Chapter 122: The Ancient Devouring Storm

Sunset Town.

As the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the long street, two figures emerged from the far end. One resembled a human mercenary, while the other was a spherical creature. Because it was draped in a voluminous cloak, its true species was impossible to discern, though it clearly wasn't anything conventional.

Ahem.

As the pair walked by, faint traces of an argument could be heard between them.

"Hey, I’ve honestly never seen anything like it! To think someone could actually be looked down upon by the very magic-powered battle puppet they summoned!"

"Hmph, don't be so polite. She didn't just despise me; she despised you too!"

"Tch! In all my years, I, Pang, have never heard of such a thing!"

"That’s just because you’re sheltered!" the other voice retorted, sounding quite exasperated. "How old are you, anyway? You may look a bit weathered and have grown stout in your youth, but you haven't lived a whole lifetime yet!"

"That’s where your perspective is shallow. You can't just look at what meets the eye," Pang Ding said, shaking his head sagely. "Some people may be dead, yet they still live; while others, even if they are alive, are already dead!"

"..."

Luo Yong fell silent.

For a fleeting moment, he wanted to say that on the day Bao'er left, he felt as if he had died, too. Yet, as long as there was a sliver of hope, he would save her.

"Bao'er, you promised me."

Luo Yong sighed softly, smiled to himself, and whispered, "I’m a man who values promises above all else. What I’ve said, I will achieve, no matter what it takes!"

"You can't even handle a single magic-powered battle puppet, let alone achieve anything!" Pang Ding took the opportunity to mock him.

"Enough nonsense. Where exactly is the shop that sells 'Spirit Servants' or 'Magic-Powered Battle Puppets'?" Luo Yong asked.

"Right there, can't you see it? It's right in front of us!" Pang Ding pointed ahead. "Are your eyes just for show?"

"I'll be damn—"

Luo Yong had spent too much time in the perpetually dim Blood Moon Continent. Having suddenly arrived in a place with actual sunlight—even if it was just the fading rays of dusk—it was difficult for him to adjust. Even though they were close, he couldn't clearly make out the signs on the storefronts.

"This is a secret realm. Except for a few who have traveled as widely as I have, very few know of the entrance. And as for this particular entrance, there is only one in the entire Blood Moon Continent," Pang Ding said with an air of self-importance.

"Pfft! Ignorant!"

Suddenly, someone nearby scoffed. A figure looked toward them, saw a mercenary and a meat-shield, shook their head, and remarked, "This is Sunset Continent, separated from the Blood Moon Continent by a sea of mystery. One can only arrive here via the World Tree or certain secret passages!"

"Hahaha... how laughable, calling it a secret realm!"

"Forget them. They’re obviously just country bumpkins who’ve never seen the world, making a fool of themselves..."

"Hahahaha!"

"..." Veins bulged on Pang Ding’s forehead. If not for the urgent business at hand, he wouldn't have let these insolent fools off so easily.

"Just a bunch of arrogant brutes," Luo Yong finally managed to clear his vision. The group was gathered in a tavern, boasting and flirting. When they saw Luo Yong looking, they even whistled at him.

Luo Yong acted as if he hadn't seen them and walked with Pang Ding into the shop next door.

"Nazdaka welcomes you!"

The staff member inside seemed bored and had been eyeing the tavern across the street with longing. Seeing customers arrive, he immediately stepped forward, professional smile in place, and began introducing the shop’s wares.

Pang Ding was pointedly ignored.

"Oh, right, welcome, welcome," Luo Yong muttered, half-listening while scanning the shop. After the clerk finished his pitch, Luo Yong finally asked, "I heard you have 'Spirit Servants' and 'Magic-Powered Battle Puppets'..."

"Oh, you mean those!" From beneath the clerk's hat, a pair of long, white ears suddenly popped out... He was a rabbit-man!

Ahem.

Even though he was dressed like a human, the addition of the rabbit ears made it hard for Luo Yong to keep a straight face. The clerk didn't mind Luo Yong’s reaction and led him to a corner, pointing to a cabinet: "This is a curious artifact called 'Ancient Maw.' It contains an unknown number of magical items, including the Spirit Servants and battle puppets you mentioned."

"How does one obtain them?" Luo Yong asked.

"Well... that, of course, requires money!" The clerk gave a cryptic smile. "Each summoning requires a gemstone." He gestured, indicating one the size of a fist.

"Like this?" Luo Yong casually pulled one from his storage space.

"Oh, yes, exactly like that." The clerk watched the purple light shimmering from the gem in Luo Yong’s hand, and it seemed as though his very eyes began to glow.

"And then?" Luo Yong asked, expressionless.

"Over here!" The clerk pointed to the base of the "Ancient Maw," where two totem-like pillars stood—one shaped like an ox, the other like a bear.

"The ox-shaped totem here is called 'Ox Maw,' and this bear-shaped totem is called—"

"Bear Maw?"

"Exactly!" The clerk nodded, signaling Luo Yong to place the gem into the mouth of one of the totems. "Just choose one, press it gently, and the 'Ancient Maw' above will display the result."

"What kind of result?" Luo Yong rolled his eyes.

The clerk was a master of the dramatic pause, clearly trying to bait the customer. If you didn't ask, he wouldn't explain. It gave Luo Yong the urge to buy the entire store just to fire him.

"The result will show cards of three grades: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Each card bears a different pattern. Only when three cards of the same grade and pattern align will a magical item appear."

"Furthermore, prices vary greatly depending on the type and properties of the item, so customers should be aware of that in advance."

"Isn't this just gambling? And you have to pay extra if you win? Why don't you just rob—"

"Our prices are always fair and honest!" the clerk said with a straight face, leaning forward slightly with a professional smile.

It went without saying that the shop must have been protected by anti-magic fields and other binding arrays; otherwise, the clerk would have been beaten to death long ago, and the shop dismantled.

"This is bound by the Ancient Treaty," Pang Ding whispered suddenly, then emotionlessly pulled out a glowing gemstone. "Hurry up. Once you're done, I want a turn. I need to get some items to play with!"

"Play, play, play! All you think about is playing!" Luo Yong swatted his hand away. Not bothering to ask what the "Ancient Treaty" was, he said impatiently, "Business first! There are so many monsters waiting for me to beat them up!"

Speaking of business: The Empress had such a temper that she’d quit at the slightest provocation, shrinking down into a Q-version figurine that now sat on Luo Yong’s shoulder. The journey into the Demon Secret Realm had ended just like that.

Consequently, Luo Yong and Pang Ding had discussed where to find items that would allow them to farm monsters efficiently. After much deliberation, Pang Ding suggested a place, and with an air of mystery, he led Luo Yong through one teleportation scroll after another until they reached a remote wilderness. There, amidst a pile of rubble, they cleared a space and activated a hidden teleportation array. That was how they ended up here.

"Since that's the case, I’ll choose... Ox Maw!" Luo Yong glanced at the clerk, his long ears twitching, and placed the gem into the mouth of the ox totem, pressing down on its head.

*Click.*

A soft sound followed.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

A faint magical ripple appeared on the Ancient Maw, displaying three patterns: one Gold card, one Silver card, and one Bronze card.

The patterns did not match.

"Sigh, what a pity!" The rabbit-man clerk shook his head with a smug, irritating expression, shrugging his shoulders. "Nothing to be done. You didn't win anything."

"Please, step aside."

Luo Yong pulled out another gemstone of the same size, shoved it into the clerk’s hand, and told him to go play elsewhere. He then chose the Ox Maw again.

*Click.*

*Swish, swish, swish!*

The light flashed again.

Gold card, Silver card, Silver card.

*Click!*

*Swish, swish, swish!*

Gold card, Gold card, Silver card.

"Eh?"

Seeing these results, Pang Ding’s eyes widened. He had originally thought that with Luo Yong’s luck, he might try a few times, and if it didn't work, they’d find another way. At worst, they would spend more money, using volume to beat the odds. If they were lucky, they could turn a bicycle into a motorcycle.

But as the results kept coming, his expression changed. The previous cards had been of different grades and patterns, but as Luo Yong kept purchasing, the Ox Maw’s output became remarkably consistent. Not only were the card grades steadily rising, but the patterns were becoming increasingly similar.

"If this keeps up..." Pang Ding squinted, rubbing his hands together, unable to resist getting drawn into the excitement. He acted as if he were the one in control, convinced that if it were him, he’d have the same luck.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

The result appeared. The Ancient Maw displayed three gleaming cards—

"Gold card! Gold card! Gold card!"

"Oh ho! Three Gold cards! And the patterns are the same!"

"We won! We actually won!"

Pang Ding waved his arms in triumph, cheering as if he had hit the jackpot himself.