[Item: Seven Star Sword Art]
[Quality: S]
[Introduction: A celestial swordcraft born of the seven stars' alignment—Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, and Light Shaking. Unified, their might surges exponentially.]
Zhou Yan's eyes widened, a shout bursting forth: "Holy—!" An S-tier skill book gleamed in his grasp. Such rarities fetched billions of spirit coins—priceless, marketless, sparking frenzies whenever they surfaced. "This Bronze Sparrow Terrace delivers," he marveled, elation surging. Its level 10 status, paired with his territory's +10% special item boost, made this windfall plausible. The sword art promised a massive edge.
He clutched the book and activated it.
[Learned S-tier skill: Seven Star Sword Art!]
Golden light flooded his mind, embedding techniques and forms. Mastery, though, demanded practice—raw power awaited refinement. "Pity there's no cultivation method to amplify it," he sighed. Techniques boosted skills and stats, but high-grade ones rivaled unicorns in rarity. An S-tier method could triple this book's billion-coin value, hitting tens of billions—wealth beyond lifetimes. Exploration's thrill lay in such hauls.
Soul coins dwindled fast; his 362 remaining couldn't fund another intermediate summon. He pivoted to the trading hall, listing surplus gear—Hare Boots, Stone Leggings, and more. Early sales maximized value before equipment flooded the market. Pricing sensibly, he barely finished when sales pinged.
[Territory Prompt: "[National Trading Hall] Sold Hare Boots. Gained 475 spirit coins."]
[Territory Prompt: "[National Trading Hall] Sold Stone Leggings. Gained 1,900 spirit coins."]
…
"Lightning fast," he muttered. Scarcity drove demand—rich novices snapped up anything for strength, unbothered by cost. Unlike inflated listings languishing unsold, his fair rates cleared tens of thousands in spirit coins swiftly.
Leaving the terrace, he returned to the Spiritual Bamboo House. Diao Chan sat by the bed, poised and serene. He unpacked his summons—table, stools, candlesticks, pillows, quilts—handy trinkets materializing perfectly. "Chan'er, let's rest," he suggested.
"Oh, I'll take a stool tonight," she stammered, blushing as she approached one, head dipped shyly.
"No way—that's a cold waiting to happen," he countered. "The bed's big enough for both."
"But—" she protested, flustered.
"It's fine. I'm the lord; trust me," he insisted. Reluctantly, she shed her boots, slid onto the bed, and burrowed her face into it. Zhou Yan joined her, pondering: Beast or worse than a beast? Neither, he decided—humanity won. He wrapped an arm around her trembling form. "Don't worry, Chan'er. Just sleeping."
He held back—not for lack of want, but for time's promise. She'd be his eventually. They slept soundly.
Day two dawned early, Diao Chan's shyness lingering. After a quick breakfast, they awaited a monster assault. Venturing out tempted him—kills yielded loot—but territory safety trumped all. Without it, nothing mattered. The King Crystal's defenses and attacks reassured, yet caution ruled. No reckless waves here.
Past eight, Diao Chan spotted movement. "Zhou Yan, monsters!"
She drew her Spike Sword, eyeing the distance. "Relax," he said, peering out. "They're in the Flame Tower's range—let's test its might first."
Towers had limits; more or higher levels expanded reach and power. Weapons in hand, they watched from within, the prior day's fog-clearing revealing the forest's edge. Green-skinned goblins—wielding crude swords, eyes glinting—charged, claws bared.
[Monster: Goblin]
[Quality: Normal]
[Level: 3]
[Special: None]
[Introduction: Greedy scavengers fond of pilfering treasures.]
"Level 3, and plenty of them," Zhou Yan noted. "Day two with this many? Most territories would buckle." His SSS rating from yesterday, courtesy of the colorful lord space, likely spiked the numbers—a boon, not a curse. More foes meant richer growth and rewards.
Five hundred meters.
Four hundred.
Three hundred.
Two hundred.