont and then actually spat out a manual! After reading it, I beca proficient in Advanced Fist Technique, and soon after transitioned into an Iron Claw ssenger, my Qi blood surged, my strength swelled, and my energy soared! But that old tree turned into an ordinary tree, even if I chopped it down, it didn’t react."
Although Qian Gongyu tried hard to describe the process as thrilling, no matter how it was told, it seed like a story of her stepping into good luck by chance. However, the ending refreshed everyone’s perception of her—a mysterious entity that just gifted you a Cultivation Technique Manual, and you dared to chop it; you’re even more reckless than Jiang Shi.
Jiang Shi also shared her encounter with the Spirit Gathering Stone Seat and showed everyone the Jade Pendant. The difference between ordinary tokens and rare tokens is very obvious; ordinary tokens lack luster, while rare tokens emit a blue glow.
"Are you saying the Spirit Gathering Stone Seat can reinforce any ordinary token into a rare token?" Shang Xinlei emphasized the word ’any,’ "No limitations whatsoever? Third-Turn and Fourth-Turn included?"
Jiang Shi: "Even Ninth-Turn can."
Shang Xinlei and Jie Yuan Shao only took her words as exaggerated rhetoric, but the re intelligence that it can enhance Fourth-Turn ordinary tokens is enough to stir waves outside—though elsewhere unknown, the Fourth-Turn ssengers in Liang Kingdom mostly only possess ordinary tokens, not even every Fourth-Turn owns one!
The Fourth-Turned Rare Token is sufficient to suppress an era for a Fourth-Turn ssenger, wielding unmatched authority!
If those who truly rule Liang Kingdom’s Fourth-Turn ssengers learn about the encounter in Mansu Forest Land...
"Eldest Miss Jie." Shang Xinlei suddenly called out to Jie Yuan Shao and then gazed steadily at her.
Jie Yuan Shao’s lips moved slightly, paused for a mont, then nodded slightly, "I can only promise not to disclose this to other families."
Having reached a consensus with Jie Yuan Shao, Shang Xinlei seriously said to the two from the Qian Family: "You shouldn’t spread the news about the Spirit Gathering Stone Seat; it’s too impactful. If previously it was just minor skirmishes, now involving the Fourth-Turned Rare Token, it’s already a landslide-level whirlpool, and even we may not protect ourselves, let alone you."
Qian Gongyu was so scared she nodded like a chicken pecking rice, while Jiang Shi nodded calmly. Shang Xinlei also wanted to advise Jiang Shi not to use this Rare Jade Pendant again, but she knew Jiang Shi’s response would not satisfy her, so she abstained from persuading.
"But the fact that Qian Gongyu advanced to Second-Turn cannot be concealed; her previous skills were evident to all, and no one would think she transitioned naturally." Jie Yuan Shao said: "Even just the ability to produce Advanced Secret Manual is enough to make major clans focus more on Mansu Forest Land—Advanced Secret Manuals can only be produced in the Third-Turn Secret Realm, each tied to dozens of lives."
"Each tied to lives?" Qian Gongyu was puzzled.
"Even with a team of Third-Turn ssengers entering the Third-Turn Secret Realm, they could be seriously injured or even suffer losses." Shang Xinlei explained: "Moreover, Third-Turn ssengers have their pride; asking them to conquer the Secret Realm, how much must you share to satisfy them?"
"Therefore, the common strategy to conquer most Third-Turn Secret Realms relies on a small number of Third-Turn or Second-Turn ssengers as core, supplented by vast numbers of ordinary soldiers as shields, bearing the brunt of demon attacks. Often after a battle, ordinary soldiers basically suffer heavy injuries and rotation, as many soldiers suffer grievous casualties once the Secret Realm Demon King is slain."
"Eldest Miss Jie saying every Advanced Secret Manual is tied to dozens of lives is certainly not exaggerated." Shang Xinlei lanted: "Even without warfare, military towns suffer thousands of casualties each year."
"This, this is too..." Qian Gongyu struggled for a long ti before squeezing out a word: "Too cruel?"
"Cruel? This is recognized as benevolent governance by everyone." Shang Xinlei shook her head: "Every year, countless people wish to join the military towns to support their families, and participating in conquering the Third-Turn Secret Realm is even a shortcut to elevate commoners overnight, for anyone taking part in ten expeditions can receive basic cultivation techniques to transition as a ssenger, regardless of status."
"The ancestors of many noble families outside have taken such steps from military town soldiers to establish their clan. Using the underprivileged isn’t cruel; true cruelty would be denying them even the opportunity for use, trampling them like weeds, letting them perish."
The firewood in the fireplace crackled and popped, shining on Qian Gongyu’s worried face.
Shang Xinlei explained at length to fully illustrate the significance of Advanced Techniques.
These are strategic resources any family is willing to sacrifice dozens of lives to obtain.
Jiang Shi was already at the forefront, and this news getting out would surely make her even hotter property.
This perfus the success of the strong but deepens the crisis for the weak.
"Jiang Shi." Qian Gongyu clutched her hem, looking like a helpless, pitiful little raccoon: "Have I... have I caused you trouble again?"
After a brief silence, Jiang Shi nodded: "Indeed you have."
"Then you should serve diligently for life to repay, my lady."
Ah?
Everyone heard such an odd syntax for the first ti; though each character was familiar, together they beca quite strange.
"It’s not so serious that we have to sell ourselves as slaves for life, right!" Qian Gongyu couldn’t hold back anymore.
Jiang Shi was very accommodating, "How about ten years then?"
"Ten years is also out of the question!"
"Five years?"
"No way!"
"How about one year?"
"One year... if it’s one year..."
Wait, are you guys seriously discussing this?
Shang Xinlei was a bit taken aback, but she felt this was just Jiang Shi’s style. Carefree, greedy, with no regard for moral norms, and extrely honest. To this day, she had never heard Jiang Shi utter a single insincere lie, because Jiang Shi would never let himself be wronged.
She originally wanted to use these two pieces of information to intimidate Jiang Shi, to make him realize how many people would target him, with the only way out being to join her family or the Jie Family quickly. But seeing Jiang Shi’s attitude, she suspected she had the opposite effect.
After all, besides "integrate into the world," another solution to "can’t be against the whole world" is "destroy the whole world."
Shang Xinlei wanted to discuss with Jie Yuan Shao, only to find Jie Yuan Shao holding his chin, watching Jiang Shi and Qian Gongyu argue whether it was seven or eight months for selling themselves. He seed like an introverted warrior wanting to join in the conversation but unsure how to start.
For so reason, the complicated thoughts in Shang Xinlei’s mind gradually dissipated. She lazily leaned against the soft leather seat, watching Jie Yuan Shao rack his brains to finally think of a topic to join in the chat, thinking how nice it would be if there were milk tea and pastries here.
Soon, the demon surge ended, and it was ti to go outside and collect resources again. However, this ti there was not as much ti, only a quarter of an hour.
A quarter of an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Everyone returned with gathered resources, then discussed how to make full use of them according to the building list Jiang Shi laid out.
"If you believe ," Jiang Shi suddenly said, "I suggest upgrading the shelter first."
Jie Yuan Shao: "Reasons?"
"The castle is a level-four shelter," Jiang Shi repeated, "Level four."
Jie Yuan Shao and Shang Xinlei imdiately understood her idea, giving a positive attitude, only Qian Gongyu was still clueless, "So what’s the big deal about level four?"
"Whether it’s the Secret Realm, Token, or job change, the Fourth-Turn is a huge watershed. Crossing it causes earth-shaking changes," Shang Xinlei explained, "If the shelter also follows this rule, the buildings unlocked at level four could be beyond imagination."
Resources flowed like a torrent into the barrier. Standing amidst it, they felt like they were engulfed by a mountain flood or tsunami. When the world regained peace, a majestic and grand castle appeared before them, the ground covered with carpets, and candlelight upgraded to splendid torches.
But none of this piqued their interest at all. Everyone focused unanimously on Jiang Shi, waiting for her to introduce new building options. However, Jiang Shi said nothing, rely watching as the remaining resources in the courtyard transford into a stream of light, rushing into a room inside the castle. It was evident she built a new facility without consulting anyone, using up almost all the resources!
Shang Xinlei and Jie Yuan Shao raised their eyebrows slightly. Such a unilateral decision wasn’t typical of Jiang Shi’s style. Either this facility was extrely important to her and she’d build it despite opposition, or she was confident everyone would agree to prioritize building it.
Jiang Shi walked over and opened this new room, quickly coming out with a sword, a knife, a pair of iron claws, and a pair of flying discs—the exact types of their respective weapons.
"Take them."
Shang Xinlei received the flying discs, noticing they were just ordinary iron flying discs, not even tokens, and asked in confusion, "What are these for?"
"The second wave of attack is about to start," Jiang Shi said, "Go out there and crush them."
Everyone froze, with Jie Yuan Shao reacting imdiately, "These weapons can harm the demons in Mansu Forest Land?"
"Not just that," Jiang Shi said, "If you can wield these blood weapons and kill more than a hundred enemies in Mansu Forest Land, the blood weapons will morph into tokens exclusive to you. As long as you kill more than three hundred enemies, you’ll be able to take the blood weapons out."
Before Shang Xinlei and others could digest this information, Jiang Shi followed with even more groundbreaking news: "If you kill a thousand enemies, the blood weapon will beco enhancent material, capable of integrating with any other token, raising its level to a higher tier."
She paused, then added:
"But it can only enhance to a Legendary Token at most."
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