Chapter 14: The Hunt for Treasure and the Heartless Sword Manual

Three days later, the commercial street surrounding the Gudou Family’s Altar Plaza buzzed with activity.

“Oh, these past few days, I’ve been dragged out for training every single day. I’m practically dead from exhaustion!”

As Ahoge Dragon ambled along the bustling street, rubbing her small arms, she grumbled incessantly.

“Since Big Sister is competing with Gudou Ritien today, we don’t have to train. It’s time to have some real fun! Mao Mao, tell me what you want, don’t hold back. My treat today!”

Having previously amassed a considerable sum, Ahoge Dragon was feeling particularly generous.

“Uh… I don’t really need anything.”

Mao Yuxia had not yet revealed to Ahoge Dragon the true extent of her financial losses.

“I told you it’s my treat! Mao Mao, you’re really not giving me face by refusing!”

“Alright then, I’ll just have two boxes of dried fish.”

“Yay! Let’s go get those dried fish!”

Buying snacks is the best! Ahoge Dragon loves delicious food more than anything!

With that, she eagerly pulled Mao Yuxia along to purchase the dried fish.

“What? This necklace costs two thousand five hundred magic stones? That’s enough to buy half a Silver-tier magic tool! Why don’t you just rob people?!”

Whenever she had idle moments in the commercial district, Ahoge Dragon would activate her skill, [Draconic Eye of Discernment].

To her surprise, she had indeed discovered a material suitable for upgrading.

Yet, seeing as it was merely a decorative trinket of little apparent use, the exorbitant price tag was baffling!

“Where did these beggars crawl out from? If you can’t afford it, scram! Trade it for a Silver-tier magic tool? What a joke! Even with five hundred thousand, you might not secure a single Silver-tier magic tool!”

Observing their destitute appearance, the shopkeeper swiftly moved to shoo them away.

“Five hundred thousand…”

Ahoge Dragon froze. Mechanically, she turned her head to look at Mao Yuxia.

She saw Mao Yuxia, who, avoiding her gaze, merely nodded.

“Ah!!! Why didn’t you tell me back then?!”

Ahoge Dragon was on the verge of losing her mind!

“Five hundred thousand… five hundred thousand… How many times over is that loss? Twice? Ten times?”

“W-wasn’t I afraid you’d be too devastated at the time? So, meow~”

Mao Yuxia said cautiously.

“Aaaah! Aaaah! I don’t care anymore, I want this necklace!”

Ahoge Dragon’s eyes were bloodshot. The materials she needed for upgrading were rare, and she couldn’t afford to miss even one.

“If you have no money, get out! Don’t cause a scene here!”

The shopkeeper fumed; all this shouting was truly troublesome!

“Who said I have no money? It’s just… it’s with that toad! You give me the necklace first, and I’ll give you the money later!”

“Do you take me for a fool?! Get out!”

The shopkeeper was about to grab a whip and strike them! And who, exactly, was this ‘toad’?

“Why are you so fierce? It’s just a bit of money! I’ll get it quickly.”

Ahoge Dragon, now intimidated, decided to go settle the score with Yue Guangyao!

Just as she was pulling Mao Yuxia by the wrist to leave.

She spotted a familiar figure and was instantly overjoyed!

“Hey! Kidney Deficiency Man! Over here! Over here!”

That person was none other than Gudou Toutian. Having lost his Silver-tier magic tool, he now carried a large green sword on his back.

Gudou Toutian glanced at Ahoge Dragon, then ignored her, continuing on his way.

Ahoge Dragon, however, wouldn’t have it. She had finally encountered someone she considered an acquaintance.

She quickly rushed over.

“Kidney Deficiency Man, hurry over! I’ve got something good to show you, it might even make you stronger!”

Lately, Gudou Toutian seemed to be challenging Yao Yueli every single day.

“Only my swordsmanship can make me stronger. Stop trying to trick me.”

Gudou Toutian had changed. He had become even more rigid!

But that wouldn’t deter Ahoge Dragon.

She pursed her lips and chuckled softly:

“What do you think I’d show you? Would I really show you something that couldn’t enhance your power?”

“Uh…” Gudou Toutian stroked his chin. He had recently hit a bottleneck in his cultivation; perhaps there truly was something useful.

“Alright, take me there.”

“Yay! Kidney Deficiency Man, hurry up!”

Ahoge Dragon was practically bursting with eagerness to get her hands on the treasure!

“Little Ahoge, why did you call *him* over…?”

Mao Yuxia was still quite intimidated by such formidable individuals.

“What do you mean ‘him’? This is my good buddy!”

Ahoge Dragon patted her chest, which resounded with a ‘thump-thump.’ It was quite flat.

“Second Young Master.”

Upon seeing Gudou Toutian, the shopkeeper quickly scurried over and bowed deeply.

This entire street belonged to the Gudou Family.

Ahoge Dragon’s eyes, however, lit up.

“Hee hee hee~~

“Good brother, from now on, I’m the Third Young Miss!”

“Enough chatter. Quickly, tell me what you wanted to show me.”

Upon entering, Gudou Toutian surveyed the surroundings but found nothing of apparent value.

“Why the rush? Cultivation first requires cultivating the mind. As a person, one must always maintain a quiet and clear inner self.”

Ahoge Dragon removed the necklace and gracefully placed it around her own neck.

“Cultivating the mind…”

Ahoge Dragon’s words genuinely seemed to resonate with him.

“Oh! There’s a second floor!”

Ahoge Dragon had been frequenting this place for several days, knowing that large shops often concealed their best wares.

Since this shop had a second-floor sales area, it was bound to hold even better treasures!

Today, Ahoge Dragon resolved to thoroughly fleece Gudou Toutian.

“Wow… these are magic crystals, right? How much are they worth?”

Upon reaching the second floor, Ahoge Dragon’s gaze immediately fell upon several fist-sized crystals.

[Draconic Eye of Discernment] could identify their nature, but not their price!

“One jin of magic crystals costs at least ten thousand magic stones. If the Third Young Miss desires it, this one is a gift.”

The shopkeeper spoke with extreme politeness.

Few in this country could claim to be sworn brothers with Gudou Toutian.

Yet, they were all influential figures! Recalling how he had previously yelled at Ahoge Dragon and even tried to drive her away.

The shopkeeper felt his head was on the chopping block! He desperately wanted to ingratiate himself with Ahoge Dragon right then and there.

“Ten thousand! Thank you, Boss!”

Ahoge Dragon’s eyes gleamed as she stuffed the items into her skirt pockets.

One, two, three…

Her pockets quickly overflowed!

She then began stuffing them into Mao Yuxia’s pockets. Only then did she manage to take away a dozen or so magic crystals!

Mao Yuxia gazed at the magic crystals in her hands, realizing that cultivating by absorbing magic crystals was many times faster than absorbing magic stones!

Moreover, the absorbed magic power was incredibly pure, which would only benefit her future cultivation increasingly!

Ahoge Dragon had acquired such treasures with astonishing ease.

And judging by Ahoge Dragon’s demeanor, it was clear she was up to no good and certainly wouldn’t be paying.

“This is…”

At that moment, Ahoge Dragon’s eyes sparkled with big stars!

[Item: Void Dragon Horn Effect: The horn of a young Void Dragon possesses an independent space of 10x10x10.]

Isn’t this a spatial storage ring?!

Ahoge Dragon had truly stumbled upon a treasure!

“Third Young Miss, this ox horn is too hard to be forged into a weapon and serves no other purpose, which is why no one has purchased it.”

The shopkeeper carefully explained to Ahoge Dragon.

It seemed these people had all made a mistake!

After all, dragons were exceedingly rare.

“But don’t you think it looks a lot like my own horn? I’ll just take it back and wear it as a necklace!”

Ahoge Dragon, however, genuinely adored the item, and she held it against her chest, pretending to gauge its fit.

In truth, she was merely putting on a show for these fools.

For such a magnificent treasure to be discarded here like trash, it was truly a waste of its potential!

The shopkeeper was speechless; Ahoge Dragon had already taken more than enough from his establishment.

It was just a useless ox horn, how much could it possibly be worth?

“Bye-bye, Kidney Deficiency Man.”

Having acquired a bounty of items, Ahoge Dragon was ready to make her escape.

As for the item that was supposed to enhance Gudou Toutian’s swordsmanship, it was, of course, nothing more than a pretense.

“What? Where’s the thing you said you’d show me?”

Gudou Toutian was no fool; letting Ahoge Dragon and Mao Yuxia leave just like that would make *him* the biggest idiot!

“Uh… swordsmanship, you say? Well, you have to practice diligently… and then… spar with more people!”

Ahoge Dragon improvised.

“I’ve been doing that all along, ugly lizard. You’re not trying to trick me, are you…?”

Gudou Toutian raised his greatsword, and an immense pressure bore down upon the two of them!

“Meow! What do we do, Little Ahoge~~ Meow-meow~~

Mao Yuxia cried, her body trembling, knowing full well that being around Ahoge Dragon never led to anything good.

“Aaaah! Kidney Deficiency Man, let’s talk this over properly… Don’t… don’t draw your sword!”

Ahoge Dragon was drenched in sweat. Gudou Toutian was a madman; he might actually chop her to bits!

“Isn’t it just… isn’t it just swordsmanship…?”

At that moment, a sudden inspiration struck Ahoge Dragon, as if her head had been dealt a heavy blow.

Regaining her composure, she coolly scraped her thumb against her nose, then spoke with a confident, knowing smile:

“Young man, have you ever heard of the Heartless Sword Manual?”

“With no women in your heart, draw your blade—and become a natural god!”

“Do you want it?”

“Heartless… Sword Manual…”

Upon hearing this, Gudou Toutian’s eyes widened, as if painful memories had been stirred.

His lips trembled uncontrollably…