Chapter 139 · Volume 1

Preparing to Max Out Shock Value in One Go

As Yun Shu clicked the three-hundred-pull, the familiar cards unfolded one after another, golden light flashing again and again.
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Heavenly Balance Set's waist accessory component (6/8): Evil-Binding Rope】
【Component Description: Can bind evildoers; the more they struggle, the tighter it binds, harmless to the good (cooldown 48 hours)】
【...】
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Heavenly Balance Set's face makeup component (7/8): Karmic Fire Mark】
【Component Description: Can distinguish truth from falsehood in speech, exposing all lies and disguises (cooldown 48 hours)】
【...】
【Current Shock Value: 1,021,000】
“Two advanced components from three hundred pulls. Not bad.”
Yun Shu stroked her chin, then clicked on the detailed descriptions of the components on the system panel. “Don't this Evil-Binding Rope and Karmic Fire Mark basically amount to handcuffs and a lie detector? Pair them with the Domain of Retribution as a prison, and it's a one-stop service.”
The little fox jumped onto the bed and teased, “Host, all you're missing is a pistol. If the Casket of a Hundred Crafts spits out a pistol, wouldn't you be able to go back to your old line of work in this world?”
Yun Shu glanced sideways at the little fox. “Then why don't you open a back door for me and let me draw a pistol?”
“Emmm.”
The little fox collapsed onto the bed. “Host, if I could rig the system for you, with our relationship, I'd give you whatever you wanted. But the problem is, I don't have the authorization.”
Yun Shu remained noncommittal.
She opened the permanent prize pool again.
She did another three-hundred-pull without even blinking. This was probably the confidence that came with being wealthy.
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Thousand Machines and Myriad Crafts Set's mount component (4/8): Cloud Shuttle Skyship.】
【Component Description: Forged from profound iron, it can freely alter its size, carry several people, and soar through the sky.】
【...】
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Thousand Machines and Myriad Crafts Set's ring component (5/8): Thousand Machines Ring.】
【Component Description: When wearing the ring and touching any industrial product, the user can obtain its manufacturing principles (cooldown four months).】
【...】
【Current Shock Value: 931,000】
Yun Shu looked at the newly drawn components. Although they weren't what she currently wanted, they were all highly useful items.
Thinking that she had good luck today, she clicked the draw button again, and the pink prize wheel began to spin once more.
Cards were drawn one by one and then flipped over.
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Sword Sovereign of the Nine Heavens Set's hair crown component (5/8): Clear Void Crown.】
【Component Description: Forged from cold soul-iron, this crown can draw upon the cold energy of the moon, freezing everything within a hundred miles (cooldown 120 hours).】
【...】
【Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the Sword Sovereign of the Nine Heavens Set's bracelet component (6/8): Cosmic Form Bracelet.】
【Component Description: Can summon a hundred-zhang-tall phantom of a sword immortal to suppress all directions (cooldown 120 hours).】
【...】
【Current Shock Value: 841,000】
Having spent a hefty sum and drawn many good items, Yun Shu closed the prize pool interface with satisfaction.
Trying to gather a complete outfit from the permanent prize pool mostly depended on luck. If she kept throwing Shock Value into it, she would only have her Shock Value swallowed by the pool. It would be much more cost-effective to draw slowly over time.
“Even at Level 10, the rain range of the Rainbow and Feather Garment can't cover the entire north. I'll probably have to dump a lot more Shock Value into it.”
Looking at the new components added to her wardrobe, a look of deep thought crossed Yun Shu's eyes. “Perhaps I can adjust the layout for Chaoyang City, make the scene even grander, and completely max out the Shock Value of the people of Chaoyang in one go.”
...
Yecheng Academy.
Fang Shuo followed Cui He into a strange room.
Shelves of various heights lined the four walls, filled with strangely shaped glassware, and a strange, indescribable odor filled the air.
Fang Shuo's eyes went wide.
“So many... so many pieces of glassware...”
“Are... are you people in Yecheng all this rich?”
He carefully leaned closer and couldn't help but stretch out his hand, his fingertips reaching toward the most oddly shaped glass vessel.
“Those things are all toxic and have no antidote. Touch them and you'll die. Don't say I didn't warn you.”
A sinister voice sounded from behind him.
Fang Shuo was startled.
He pulled his hand back as if he had been burned, turned to look at Cui He, and smiled sheepishly. “I was just looking...”
Since arriving in Yecheng, the novelties he saw every day never repeated themselves. How could he not be curious?
“Little Senior Sister, why did you bring me here?”
Cui He was impatient. “Why do you talk so much? I really don't know what the Divine Lady sees in you.”
“You! Fine, can't I just leave?”
Fuming, Fang Shuo whipped his sleeve and turned to leave.
However, upon stepping out the door, he realized he couldn't remember where he had entered from at all.
So, he dejectedly returned to the room.
Just then, the curtain at the innermost part of the room was slowly lifted, and a figure walked out.
Fang Shuo focused his gaze and froze on the spot.
The woman, dressed in a simple Daoist robe, had dark, bruise-like circles under her eyes, a sallow and haggard complexion, and bloodshot eyes, looking as if she had just crawled out of a coffin.
Yet even so.
Fang Shuo recognized that face at a glance. His lips trembled, and his eyes suddenly welled with tears.
“Au... Aunt?”
Cui He cast a surprised glance at Fang Shuo.
Daoist Master Xuan Jing was actually his aunt?
This guy's luck was really a bit too absurd...
“Are you Xiao Shuo?” Fang Yingqiu scrutinized him closely. “How come you don't look like your father at all?”
When Fang Shuo was born, she had even held him.
But she had left the Fang family more than ten years ago, and her memory of Fang Shuo was still stuck on when he was a child.
“I... I take after my mother...”
Fang Shuo was both excited and constrained. He never expected to see his aunt, who had been missing for many years, in Yecheng, let alone that she had actually joined a Daoist sect.
Fang Yingqiu had been conducting experiments for the past few days and hadn't even attended the Divine Lady's sermon, so she naturally couldn't have known about Fang Shuo's experiences.
“Are your parents well?”
Fang Shuo's voice was choked with tears. “Aunt, my mother passed away ten years ago, and my father died a few days ago too.”
Hearing that her brother and sister-in-law had both passed away, Fang Yingqiu was certainly saddened, but she wasn't overly grief-stricken.
Since entering the Daoist path, she had never seen anyone from the Fang family again, so their familial bonds had naturally grown distant.
She sighed, “Xiao Shuo, the world is impermanent. One must always look forward and not drown in past grief.”
Fang Shuo nodded through his tears.
Afterward, Fang Shuo stayed by Fang Yingqiu's side, eagerly waiting day and night for the Divine Lady to finish her sermon at the Yecheng Academy so she could take him back to Chaoyang City to see his father off one last time.
Before they knew it, the three-day limit had arrived.
The place where the Divine Lady preached was still packed with people.
Fang Shuo waited outside, stretching his neck to peer inside.
He could actually go inside.
However, he was self-aware. He likely wouldn't understand most of the profound, mystical Dao the Divine Lady preached, and taking up a spot for nothing would only invite cold glares from others.
In the scorching heat of midsummer, Fang Shuo stood foolishly under the sun, staring longingly at the place where the Divine Lady was preaching.
He didn't know how long he had waited.
Not until his legs began to wobble, his head grew dizzy, and his vision blurred did he finally see a familiar figure walking over.
With a thud, he knelt down. “Divine... Divine Lady, you said before that you would take me back to Chaoyang City...”

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