Emergency Rescue

People bathed in blood.

They opened their arms, welcoming the bloody rain. They cheered, wailed, prayed, and sang. Even as their tattered clothes were stained red with dragon blood, they did not stop. Though it looked like some kind of evil ritual, Chen Xuan felt an inexplicable sense of sanctity.

They were all calling Liu Shuyue's name.

Bathing in this rain, Chen Xuan also felt his body grow slightly warm.

"They now have the qualification to cultivate."

He turned his head; Liu Shuyue had appeared behind him at some point.

"They aren't even afraid."

"I told them that only the blood of a dragon demon could allow disaster victims to truly establish themselves in this desperate mountain range. This fresh blood... and the complete dragon corpse, are gifts I bestowed upon them."

"Then what's next? Are you going to teach the disaster victims spells?" Chen Xuan asked. "They aren't disciples of the Lotus Cloud Sect, so passing down forbidden techniques privately might cause trouble, right?"

"Trading abilities doesn't count as teaching. After all, I haven't revealed any information about secret techniques," Liu Shuyue denied. "This is also the last thing I want to ask of you. From my remaining abilities, you can pick any one as your reward. The rest... will go to the most talented among them."

Chen Xuan was greatly surprised. "You want to trade abilities with disaster victims?"

"I-- cough cough cough cough!" A violent coughing fit interrupted her. Liu Shuyue clutched her mouth tightly, and blood trickled from between her fingers.

She swayed a couple of times, clearly about to fall.

Chen Xuan moved faster, reaching out to support her.

Her eyes, always so full of spirit, were now dull and lifeless.

He suddenly realized something.

"Slaying a dragon demon isn't that simple," Liu Shuyue wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and chuckled softly. "The Demon Extermination True Sword is a spell specifically for dealing with evil spirits. Burning a portion of one's life can exchange for a portion of power. With my abilities, I had to go this far to ensure victory. Didn't I... tell you? This ability is powerful, but it's not that easy to use..."

As she spoke, she spat out another mouthful of blood.

"How much of your life have you consumed?"

"Pretty much all of it. I only have about half an hour left now, so please listen carefully..."

"Don't rush to make your final arrangements! You're a VIP customer of this establishment!"

"What, are you going to meddle in the lives of your customers now?" Liu Shuyue curved her lips upwards, trying to appear more energetic. "I know my condition best. While my soul is still intact, quickly bring out the magic item for the transaction."

She wasn't lying to him.

She was about to die... if he didn't take any action.

Chen Xuan took out his scanning gun and aimed it at her forehead. "Not necessarily. You haven't reached the point of death yet."

Liu Shuyue was slightly stunned.

He had already added the ability he chose: "Black Magic."

"What is this?"

"You'll know when you receive it," Chen Xuan added. "By the way, dragons should have long lifespans, right?"

"Of course... at least several hundred years..."

"That's good. If you could avoid dying, would you still choose to perish with it?"

Liu Shuyue immediately understood his meaning.

"Of course... not."

The transaction was complete.

She exchanged a green-grade "Eight Trigrams Palm" for "Black Magic."

Chen Xuan didn't care what ability she offered in exchange at this moment, as her life force was continuously draining. Time was the most crucial element. "Black Magic requires a ritual platform for sacrifice. You'll understand just by looking at it. The key item is the dragon's heart. It was just killed not long ago, so its heart is still fresh. You just need to cut it out and place it in the center of the platform."

This was the method of extending life he had devised!

Even if the life obtained through this method was discounted, it wouldn't be a significant problem given the dragon demon's long lifespan.

"This isn't... a proper ability, is it?" Liu Shuyue now also understood the true nature of black magic. "No, I can't accept such a curse. If the price is becoming a half-human, half-demon monster, then I'd rather die as a human..."

"Prepare the ritual first. I guarantee you won't suffer the curse," Chen Xuan interrupted her.

She stared at him blankly.

Should I trust a merchant?

"Immortal Master, just as you said, we can sense the Qi now!"

"Are... are you alright?"

"Who is this person?"

At this moment, the refugees began to gather, and upon seeing Liu Shuyue's frail state, their gazes towards Chen Xuan became filled with suspicion and hostility.

I asked him to witness this final scene, doesn't that mean I already trust him?

"You must not... be rude to Mister," Liu Shuyue raised her hand to stop their suspicions. "He is here to help us. Listen closely, I have some things I need everyone to do now."

What she instructed was the materials for building the altar.

Chen Xuan knew she had agreed. He got up and walked towards a small hut not far away. "Hold on, I'll be back soon."

To avoid interrupting the connection between the two worlds, he deliberately didn't close the room door.

Returning to the store through the back door, he opened the store manager and flipped to the transaction records. There were only three names listed: Liu Shuyue, Gilles de Rais, and Joan of Arc.

He remembered that a LV2 shopkeeper could conduct follow-up visits with customers, and there were two ways to do this: one was accommodation, and the other was to make it easier for old customers to find the store's entrance.

He right-clicked on Joan of Arc, and sure enough, there was an "Invite for Follow-up Visit" option in the expanded menu.

After clicking it, it seemed like nothing happened.

There wasn't even a successful invitation prompt in the software.

Chen Xuan knew that this method of follow-up visit was not mandatory. The guest could choose to ignore it or never step foot into the Ability Store again. But he had no other choice. He could only open the door and operate as usual, while waiting for their response.

In less than five minutes, two very familiar figures walked in through the door.

"Emissary, were you the one who summoned me?"

Chen Xuan looked up and saw that the scenery of the neighborhood had turned into a sparse village. The speaker was Joan of Arc, and standing beside her was none other than Gilles de Rais.

However, their appearances had changed significantly since their last meeting.

Joan of Arc looked about thirty years old, dressed like a country shepherdess. Marshal Gilles de Rais's hair even had a few strands of white.

She was indeed following his suggestion, shedding her commander's identity and retiring to the countryside.

"I've been dreaming of the gentle light emanating from this shop's window these past few days, so I came to wander around the village. I didn't expect to actually see the familiar shop door."

"Indeed. I want to make a deal with you."

"Just tell me what ability you want, Your Excellency."

Chen Xuan picked up the scanning gun. "I want... the Blessed Maiden."

When Chen Xuan returned to the Great Barren Mountains through Room 201 again, a small stone altar had been erected on the mountaintop. Torches were planted around the altar, and the heart of the dragon demon was placed in the center. Even after leaving its body, it was still trembling slightly, as if unwilling to be slain by a sword.

Liu Shuyue's face was even paler. She sat cross-legged by the altar, her body swaying precariously, as if she might collapse at any moment. The moment she saw Chen Xuan appear, a faint smile reappeared on her face.

"If you can't keep your promise... then you'll have to do as I say."

"Don't worry, this shop never makes false advertisements," Chen Xuan replied confidently. "Let's trade for an ability again."

He wanted to trade the Saint Maiden ability to Liu Shuyue.

According to the description of this ability, it only worked on females. Although it had the side effect of being easily harmed by fire, the most crucial part was that it granted immunity to all curses, keeping the holder away from darkness!

The moment she saw the "Blessed Maiden," Liu Shuyue's closing eyes gained a glimmer of light. She was not someone who sought death. She had fought the dragon with all her might just to be true to herself. If she could continue to live, she had no reason to give up.

Following the sacrificial method, Liu Shuyue plunged a dagger into the dragon's heart and cast black magic.

Instantly, the heavens and earth changed color! A gust of gloomy wind suddenly swept through the surroundings, its howling mournful and piercing, like the dragon demon's dying wail!

But the next moment, a dazzling light emanated from Liu Shuyue's body, dispelling the gloomy wind completely!

Not only that, even the scarlet bloodstains on the surrounding grass faded, and the mountaintop became lush and green again.

"Immortal Master has manifested!"

The refugees knelt down one after another, worshipping Liu Shuyue.

Chen Xuan, however, saw that the "crack" in the sky, created by the sword, was slowly closing. The surrounding clouds surged in madly, forming a magnificent waterfall of clouds at the edge of the rift.