Arc 2The Wandering Star Forest

Yan Qing secured Bingzi Jiaolin from the Thieves’ Den mission, then entered the Wandering Star Forest through Jiang Shi and helped her group survive its trials. Jiang Shi drew the attention of powerful families, accepted Qun Yushu’s jade pendant, and returned to the forest with Qian Gongyu and Shang Xin Lei as Yan Qing learned the event’s milestone stages.

  • Yan Qing led Yaoshi Yuan, Ying Ru Shi, and Shang Xin Lei out of Anguo Temple, while An Wu and the other rescuers burned the temple and died, and Yan Qing later won Bingzi Jiaolin in the Thieves’ Den auction.
  • The Divine Marquis Manor declared the four Anguo Temple thieves wanted, drawing the attention of Yaoshi Mo Ke, Ying Le, and Shang Qia, while Yan Qing noticed Night Four’s Demolition Team milestone.
  • Yan Qing created Jiang Shi for the Wandering Star Forest event, where she killed the constables who tried to detain her and joined Qian Gongyu as her attendant.
  • At the forest trial, Jiang Shi led Qian Gongyu, Shang Xin Lei, and Jie Yuanshao in building defenses and defeating waves of demons, earning top personal scores before they left to recover.
  • Jiang Shi’s success attracted Jie Zilong and the noble families, and Qun Yushu proposed marriage before offering her family resources and protection in exchange for joining him.
  • Jiang Shi accepted Qun Yushu’s jade pendant in return for identifying its shield abilities, then refused his offer to become a Qun Family Offering.
  • Jiang Shi took half of Qian Gongyu’s spirit jade as payment, and the group entered the Wandering Star Forest again as Yan Qing received information about its milestone stages.
Chapters 26–50 Vol. 1 Read

Ch. 26Sorry for the Effort

Yan Qing stopped Ying Ru Shi and Yaoshi Yuan from fighting over the Bingzi Jiaolin by relying on Thieves' Den’s rules and making them believe he was vastly stronger. After leaving the treasury with the blade, he faced the crowd at Anguo Temple and gave them thirty seconds to leave.

  • Shang Xin Lei’s remarks about the Brave General Sword angered Yaoshi Yuan, and she and Ying Ru Shi escalated their fight.
  • Yan Qing blocked both women’s attacks with his White Iron Straight Blade, seized the Bingzi Jiaolin, and said he would keep it until the mission ended.
  • Yan Qing led the group out of the treasury, where monks and nobles surrounded the exit and An Wu waited with his burned body.
  • Yaoshi Yuan considered killing the gathered monks, but Yan Qing refused to attack them unless they threatened him.
  • Yan Qing told the monks and nobles to leave Anguo Temple before An Wu finished counting down from thirty, then thanked An Wu for his effort.

Ch. 27Like Dew and Lightning, Contemplate Them Thus

Yan Qing and the others left Anguo Temple as An Wu and his companions stayed behind to burn it down, then returned to the Thieves’ Den, where Bingzi Jiaolin transformed into a legendary weapon. The group learned its abilities while the consequences of the temple fire remained outside.

  • Yan Qing left Anguo Temple with Yaoshi Yuan, Ying Ru Shi, and Shang Xin Lei, while the nobles and monks fled.
  • An Wu stayed behind with An Liu, An Qi, An Ba, and An Jiu; they ignited the oil on their bodies and set Anguo Temple ablaze.
  • Xue Yan tried to carry An Wu away, but Third Miss Yang stopped him and explained that An Wu and the others did not intend to leave alive.
  • Yan Qing paid for noodles with spirit jade, told the shop assistant to say they came from the Thieves’ Den, and left with Bingzi Jiaolin.
  • Yan Qing and the others returned to the Thieves’ Den, where Bingzi Jiaolin transformed into a One-Transformation Legendary weapon and revealed its abilities.

Ch. 28A Bidding War

After completing the theft mission, Yan Qing and the other messengers learned that Thieves' Den awarded stolen items as Legendary Relics and settled rewards through bidding. Yan Qing outbid the others for Bingzi Jiaolin and claimed the sword.

  • Yaoshi Yuan, Ying Ru Shi, and Shang Xin Lei marveled at Bingzi Jiaolin and questioned how Yan Qing had known it would be a Legendary Relic.
  • Yan Qing realized the others had never heard of a successful Thieves' Den mission and concealed his knowledge by claiming he had learned about it elsewhere.
  • Yaoshi Yuan warned the others she would fight for Bingzi Jiaolin, but Yan Qing told them their weapons would be useless as Thieves' Den displayed the mission results and awarded Thief Points.
  • Thieves' Den gave the messengers additional items and opened bidding for Bingzi Jiaolin, with Yan Qing holding 50 points and the others holding fewer.
  • Yan Qing bid 36 points, and Thieves' Den awarded him Bingzi Jiaolin because no one else could exceed 41 points.

Ch. 29Divine Marquis Manor's Wanted Notice

Yan Qing and the others divided the auction loot, with their bids leaving Yaoshi Yuan far ahead in Thief Points. After the mission, Thieves' Den announced that Divine Marquis Manor had made the four thieves wanted for thirty days, and the group wondered whether the threat was real.

  • Yan Qing won Bingzi Jiaolin for 36 Thief Points, while the others recognized how the auction rules encouraged them to undermine one another.
  • Ying Ru Shi won the Storage Ring for 26 points, and Shang Xin Lei regretted not bidding for it.
  • Shang Xin Lei won the Random Advanced Skill Beginner's Manual for 19 points, then bid 10 points on the Comprehension Pill before Yaoshi Yuan raised the bid to 15.
  • The loot distribution left Yan Qing with 14 points, Ying Ru Shi with 7, Shang Xin Lei with 11, and Yaoshi Yuan with 25.
  • Thieves' Den announced that the mission's poor completion rate had exposed their crimes and that Divine Marquis Manor had placed them under wanted status for thirty days.
  • After the wanted notice was repeated three times, Shang Xin Lei asked who Divine Marquis Manor was and whether it could truly make them wanted.

Ch. 30Divine Marquis Manor Announcement

After Anguo Temple burned, Yaoshi Mo Ke promised to investigate its crimes while Xue Yan learned that the four people who had rescued him were wanted for stealing a Legendary Relic. The Divine Marquis Manor's announcement triggered fear across distant cities, and Ying Le reacted to the wanted notices outside the City of Evernight.

  • Yaoshi Mo Ke met Old Prime Minister Yang and promised the families of Anguo Temple's victims that he would investigate the temple and find their missing relatives.
  • Xue Huaiyi told Xue Yan that An Wu and An Liu were likely dead and that the four rescuers might have returned to Thieves' Den; Yang Qianqian introduced herself to Xue Yan.
  • The Divine Marquis Manor announced that four unknown petty thieves had stolen the Legendary Relic Bingzi Jiaolin from Anguo Temple and were wanted.
  • Shang Qia ordered the Shang residence sealed after hearing the announcement, while people in Jiangnan City treated it as a divine revelation.
  • Ying Le whipped and killed people who knelt or stood as her War Chariot entered the City of Evernight, then inspected the wanted notices and reacted angrily to the Divine Marquis Manor's name.

Ch. 31Bounty

After the Divine Marquis Manor issued a bounty notice for the masked suspect in the Anguo Temple robbery, Yaoshi Mo Ke urged Yaoshi Yuan to flee Chang'an and explained the Manor’s influence. Yaoshi Yuan instead grew excited by the prospect of becoming legendary, until she saw the far higher bounty on another suspect and became furious.

  • Yaoshi Yuan overheard maids praising the Divine Marquis Manor before Yaoshi Mo Ke showed her its wanted notice for the Black Wolf-masked suspect.
  • Yaoshi Mo Ke told Yaoshi Yuan to leave Chang'an for a guarded secret realm because powerful groups would hunt her for the chance to enter the Divine Marquis Manor.
  • Yaoshi Mo Ke explained that the Manor’s announcement had reached the entire world, including secret realms, and Yaoshi Yuan realized its influence could make her legendary.
  • Yaoshi Yuan asked whether her father had heard if she obtained the Legendary Relic, Bingzi Jiaolin, and Yaoshi Mo Ke handed her another wanted notice.
  • Yaoshi Yuan crushed the notice in anger after seeing that its bounty was much higher than hers.

Ch. 32Milestone Achieved

Ying Ru Shi returned to court with a pseudo-blade, only to find that Ying Le had recovered her commanding presence and was again ruling with clear purpose. Meanwhile, the Anguo Temple thieves faced worldwide bounties, Shang Xin Lei prepared to enter the Wandering Star Forest, and Yan Qing discovered that Night Four had earned a milestone title.

  • Ying Ru Shi presented Ying Le with a pseudo-blade and a Storage Ring, and Ying Le told her to keep investigating the Thieves' Den without risking herself.
  • Ying Le privately crushed the pseudo-blade and studied the wanted notice for Suspect Number Three, insisting she would wait until the bounty drew out the Divine Marquis Manor and a particular person.
  • Shang Qia warned Shang Xin Lei about the worldwide announcement and the dangers of the Divine Marquis Manor, while she chose to enter the Wandering Star Forest and improve her standing.
  • Yan Qing saw the Divine Marquis Manor's worldwide announcement and the four wanted notices for the Anguo Temple thieves, then discovered the milestone title "Demolition Team" on Night Four's status bar.

Ch. 33All-Account Shared Milestones

Yan Qing used Night Four to complete the Martial Arts Genius milestone and discovered its effects could be shared across Reality Mode accounts, giving him a way to train basic martial arts in the real world. After a day of secret-realm battles and training, he planned to rest, but a new Jiangnan regional event began.

  • Gai Louxian vouched for Night Four to receive the Evil Spirit Mask in advance, in exchange for leading teams into secret realms and taking on their Demon Kings.
  • Night Four led Bai Bao teams through secret realms, defeating the demons himself while the others watched and collected rewards.
  • Yan Qing realized milestone effects from a Reality Mode account could benefit all his Reality Mode accounts, including his main account.
  • Yan Qing trained Night Four until he mastered eight basic martial arts techniques and activated the Martial Arts Genius milestone.
  • Yan Qing decided to take a break from Messenger, but the Jiangnan regional event Wandering Star Forest began.

Ch. 34Evernight Sky Forest

Yan Qing created a new female character, Jiang Shi, to explore the limited-time Wandering Star Forest dungeon and entered the rainy Jiangnan Subordinate Newbie Village. After checking the event's location, he headed east toward it.

  • Yan Qing learned that clearing Wandering Star Forest awarded a Treasure Hunting Token, which players needed to trade through the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
  • Yan Qing created Jiang Shi with a 334 stat allocation, Basic Footwork and Basic Saber Technique talents, and a White Iron Straight Blade.
  • Jiang Shi appeared in the rainy market of Jiangnan Subordinate Newbie Village, which Yan Qing found more grounded and lively than Chang'an.
  • Yan Qing checked the map, saw that the event location lay to the east, and guided Jiang Shi along the main road toward it.

Ch. 35Side Quest

Yan Qing, controlling “Jiang Shi,” was confronted by county constables who accused her of being an undocumented rebel and tried to arrest her. Although a girl from the Baiyun Qian Clan offered her a way out, Yan Qing chose to fight, killing one constable and leaving three.

  • Yan Qing noticed the townspeople fleeing and closing their doors as “Jiang Shi” walked through the rain with a blade.
  • A group of constables surrounded “Jiang Shi,” while a carriage bearing the Baiyun Qian Clan’s flag arrived and its young mistress challenged them for blocking her way.
  • The constables identified “Jiang Shi” as a bandless undocumented person and said they would detain her; the girl objected but returned to her carriage after her coachman warned her.
  • The constables prepared to seize “Jiang Shi,” and the girl leaned out of the carriage and told her to get in.
  • Yan Qing had “Jiang Shi” charge at a constable and behead him, choosing to pursue the optional quest to kill all the enemies.

Ch. 36Rainy Battle

Jiang Shi fought through a group of constables despite being blinded in one eye, killing the Lime Knight and his men. The girl from the Baiyun Qian Clan invited Jiang Shi into her carriage and pulled her aboard after cleaning her bloodstained hand.

  • The Lime Knight blinded Jiang Shi with a lime bomb and ordered his companions to attack while he blocked the carriage.
  • The girl began to leave the carriage to help Jiang Shi, but the Lime Knight warned that doing so would mean protecting a criminal, and she stopped.
  • Jiang Shi emerged from the alley and killed a fleeing constable, then fought the Lime Knight in the rain.
  • Jiang Shi disarmed and beheaded the Lime Knight after overcoming him in their duel.
  • The girl offered Jiang Shi clothes, shoes, and oil to remove the lime, then wiped Jiang Shi's hand and pulled her into the carriage.

Ch. 37Young Miss

Jiang Shi rode with Qian Gongyu, who outfitted her and explained how Nanliang’s household-band system governed identity and access to the Wandering Star Forest. Qian Gongyu gave Jiang Shi a black band and arranged for her to enter as her guard, leaving the two to pose as young miss and attendant.

  • Qian Gongyu introduced herself and helped Jiang Shi wash and change into a dress, then adorned her with cosmetic jewelry.
  • Jiang Shi asked whether helping a killer would bring trouble, and Qian Gongyu argued that the authorities could not hold her accountable without a wanted notice.
  • Qian Gongyu explained the household-band colors and told Jiang Shi she needed at least a black band to enter the Wandering Star Forest.
  • Jiang Shi said she would infiltrate the forest, but Qian Gongyu offered her a guard’s black band and proposed that she pose as her attendant.
  • Jiang Shi agreed to call Qian Gongyu “Young Miss,” then told her to shut up when she tried to correct her pronunciation.

Ch. 38Shang Xin Lei

Yan Qing and his companions reached the Wandering Star Forest, where Qian Gongyu was publicly insulted by Luo Weijin over the Qian Family’s past. Jiang Shi struck Luo Weijin to defend Qian Gongyu, and the confrontation stopped when Shang Xin Lei intervened.

  • Yan Qing practiced five thousand punches and discovered that the Martial Arts Genius milestone made him enjoy training.
  • Qian Gongyu, Jiang Shi, and Lin Yuan entered the Wandering Star Forest and learned that scions of the Shang and Jie Families were attending the banquet.
  • Qian Gongyu sought out the noble guests while Yan Qing focused on the banquet food.
  • Luo Weijin mocked Qian Gongyu and disparaged her late father, leaving her humiliated in front of the crowd.
  • Jiang Shi punched Luo Weijin, and Qian Gongyu stood up for her as soldiers surrounded them and Luo demanded Jiang Shi’s execution.
  • Shang Xin Lei stepped forward and ordered everyone to stop, asking them to end the conflict for her sake.

Ch. 39Interesting Woman

At the Thieves' Den, Shang Xin Lei and Jie Yuanshao intervened when Luo Weijin demanded punishment for Qian Gongyu’s guard, Jiang Shi. After the dispute ended, Shang Xin Lei became intrigued by Jiang Shi’s token and began investigating its connection to other secret realms.

  • Shang Xin Lei initially stopped Luo Weijin from escalating the conflict, but Jie Yuanshao invoked the law and ritual to argue over whether Jiang Shi should be punished.
  • Jie Yuanshao condemned Luo Weijin’s conduct and proposed that Jiang Shi complete eighteen shichen in the Wandering Star Forest over three days, with flogging for any shortfall.
  • Luo Weijin and Qian Gongyu accepted Jie Yuanshao’s arrangement, and the quarrel ended with Luo Weijin leaving the tent.
  • Shang Xin Lei asked to inspect Jiang Shi’s White Iron Straight Blade and offered to protect her, but Jiang Shi refused and Qian Gongyu insisted that Jiang Shi was her guard.
  • Shang Xin Lei compared a drawing of the White Iron Straight Blade with a book of known tokens and realized it was a recently appeared token linked to Jiang Shi, An Wu, and Yellow Dog.
  • Shang Xin Lei used her Mortal Sunglasses to confirm that Jiang Shi’s dislike of her was genuine, and she watched the Qian Family’s carriage with interest.

Ch. 40Shelter

Yan Qing learned the Wandering Star Forest’s trial rules and decided Jiang Shi would face it without Shang Family protection, aiming to endure the full six shichen. After entering, Jiang Shi was assigned to a team with Qian Gongyu, Shang Xin Lei, and Jie Yuanshao, while Yan Qing discovered the trial was a shelter-building challenge.

  • Qian Gongyu explained that the Wandering Star Forest tested participants with frightening hallucinations, rewarded endurance, and offered families contribution points for high scores.
  • Jiang Shi refused to join the Shang Family and practiced boxing with Qian Gongyu, intending to avoid Luo Weijin’s punishment by staying in the forest.
  • At the forest entrance, Jiang Shi warned Luo Weijin she would kill him if forced to leave early, then entered the fog with Qian Gongyu.
  • Jiang Shi and Qian Gongyu were assigned to a team with Shang Xin Lei and Jie Yuanshao inside a dilapidated wooden house.
  • Yan Qing inspected the trial’s interface and found shelter upgrades and defenses that required collected wood and stone.

Ch. 41The Demons Descend

Yan Qing recognized that the Wandering Star Forest instance was a survival-and-construction challenge and used Jiang Shi’s abilities to fortify the sanctuary before the demons arrived. As a horde of Ferocious Lizards surrounded the Stone House, its ballistae fired automatically and killed one.

  • Yan Qing realized the instance required coordinated resource gathering and construction, and Jiang Shi directed Qian Gongyu to move rocks.
  • Shang Xin Lei went outside to help, while Jie Yuanshao stayed behind and argued that the approaching hallucinations made the wooden house safer.
  • Jiang Shi returned with timber and used it with the gathered stones to transform the wooden house into a Stone House with a wall and six ballistae.
  • Jie Yuanshao warned everyone that the demons were indestructible hallucinations and urged them to endure the demonic tide inside the sanctuary.
  • A Ferocious Lizard Demon summoned a horde of lesser Ferocious Lizards, and the courtyard ballistae automatically shot and killed one that approached within fifty meters.

Ch. 42Personal Score Rankings

Jiang Shi directed Qian Gongyu, Shang Xin Lei, and Jie Yuanshao in defending the Stone House, and they defeated the first wave of Ferocious Lizard Demons with the wooden crossbows. Outside the Wandering Star Forest, the Personal Score Rankings revealed Jiang Shi had earned a commanding lead.

  • Jiang Shi told the three Messengers to kill the little Ferocious Lizard Demons attacking the wall while the wooden crossbows targeted the enormous Ferocious Lizard Demon.
  • Qian Gongyu, Shang Xin Lei, and Jie Yuanshao suppressed the little demons as the crossbows wounded the enormous one and it smashed through part of the wall.
  • The wooden crossbows brought down the enormous Ferocious Lizard Demon, and Jiang Shi ordered the others to protect the crossbows and gather resources before the next wave.
  • Luo Weijin exited the Wandering Star Forest and saw that Jiang Shi, Qian Gongyu, Shang Xin Lei, and Jie Yuanshao topped the Personal Score Rankings with 256, 190, 180, and 50 points.

Ch. 43Blade Warrior Statue

Jiang Shi and the others gathered resources, chose defenses for the next demon wave, and built a Blade Warrior Statue. When the statue awakened to fight the raging bulls, Jie Yuanshao recognized it as the Twin Blade General, the Demon King of the Iron Blood Graveyard Secret Realm.

  • Jiang Shi returned from the jungle with a heap of gemstones, while Shang Xin Lei explained that she had found a regenerating stone mine.
  • Jiang Shi listed their resources and available structures, and the group agreed to build walls, resource-generating structures, a Blade Warrior Statue, and wooden crossbows.
  • Jiang Shi constructed the defenses, including a sapphire Blade Warrior Statue, as the second demonic wave arrived with a Raging Bull Demon and a herd of smaller bulls.
  • Nine wooden crossbows slowed the herd but could not kill the bulls quickly, and the creatures soon reached the wall.
  • Jie Yuanshao urged the others to wait as the statue awakened and fought the bulls, then identified the warrior as the Twin Blade General.

Ch. 44The First Day of the Instance Ends

Yan Qing guided Jiang Shi and the three Jie Family women through the second monster assault, which they survived with their defenses and the Blade Warrior nearly destroyed. After they left the instance, Jie Zilong approached Jiang Shi, but Qian Gongyu stepped in front of her to protect her.

  • Shang Xin Lei realized that statues of Demon Kings could fight alongside the defenders, and the group relied on the Blade Warrior against the Raging Bull Demon.
  • Yan Qing saw that the defenses had been wrecked and learned that the Blade Warrior would recover too slowly for the next assault.
  • Jiang Shi warned that the next wave would be harder and urged the exhausted group to leave before they lost more preparation time.
  • The four women emerged from the fog and were met by a crowd and Jie Zilong, Jie Yuanshao's third uncle and a Spearmanship Instructor.
  • Qian Gongyu stepped in front of Jiang Shi and asked Jie Zilong to speak to her instead.

Ch. 45Genius Among Geniuses

Jie Zilong concluded that Jiang Shi was a genius who could perceive secret realms in ways others could not. Meanwhile, Shang Xin Lei befriended Qian Gongyu and gave her spirit jade for the next day, while warning that the Jie Family might not believe Jiang Shi’s ability was unique.

  • Jie Zilong examined Jie Yuanshao’s account and argued that Jiang Shi could perceive the true nature of secret realms, calling her a genius among geniuses.
  • Shang Xin Lei told Qian Gongyu that the group’s high scores could make the Wandering Star Forest’s rewards strategically important, then admitted she had exaggerated the danger to frighten her.
  • Shang Xin Lei and Qian Gongyu grew closer, and Shang Xin Lei said the Jie Family might still believe Jiang Shi’s abilities could be replicated.
  • Qian Gongyu refused to accept the spirit jade as payment for Jiang Shi, but Shang Xin Lei explained it was a gift to help her replenish spiritual power and prepare for the next day.
  • Shang Xin Lei watched Qian Gongyu return to her carriage and chat with Jiang Shi, concluding that Qian Gongyu was genuinely interesting.

Ch. 46Offend

Jiang Shi advanced to Woodland Herald, gaining a major advantage for learning martial arts in the Wandering Star Forest, while Yan Qing recognized its potential to help her surpass Night Four. When Qian Gongyu and Shang Xin Lei prepared to attend a banquet hosted by powerful noble families, Jiang Shi refused to go and challenged their assumption that she feared offending them.

  • Jiang Shi reached Level 10 and advanced to Woodland Herald, unlocking Spirit Energy Value and gaining traits suited to the Wandering Star Forest.
  • Yan Qing realized that Woodland Herald's comprehension bonus could help Jiang Shi learn advanced martial arts and overcome the Level 20 bottleneck that trapped Night Four.
  • A servant invited Qian Gongyu and Jiang Shi to a banquet hosted by Qun Yushu, and Shang Xin Lei agreed to attend with them.
  • Shang Xin Lei explained that Qun Yushu and Chen Lincuan represented powerful noble families, leaving Qian Gongyu frightened about offending them.
  • Jiang Shi declined the banquet, saying she had food and did not need to attend, then asked why they thought she did not dare offend the noble families.

Ch. 47The Banquet on the Second Night

Jie Zilong and Shang Xin Lei offered Jiang Shi protection as noble families gathered at the banquet, drawn by her extraordinary Personal Score in the Wandering Star Forest. When Qun Yushu and Chen Lincuan came to meet her, Qun Yushu ended the encounter by unexpectedly proposing marriage.

  • Jie Zilong argued that the Jie and Shang Families could shield Jiang Shi and Qian Gongyu from the other noble families, while Jie Yuanshao warned Jiang Shi about the dangers of challenging powerful figures.
  • Shang Xin Lei pledged to oppose anyone who targeted Jiang Shi, and Qian Gongyu wondered at Jiang Shi’s calm focus on training.
  • Qun Yushu arrived at the banquet, joked with Shang Xin Lei and Jie Yuanshao, and invited Jie Zilong and Chen Lincuan to enter the Wandering Star Forest with him the next day.
  • Chen Lincuan demanded to meet Jiang Shi, and Qun Yushu led the banquet guests to find her after Jie Zilong said she had declined their invitation.
  • The guests found Jiang Shi practicing her blade beside the carriage, and Qun Yushu knelt before her and asked her to marry him.

Ch. 48The Crowds Rose in Fury

Qun Yushu defended Jiang Shi from the crowd’s demands for her Wandering Star Forest secret method and offered her a position as a Qun Family Offering. Jiang Shi had not yet answered his offer when the chapter ended.

  • Qun Yushu proposed marriage to Jiang Shi, but she ignored him and continued practicing her blade.
  • Luo Weijin urged the crowd to demand Jiang Shi’s secret method, and the gathered clansmen pressured her to reveal it.
  • Shang Xin Lei worried that the crowd would hunt Jiang Shi for the method, while the Jie Family and Shang Family prepared to protect her.
  • Jiang Shi refused to share the secret method and challenged anyone who wanted to fight.
  • Qun Yushu silenced the crowd and offered Jiang Shi a stipend, access to the Qun Family’s resources, and protection as a Qun Family Offering.

Ch. 49Discerning the Token

Jiang Shi revealed that she could identify the abilities of a token at a glance, trading that knowledge for Qun Yushu’s jade pendant. Qun Yushu realized she cared about obtaining tokens above all else, leaving him wary of what might happen if the noble families tried to control her.

  • Jiang Shi refused to become a Qun Family offering when Qun Yushu said he would give her five tokens over five years, but agreed when he offered the jade pendant in exchange for identifying its abilities.
  • Jiang Shi described the pendant’s Protective Spirit Shield and Explosive Spirit Shield abilities, and Qun Yushu gave it to her before sending the other guests away.
  • Shang Xin Lei and Jie Zilong grew alarmed, and Shang Xin Lei explained that Jiang Shi’s ability to discern a token’s powers made the situation far more serious.
  • Qun Yushu told Chen Lincuan that Jiang Shi had refused recruitment because she wanted tokens immediately, while Chen Lincuan suspected she was manipulating the noble families.
  • Qun Yushu concluded that Jiang Shi cared only about the saber in her hand and feared the Jie Family and Shang Family might provoke her.

Ch. 50Long-Term Vision, Shallow Ambition

Yan Qing weighed the Jie and Shang Families’ recruitment offers and decided to wait for better terms, while Jiang Shi stayed close to Qian Gongyu. The group entered the Wandering Star Forest again, where Yan Qing received milestone information about its stages.

  • Yan Qing dismissed the Jie and Shang Families’ offers as inadequate because he wanted artifacts immediately to raise his combat power.
  • Qian Gongyu offered to split the spirit jade Shang Xin Lei had given her, and Jiang Shi took half as payment for guarding her.
  • The next morning, Jie Zilong, Chen Lincuan, and Qun Yushu entered the Wandering Star Forest ahead of Jiang Shi and her companions.
  • Qian Gongyu and Shang Xin Lei each held Jiang Shi’s arm as the group crossed the fog into the shelter.
  • Yan Qing received milestone information listing the fifth, tenth, twentieth, and ninety-ninth stages of the Wandering Star Forest.
Arc 2 of 20