The Three Realms Thief Chapter 37

By now.

His Yan Song Sword Art had expanded from the basic four forms to six:

Leaffall, Whirlwind Slash, Arc Dance, Flying Swallow Chain, Swallow’s Return, and Three Questions!

The last two moves were flying sword techniques.

Flying sword techniques were personal and kept secret, never revealed to anyone else.

Unless passed down from father to son, to direct disciples, or bestowed by the royal family.

So strong.

Truly so strong!

I’m even afraid of myself now!

Xu Yuan happily shoveled down a few mouthfuls of rice, then picked up the fish from his plate and put it on Yang Xiaobing’s, sharing his joy.

Yang Xiaobing, being a “Fish Cat,” naturally didn’t refuse.

She put the beef from her bowl onto Xu Yuan’s plate in exchange, softly admonishing him:

“Study hard this afternoon. You also need to do well on tomorrow’s written test, otherwise your total score won’t be enough.”

Not enough for what?

—Not enough to get into top-tier universities like Nine Luminaries and Luofu.

She didn’t say it directly.

But Xu Yuan naturally understood her meaning.

“Yes, that’s what I think too. I need to do well on the written test.”

After Xu Yuan finished speaking, he began to eat the beef.

The team battle tested practical application and execution.

The written test, however, tested basic knowledge across nine subjects and was equally important.

If one couldn’t even distinguish the types of talismans, didn’t know what soul art was, couldn’t identify various spirit plants in the wild, or couldn’t figure out the strength and skills of different demon beasts—

That would be practically preparing for death!

He devoured his meal quickly, then picked up the spirit tea from the table and took a sip.

That was the harvest from the ‘light explosion.’

Now.

It was time to check the other two rewards from winning the competition!

As Xu Yuan willed it, lines of text appeared before his eyes in the void:

“Shop驻扎 (random event) confirmed.”

“Your shop, ‘Apprentice Qi Cultivator’s Combat Preparation Room,’ has been stationed in the ‘City Destruction War’ event from ten years ago.”

“From now on, all equipment and items from that event will randomly appear in the shop.”

Holy moly!

There’s such a mechanic?

Xu Yuan was startled and began to frantically think about what he might obtain.

What was in that “City Destruction War” event?

●ттkan●￠ ○

Women with seven or eight long black legs.

Flood Dragon.

Cultivators from the entire city.

Truly amazing!

If…

“Can the shop develop services like slave trading?”

Xu Yuan asked.

A red sign immediately appeared on the shelf:

“No such service!”

“Alright,” Xu Yuan’s tone shifted, “As expected of my shop, always walking the right path of humanity. Now I can rest assured.”

Another sign appeared on the shelf, with two icons drawn on it.

One was a city wall.

The other was a face.

—This shop was also an ability he awakened, and now it’s making fun of him?

Xu Yuan felt a bit displeased, but after careful thought, he let it go.

Why bother.

This shop stationing event was simply amazing!

—Even if he could get a Gatling gun from the army stationed in the border town, it would be a huge gain.

Thinking back now.

When he asked how to improve the quality of goods in the shop, the answer he got was:

“Winning ‘Difficult Mode’ competitions is the only way to upgrade the shop level, or for the shop to undergo other changes.”

“After the shop undergoes changes, the quality and grade of the items sold will also change accordingly.”

Well then.

The shop’s level didn’t increase.

But it was stationed in the “Border Town War” from ten years ago!

He had never seen anything like this before.

What could he buy?

Wait a minute—

He had killed so many monsters, how much money did he have now!?

A line of numbers popped up:

“Current Gold Coins: 444.”

This number is unlucky!

Spend!

Xu Yuan immediately spent one gold coin to refresh the shop.

Three new items appeared on the shelf.

“Ethereal Shadow Single Shoulder Storage Bag (Female).”

“Excellent grade, space storage, luxury backpack.”

“Description: This single-shoulder bag has a hundred cubic meters of space, thirty cubic meters of which have heating or freezing effects, making it easier for cooking and preservation.”

“—Ms. Tang Yunyu, a top musician of the Sound Sect, endorses the ‘Ethereal’ brand.”

“Price: 30 Gold Coins.”

30 gold coins!

So expensive!

My “Breeze Sword” was only 3 gold coins, it seems!

Xu Yuan smacked his lips.

Then he looked at the second item.

“Ethereal Traveler Double Shoulder Backpack (Male).”

“Fine grade, space storage, luxury backpack.”

“Description: Has two hundred cubic meters of space, three layers of locking, and after binding with soul fluctuations, it can be opened and closed by thought alone, without requiring any incantations or movements.”

“—Demon-subduing Daoist Xie Fuguang endorses the ‘Ethereal’ brand.”

“Price: 50 Gold Coins.”

Two bags were refreshed at once.

… Was the Border Town War a luxury goods war?

Xu Yuan shook his head and looked at the third item.

It was a note.

“Unknown Note.”

“Information, Rare Grade.”

“Description: It seems to record an event from the Border Town War that remains unknown to anyone in your current era.”

“Price: 100 Gold Coins.”

Xu Yuan no longer thought it was expensive.

An event from ten years ago.

It had been sealed off.

Ordinary people had no way of knowing what happened.

Any information related to it must be precious.

Moreover, the content of this note “remains unknown to anyone in your current era.”

—Nobody knew what it was!

Just this alone made it worth paying 100 gold coins for.

But—

Why would I buy it?

It’s useless to my life!

Xu Yuan was lost in thought, and somehow, he recalled the hopeful gaze of the little boy earlier.

Information, huh…

Did he need to spend 100 gold coins on information that was completely useless, for people from ten years ago who were now either dead or alive?

Xu Yuan pondered, then suddenly spoke:

“Jiang Xueyao said she took a single admissions exam that was like this City Destruction War.”

“Yeah, she went early, so she participated in that exam,” Yang Xiaobing said while eating. “I was in the second batch, so I missed it.”

“Why would they use an exam that was already taken by students applying for individual admissions as the joint examination for the eight schools?” Xu Yuan asked.

Yang Xiaobing put down her chopsticks and, seeing no one around, whispered, “Don’t tell anyone.”

“What?” Xu Yuan asked.

“When I attended the Nine Luminaries individual admissions, I found that several instructors kept discussing this exam. They seemed to have many, many thoughts and opinions,” Yang Xiaobing said.

“They talked for several hours?” Xu Yuan asked.

“Several hours? They talked from when I first arrived, every day, until I left, a total of eight days!” Yang Xiaobing said.

Xu Yuan’s heart stirred, and he subconsciously said:

“But our exam was only one morning, no, strictly speaking, just over two hours.”

Yang Xiaobing leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “Yes, we only experienced a very brief segment: the Flood Dragon appearing, taking shelter underground, and participating in battle.”

Xu Yuan fell silent, deep in thought.

Indeed.

This was just a segment of the Battle of Border City.

Was it worth constant discussion?

No.

Even interpreting it as a game—

Such a short plot twist wasn’t worth repeatedly talking about.

And to talk about it for eight days.

Unless—

Xu Yuan suddenly looked up and met Yang Xiaobing’s eyes.

Yang Xiaobing made a silencing gesture and then winked at him.

—You understand?

Xu Yuan nodded, making a surprised expression.

“But I’m just guessing, who knows,” Yang Xiaobing smiled, then lowered her head, concentrating on her fish.

Xu Yuan said nothing more.

He simply looked at the illusory shop again, his gaze falling on the note.

A plot of just one segment wasn’t worth discussing.

But—

What if the entire Border Town event were to be taken out and made into a grand, serialized examination?

For example—

Next month’s exam?

The month after next’s exam?

Or even—

The Gaokao.

If the plot of the Border Town War continued to advance, examinees would constantly face the threat of demons!

To think of it another way—

The last monthly exam was about protecting crops and driving away rat demons;

But this time, even demon beasts like Flood Dragons made an appearance in the exam!

Why such a huge change in exam content?

Was there something wrong with the current situation?

Too little information.

Unable to do further analysis.

Xu Yuan closed his eyes, then opened them again, silently making a decision in his heart.

This information was “Rare Grade.”

The Qiongxia Sword was also rare grade.

It was the sharpness of this sword that allowed him to cut open the monster’s skin, preventing it from climbing out of the alchemy furnace.

So when Jiang Xueyao compensated him with this sword, he knew she was sincerely apologizing.

According to his memory, a sword of this grade was rare and sought after on the market, unavailable at any price; he couldn’t imagine how much it would cost.

That’s why he didn’t pursue the matter further.

When out and about.

Money is sincerity.

—At least, it’s part of sincerity.

If one wouldn’t even part with money, but just offered empty words, no matter how eloquently they spoke, how could he believe them?

He got off track.

Okay, this information and the Qiongxia Sword were of the same “Rare Grade.”

Perhaps—

It would actually play a role in the overall situation?

Then he’d buy it!

The next second.

As Xu Yuan willed it, a line of small characters appeared in the void:

“You have purchased ‘Unknown Note’, costing 100 Gold Coins.”

A full 100 gold coins!

Xu Yuan suddenly felt something in his pocket.

He reached in and touched it.

It was indeed a note.

On it were two lines of elegant, graceful handwriting:

“My Yiyi.”

“Remember to check your most treasured possessions, Mom left you a farewell gift.”

Xu Yuan watched silently.

This was a note left by a mother for her child.

It seemed she had something to give the child, so she indicated where the item was hidden.

But—

What kind of information is this?

What does this information have to do with the destruction of Border Town?

100 gold coins!

Plus the refresh of the shelf, that’s 101 gold coins!

He had worked hard in an exam, killed many monsters, and then suddenly spent 101 gold coins.

Only to get these two sentences!

The key is—

Trying to find a child named Yiyi in such a large city would be like searching for a needle in a haystack!

This information isn’t worth it!

Xu Yuan sighed, disappointed, and stuffed the note into his pocket.