The Three Realms Thief Chapter 38

Where am I supposed to find someone named Yiyi?

The shop actually stocked such a vague piece of information, and it was even rated as “rare grade”!

Forget it.

I’ll put this information aside for now and deal with it later.

I need to change my luck now, do something else, and then refresh the goods!

Xu Yuan made a decision.

—This is somewhat like losing a card game, going out for a smoke, or eating a meal, and then starting over.

Whether it’s superstition or something else.

In short.

He needed to change his luck!

Alright, let’s look at the next reward.

—There were three competition rewards: a Nightmare Postponement, a Shop Stationing, and a Historical Branch!

Now there was only the “Historical Branch” reward left!

Xu Yuan’s mind stirred.

The faint small text immediately reappeared:

“Congratulations.”

“You have obtained a blank historical branch (item category).”

“Do you want to use it?”

It was a blank historical branch related to items.

How should he use it?

Xu Yuan suddenly remembered something and couldn’t help but touch the silver ring on his hand.

“The Last Enlightenment Ring.”

“?? Part of a set (1/2).”

“Effect: Cultivation speed increased by 30%, limited to the Qi Refining Stage.”

“Obtain the other piece of equipment in the set to activate the set effect and the corresponding identity inheritance.”

“—At the appropriate time, the ring will guide your direction.”

A set, huh?

This ring was one piece of a set.

If he could get the other piece, he could activate the set effect.

What kind of effect would it be?

Not only a set effect, but also a corresponding identity!

To be honest, he was quite interested.

Since that was the case.

What was there to think about?

Finding the other piece of the set, completing the set effect, and enhancing combat power—

That was the most urgent matter!

“Are you going home for lunch?”

Yang Xiaobing asked.

She had already finished her meal, returned her and Xu Yuan’s trays to the return window, and came back to sit opposite him.

“No time. I need to take food to the hospital, and then I’ll go back to school,” Xu Yuan said.

“Okay, say hello to Auntie for me. I’ll go see her another day. See you this afternoon,” Yang Xiaobing said.

“See you this afternoon,” Xu Yuan waved.

Yang Xiaobing gave him a brilliant smile, waved, and left the cafeteria.

Xu Yuan was also getting ready to leave.

But then, a tall boy quickly walked over and sat down opposite him.

“You are—” Xu Yuan asked.

“Wang Mingguang from Class Four. Ranked third in sword skills and fifth in Qi Refining (Artifice Refining) throughout the school. I have a set of battle armor and two treasured swords,” the boy said.

He placed two drinks on the table, pushing one to Xu Yuan.

The cups had “Immortal Drink” written on them.

—These were made by the Spirit Planter in the cafeteria’s small kitchen. They used high-quality ingredients, were nutritionally balanced, and were beneficial for developing body meridians and increasing the speed of spiritual power circulation.

Very expensive.

Xu Yuan usually couldn’t afford them.

Only sometimes when Zhao Afei made some money, would he treat Xu Yuan to one.

“I’ll treat you, and I can treat you every day from now on. I’ll also cover your breakfast and lunch,” Wang Mingguang said.

“Student Wang, how can I accept that?” Xu Yuan said with a smile.

“I was observing you before the exam—you were able to fight Jiang Xueyao without losing, and in the end, you managed to unite strong opponents like her and Yang Xiaobing to form a combat team.”

“You’re not simple.”

“I hope you can include me in your team for the next monthly exam.”

Wang Mingguang said.

“But our team is full now,” Xu Yuan said with some difficulty.

Wang Mingguang leaned forward and said earnestly,

“Zhao Afei’s realm is built on his family’s resources. He’s timid and not good at combat—I am truly skilled in fighting and can cooperate well with you.”

“You can definitely kick him out and team up with me.”

“I believe Jiang Xueyao and the others won’t have any objections.”

Xu Yuan looked at him and suddenly realized something.

Yes.

Jiang Xueyao was ranked first in her grade!

Yang Xiaobing was a rising star who only started to show her talent in her third year of high school.

Although she awakened late, her progress was extremely astonishing.

—In combat, who wouldn’t want a support who is excellent in both talismans and spirit plants?

Even in the group battle that just ended—

Yang Xiaobing was able to hold up the collapsing tunnel at a crucial moment, ensuring everyone’s safety; she could also release flying cranes to detect all movements of the monsters in time, providing intelligence support for the battle.

Such a teammate, in any team, would be an excellent support and scout!

Her abilities, coupled with Jiang Xueyao’s extraordinary combat power—

Who wouldn’t want two combat partners like that?

No wonder Song Huaijin went to such lengths to get Yang Xiaobing to join their team.

“We just formed a temporary team.”

Xu Yuan said with a smile:

“In fact, we might disband the team next time and team up with others.”

“So, I’m sorry, I can’t fulfill your request.”

“Can’t you find a way to convince Jiang Xueyao to team up again next time?” Wang Mingguang asked.

“She didn’t even eat with us just now; she just left,” Xu Yuan said.

Wang Mingguang pondered, “Did you offend her during the exam? Didn’t perform well?”

“We disobeyed superior orders and didn’t gather; as for me, because I met a powerful Demon, I was so scared that I could only use a gun and ran around looking for a car to escape, eventually being chased by the monsters until I could only circle the Alchemy furnace.”

Xu Yuan said, somewhat embarrassed.

—This was the truth.

“In short, I can’t control her,” Xu Yuan sighed, “I’m no longer qualified to ask her to definitely team up with me.”

“—She’s the top student in her grade.”

Wang Mingguang was silent for a while, then said heartbroken:

“Buddy, you can’t get flustered just because you see a Demon. Jiang Xueyao despises cowards the most.”

Xu Yuan nodded.

“By the way, you’re quite familiar with Yang Xiaobing?” Wang Mingguang asked.

“That’s right,” Xu Yuan said.

“How about you do me a favor and recommend Yang Xiaobing to my team?” Wang Mingguang said again.

“No, that’s not possible. She’s my team member, and she’ll always be with me,” Xu Yuan immediately refused.

Wang Mingguang’s mouth twitched.

“Alright then, I hope you all achieve good results next time.”

Under Xu Yuan’s gaze, Wang Mingguang picked up the Immortal Drink placed in front of Xu Yuan.

—He walked away with the two Immortal Drinks from the table.

Xu Yuan smiled, unconcerned, got up to pack his food, and prepared to go to the hospital.

…

The Great River separates north and south.

Along the riverbanks are human cities.

On this rich and vast land, an island city lies in the middle of the river.

For centuries.

Cultivators have managed floods with formations and the art of Five Elements control, gradually turning this island into a land of fish and rice.

Furthermore, as this island is located on the south side of the Great River, it was eventually assigned to Jiangnan Province.

This is Jiangbei City.

—It is on the northern side of the Great River’s south bank, and not north of the Great River itself.

Besides this city, Jiangnan Province has many other famous major cities.

For example—

Nanjiang City.

This city is famous for its abundant spiritual grain, and it borders the mountains of another province. Many mineral deposits have also been discovered, making it the most prosperous city in Jiangnan Province.

Nanjiang City.

Jiangyuan Middle School.

Third year of high school, a certain classroom.

The monthly exam had just ended.

A boy was opening love letters.

No choice.

He was the top student in his grade, good-looking, had already reached the third layer of Qi Refining (Artifice Refining), and had his spiritual root tested.

Being popular was a very normal thing.

The boy absentmindedly looked at the delicate handwriting on the letter paper, but in his mind, he was recalling the recent exam.

—As the captain, he led his team into the subway station, evading the Flood Dragon’s attack.

He had also explored the underground tunnel by himself.

He saved a little boy.

He took the child to Gulou Street Subway Station.

The boy’s sister personally thanked him and said there would be a great reward.

But there was nothing.

Because he was directly teleported out and back to the school playground.

The Teachers said he had finished all the test questions.

Looking at their approving expressions, it became easy to guess how many points he would get this time.

The boy shook his head.

He couldn’t be careless.

There was a written exam tomorrow.

He would strive for the highest score.

In that case, his academic record would be almost enough to meet the Independent Admissions line for universities like Nine Luminaries and Luofu!

He was thinking silently when he suddenly felt someone looking at him.

…It was speechless.

Shouldn’t it be mealtime now?

Which class’s girl would choose this time to look for him?

The boy sighed, adjusted his expression, stood up from his seat, and walked to the window.

“After all, it’s the fourth floor, still a bit dangerous. Come in and talk.”

Maintaining his composure, he opened the window.

He waited for a breath.

—There should have been a playful girl flipping in from outside, greeting him with a smile.

But there wasn’t.

The boy leaned forward, curiously looking out.

*Click.*

A soft sound.

He suddenly felt his entire being become lighter.

—It was like shedding an extremely heavy coat, and never having to worry about many things again.

Life suddenly seemed extremely distant, everything appearing absurd and ridiculous.

How boring learning and exams were.

He just wanted to sing out loud!

The boy couldn’t help but smile, wanting to share the “truth” he had just comprehended with others.

Then he saw a headless body fall from the window.

A chill ran down the boy’s spine. He felt that the headless body was truly pitiful. He wondered who chose this time to jump.

The body fell, caught by a few branches, and finally hit the ground, blood gushing from its neck.

The boy shook his head, about to go find a teacher, when he suddenly took another look.

The body looked strangely familiar.

Why did it look familiar?

Was it one of my friends?

He stared carefully.

That black shirt, blue jeans, and orange athletic shoes—

…It’s me.

It’s…me…ah…

But where’s my head?

The boy seemed to sense something, instinctively looking up.

He saw a gigantic, black Centipede crawling on the eaves, shrouded in faint, ethereal mist, holding something in its mouth.

—It was his head.

No.

All of this was too fake.

It must be someone’s illusion.

The Centipede’s body covered the entire rooftop.

If such a massive Demon appeared in the school—

The alarm formations would have sounded long ago!

All the cultivators in the city would come to besiege this monster.

However, no one came.

—Whose prank is this, really so vivid, making one feel like they’re there?

Could it be that some expert took an interest in him and was testing him?

The boy thought, harboring a final hope.

But then he saw the Centipede spit out the human head, extend its long tongue, and slowly extend it towards him.

The tongue slowly writhed and transformed, finally taking on the appearance of a young girl.

“I’ve peeled off your shell, now I’m going to eat you.”

The girl said in a soft, faint voice.

She suddenly shot through the boy like lightning, then dragged the struggling boy back into the Centipede’s mouth.