Among felines, tigers were considered the most intelligent creatures. So after Jiang Beiran had a roughly ten-minute friendly exchange with it, the White-browed Tiger, its head covered in bumps, led Jiang Beiran beneath a Chinese tallow tree.
"Roar." The White-browed Tiger stretched out a paw and pointed at a spot that had clearly been buried over.
"Mm, not bad." Jiang Beiran reached out and stroked the White-browed Tiger's huge head.
"Wuu..." The White-browed Tiger let out a pleased cry, vigorously rubbing its big head against Jiang Beiran's arm.
"Good boy, good boy. Go wait to the side."
After pushing the White-browed Tiger away, Jiang Beiran walked over to the buried spot and crouched down. At the same time, two options popped up before his eyes.
[Option One: Start digging immediately. Completion Reward: *Azure Dragon Emerges from Water* (Yellow Rank High Grade)] [Option Two: Make thorough preparations before digging. Completion Reward: Random Basic Skill Points +1]
"Oh ho!"
Jiang Beiran truly had not expected a trap worthy of the system presenting options to be waiting in this pit. After all, the other party had merely been at Qi Refining Second Order.
Sure enough, no cultivator can be underestimated. Who knows what strange, enormous treasure he might suddenly pull out and smash into your face.
With that thought, Jiang Beiran took out a piece of highly poison-resistant Osmunda Fiber Gauze from his Universe Ring and put it over his face. Then he took out a bottle of Blue Python Juice and poured a little into the soil.
After waiting roughly five minutes, just as Jiang Beiran, wearing Silk Gloves, was about to scrape away some dirt, he saw a black-gold Centipede as thick as a finger drill out of the earth as though fleeing for its life.
Black Meteorite Centipede!?
Though Jiang Beiran had never expected to see such a thing here, his hands did not slow in the slightest. With a grab and a flick, he stored the foot-long Black Meteorite Centipede inside his Hulu.
"Not bad. I didn't expect an unexpected haul." Jiang Beiran laughed as he shook the Hulu.
As far as Jiang Beiran knew, the Black Meteorite Centipede was Shura Chamber's signature poisonous substance, though it was generally possessed only by those at the upper ranks.
This Centipede's venom was extremely potent. If one was careless enough to be bitten, Cultivators below the Mystic Spirit realm would either die on the spot or die a little later. Even Cultivators above Mystic Spirit would not have an easy time of it after being bitten.
For a mere human trafficker to use such a rare creature to guard his treasure? So what he said that day about it being looted from a tomb really was a lie. At least he had kept a few cards up his sleeve.
Hanging the Hulu from his waist, Jiang Beiran began digging downward once he had confirmed there was likely only one Black Meteorite Centipede. Before long, his hand touched something hard.
Found it.
The corners of Jiang Beiran's lips curled up slightly. He thoroughly brushed away the dirt covering it and took out an orange-red box.
[Option task completed. Reward: Chess Skill +1]
Seeing the system prompt, Jiang Beiran knew the alarm had been completely lifted.
After patting the dirt off the box, Jiang Beiran found himself both amused and exasperated by the Copper Lock on it.
Damn... If someone can get this box, that means they aren't even afraid of a Black Meteorite Centipede. Could they really be stumped by your tiny little Copper Lock?
Shaking his head, Jiang Beiran casually pulled out a piece of iron wire, inserted it into the keyhole, and fiddled with it. Then, with a click, the lock opened.
Removing the lock and setting it aside, Jiang Beiran slowly opened the box.
Fuck... Is being an outer-ring lackey for the Demonic Sect this profitable now!?
Looking at the three Low Grade Gold Spirit Stones and a Formation Book inside the box, Jiang Beiran could not help but curse inwardly.
He had originally thought that the Low Grade Gold Spirit Stone he had confiscated last time had been all the Youth Leader's worldly possessions. He had not expected it to be only one quarter of the total.
No wonder more and more young people are willing to join the Demonic Sect these days. This is way too lucrative.
As he sighed inwardly, Jiang Beiran put the three Low Grade Gold Spirit Stones into his Universe Ring. Then he picked up the Formation Book with [Water Heart Mechanism Pavilion] written on its cover and flipped it open for a look. That single glance immediately piqued his interest.
Mm... Sixteen Earthly Branches, a Formation Technique among the one thousand and eighty configurations. It's written in a real hodgepodge. I'll have to go back and deduce it using a movable board.
By the time Jiang Beiran flipped to the middle pages, he already knew this trip had not been in vain. He had learned something new again.
It seems this Formation Technique and that Black Meteorite Centipede were both given to him by Shura Chamber. But an Outer Disciple has this many good things? Is Shura Chamber really that rich?
For a time, many thoughts sprang up in Jiang Beiran's mind. For example, perhaps the Youth Leader was the illegitimate son of some high-ranking figure, or perhaps he had stolen all these things from Shura Chamber.
But it has nothing to do with me anyway.
Putting an end to those baseless speculations, Jiang Beiran stuffed Water Heart Mechanism Pavilion into his Universe Ring. Then he stood and looked at the White-browed Tiger, which had been sitting obediently to the side, and smiled. "Do you think I should kill you to silence you?"
The White-browed Tiger's fur instantly stood on end again. It hurriedly threw itself flat on the ground in submission, its body trembling uncontrollably.
"Awuu... awuu... awuu..."
Whether or not Jiang Beiran could understand, the White-browed Tiger desperately tried to convey that it was merely an ordinary little tiger and would pose no threat to him whatsoever.
"Wuu wuu..."
After another pitiful roar, the White-browed Tiger cautiously raised its eyes, only to discover that Jiang Beiran, who had been standing before it, had vanished at some point...
Early the next morning, Jiang Beiran rose before dawn. After making himself a bowl of lotus seed soup for breakfast, he left home feeling refreshed and invigorated.
The night before, he had spent the entire evening deducing the Formation Technique within Water Heart Mechanism Pavilion. He had gained considerable insight into the way of Dunjia, making his mastery of Formation Techniques increasingly solid.
After familiarly turning down several small paths, Jiang Beiran arrived at Blue Heart Xuan.
Since it was still early, there were no disciples playing chess there yet.
Walking all the way to the innermost room, Jiang Beiran cupped his hands toward a door and called, "Cheng Li Hall, your student has returned."
The instant Jiang Beiran finished speaking, the door flew open with a bang. At the same time, a hand reached out from within and grabbed Jiang Beiran, hauling him inside.
"Come, come, hurry up and sit down. It's been two days since we played a match. My hands are itching."
As he spoke, a White-haired Old Man with Long Beard pressed Jiang Beiran into the seat opposite the Chess Table.
Jiang Beiran did not wish to spoil Ceremony Hall's mood, so he nodded. "Then I'll take the white pieces and move first. Please show mercy, Ceremony Hall."
"No, no. I'll take the white pieces this round." As Cheng Li Hall spoke, he swatted away Jiang Beiran's hand as it reached for the white-piece bowl, then pulled the bowl over to his own side.
Jiang Beiran stared blankly. As the saying went, "taking white pieces showed respect." By taking the white pieces and moving first, he was expressing, "My chess strength is lower than yours, Ceremony Hall, so I should take the white pieces and move first."
Yet Ceremony Hall had completely disregarded such worldly etiquette today and forcibly snatched the white pieces away.
"It seems Ceremony Hall has gained a new insight again."
Jiang Beiran smiled faintly. After taking the black-piece bowl and placing it beside him, he fixed his gaze on the Chess Table in complete concentration, waiting for Cheng Li Hall to place the first piece.
PS: I originally planned to post two chapters... but this chapter alone took me four hours. (Fine, fine, I'm short, I'm short.)
Before you continue